United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region II
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

See Polrep 1.

The crew was re-mobilized to resume site work on 1/8/07 after the holiday break.  Bids for drum disposal have been received and drum disposal has been awarded to the waste broker, Capitol Environmental Services, Inc., of Wilmington, Delaware.  Drum shipments for disposal are anticipated to begin on 1/16/07.  

At the request of the disposal facility, drums from the acidic liquid, neutral inorganic liquid, chromic acid liquid and chromic acid solid waste streams have been samples for treatment/feasibility testing.  A total of 20 drums were sampled on 1/9/07 and combined into 5 composite samples.  The samples were shipped to EQ Michigan Disposal, Inc. in Belleville, Michigan where the drums will be shipped for treatment/disposal.

Plating vat removal operations were initiated on 1/9/07.  An electrician was used to verify that all associated electrical equipment has been de-energized and properly disconnected.  The vats are being cut up in preparation for load-out into roll-off containers for disposal.  The wood planking that has previously been removed is also being cut into smaller pieces per disposal facility specifications prior to load-out into roll-off containers.  

Pump out of the indoor floor pit/sump is expected to be completed by C.O.B. on 1/11/07.  A total of nine (9) 55 gallon drums of water and sludge are expected to be generated from this operation.  This material has already been sampled and will be included with the other drums for disposal.  

Analytical results for the solid debris waste streams have been received.  Results indicate that all solid debris – including wood planking, plating vats, destroyed chemical containers, site debris and PPE wastes – are hazardous for heavy metals contamination.  The request for proposal (RFP) for disposal of this waste stream is anticipated to be sent out by C.O.B. on 1/11/07.  Scheduling of roll-offs for solid debris disposal is pending receipt of contractor bids.  Solid debris disposal is currently anticipated to begin during the week of 1/15/07 and is expected to be completed by the end of the week of 1/22/07.

Preliminary analytical results for hexavalent chromium for soil and concrete samples collected on 12/7/06 and 12/14/06 have been received.  All soil samples were below the detection limit of 0.4 mg/kg.  Soil sample locations included the settling tank discharge point on the bank of the Owasco Lake Outlet, two locations beneath the underground settling tank floor slab, and two locations along the heavily stained areas at the base of the plating shop foundation wall.  

Analytical results for the concrete samples collected from the underground storage tank floor and walls ranged from below the 0.4 mg/kg detection limit to 10.4 mg/kg, with the majority of the locations being below 3 mg/kg for hexavalent chromium.   Results for concrete samples collected from two heavily stained areas on the plating shop foundation wall were indicated at 2,360 mg/kg and 224 mg/kg.  

All analytical results for hexavalent chromium are preliminary and are currently undergoing data validation.  No decisions will be made regarding site remedies until the data validation is complete and the analytical results for the remaining parameters are received.

The currently planned removal actions include the following:

• Transportation and disposal of all chemical wastes on-site;
• Removal and disposal of all tanks and vats;
• Disposal of contaminated wood plank flooring and debris;
• Pressure washing of the concrete slab floors and walls inside the plating shop;
• Collection of investigatory samples from the plating shop walls, floors and the subsurface soils beneath;
• Site restoration activities as required.

The anticipated next steps include:

• Initiate waste shipments during the week of 1/15/07.
• Complete the removal of the plating vats and prepare for disposal.
• Prepare the interior of the plating shop for decontamination operations.
• Develop a site-wide sampling approach to evaluate the effectiveness of the building floor decontamination and determine the nature and extent of contamination in site soils.

The Removal Support Team project ceiling is being adjusted from $40,000.00 to $78,000.00 to provide continuous support through project completion.  Extramural Contingency funds in the amount of $38,000.00 are being utilized to effect the ceiling increase.