United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IX
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

See POLREP No. 1

The Graybill Metal Polishing, Inc., site (Graybill) is located in a commercial/residential area at 1245 East Florence Avenue in Los Angeles, California, geographic coordinates of -118.25247 longitude and 33.97598 latitude. Until recently, the facility conducted copper cyanide, nickel and chrome plating and buffing and polishing operations.  

Formal EPA involvement with Graybill began on May 9, 2006 with the issuance of a general notice of CERCLA liability to the property owner and facility operator.  Based on the observed site conditions, evidence of a continued release of hazardous materials, the unsecured nature of the facility, and statements by facility representatives, OSC Benson initiated an immediate stabilization and removal action through exercise of warrant authority on May 9, 2006.  A transition from EPA stabilization to PRP full-scale site cleanup was initiated on May 15, 2006.  Phase I cleanup operations, involving the identification, bulking and removal of all identified above-ground bulk and non-bulk wastestreams, was completed on May 25, 2006.

Phase II cleanup operations involving shallow subsurface soil and building component characterization and removal is currently underway and is expected to continue to be led by the PRP contractors under the terms of a CERCLA 106 Order.

POLREP No. 1 documents site activities on 5/9/06.
POLREP No. 2 documents site activities from 5/10/06 – 5/15/06
POLREP No. 3 documents site activities from 5/16/06 – 5/25/06
POLREP No. 4 documents site activities from 5/26/06 – 7/10/06



7/11/06 – 7/24/06

A. Site idle, pending data receipt.

7/25/06 – 8/3/06

A. Final Phase II data receipt and review (subsurface/concrete). All samples were analyzed by a Ceres Associates subcontracted laboratory for Title 22 metals using SW-846 Method 6010B and cyanide using SW-846 Method 9014.  The approved Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) distinguished 7 separate Areas of Concern (AOCs) involved in the subsurface soil and concrete sampling effort.  

For AOC 1 (interior plating area), concentrations of chromium, copper and nickel in excess of the rPRG and/or TTLC action levels were reported in soil borings SB1, SB2 and SB3 in the 1-feet and 5-feet below ground surface (bgs) soil samples.  

For AOC 4 (interior metal polishing area), concentrations of chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc in excess of the rPRG and/or TTLC action levels were reported in the 1-feet bgs soil samples collected from SB8, SB10 and SB11.

For AOC 7 (adjacent residential boundary), concentrations of chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc were reported at levels above background and/or above the rPRG in the surface soil sample composite.

Concrete core samples representing the flooring, curbing and containment areas of AOC 1, AOC 2 (exterior plating area), AOC 3 (waste storage area) and AOC 4 revealed elevated concentrations of the above named metals and/or cyanide.  

All other samples, including samples at the 10-feet bgs interval, revealed heavy metal and cyanide concentrations below the site action levels.  

B. Based on the analytical results of this investigation and the Decision Rules of the SAP, Phase II removal activities will involve excavation of the contaminated soils and concrete areas in each defined grid/area outlined above.

8/3/06

A. OSC Benson received, reviewed and approved the Ceres Associates Soil Sampling Results and Removal Recommendations report, the Ceres Associates Confirmation Sampling Plan, and the Enviroserv (removal contractor) Phase II Soil Remediation Project Tasks addendum.

8/4/06

A. OSCs Benson and Musante conducted an on-site Phase II planning session with Enviroserv, Ceres Associates and PRP real estate representatives. Each excavation area was marked and a sequence of Phase II removal events was determined.  Mobilization was set for 8/9/06.  Phase II completion is expected to take approximately 7 working days.

B. Enviroserv provided the waste profile paperwork for the U.S. Ecology in Beatty, NV, for all Phase II wastes.

C. OSCs Benson and Musante spoke to the tenants of the off-site residential property at 1238 71st Street (AOC 7) and obtained property owner information.  This was passed to Enviroserv to be communicated with the PRP attorneys to negotiate a scope and agreement for AOC 7 soils cleanup.

• On 8/8/06 an underground utility locator will employ ground penetrating radar to survey, locate and mark any utilities beneath the excavation areas of the plating and polishing pads.
• Full Phase II removal mobilization on 8/9/06.
• Concrete samples will be taken from the inside of each clarifier (AOC 5 & AOC 6) to determine if a removal is required. This information will be utilized for future disposition (backfill/removal) with the Sanitation District and/or Water Quality Control Board.
• Ceres Associates will collect confirmation soil samples from the excavation pit(s) following the excavation of each defined contaminated grid/area.
• EPA will not investigate or respond to deep soil or groundwater contamination at the Site.

• Before any soil can be removed from the adjacent residential properties, discussions must take place with the property owner(s) and The Van Bergen Trust to obtain written permission for access and removal of the contaminated soils, as well as, determine any backfill requirements. Pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between the property owner(s) and The Trust, Enviroserv will remove the contaminated soil and backfill these areas.
• Fact Sheets are available on-site.  To date, there has been limited community, local residence interest.  
• An up-to-date project Waste Tracking Log with manifest and disposal facility information for project wastestreams can be found in the documents link at www.epaosc.net/graybill
• START team oversight assistance is provided for each day of site activities.
• A multi-agency coordination group meeting will be organized in the near future to review site issues and evaluate future remediation needs.