United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

Site activities restarted this week to begin transportation and disposal of contaminated soils.  Also, an extent of contamination study was performed by START during the week of July 16, 2007.  

For inforamtion on the history or past actions at the Site, please see previous POLREPS.  

More information regarding current activities is included below.  

ERRS mobilized to Site on July 26, 2007 to prepare for transporation and disposal of creosote-contaminated soils.  Transportation and disposal began yesterday, July 30th.  Creosote contaminated soils are being loaded into 30 cubic yard transport boxes.  The boxes are then being moved to a CSX railroad loading area here in Chesapeake.  The soils will then be transferred by rail to a Clean Harbors facility in Grantsville, Utah.  Waste is designated as RCRA-listed F034 wastes.

At this point, the transport boxes are being individually weighed to estimate the number of buckets needed to create a 20-ton box.  Two boxes were loaded yesterday.

Also, during the week of July 16, 2007, START and VA DEQ performed an extensive extent of contamination study.  Since the OSC has determined that creosote contamination is prevalent throughout the Site, this study was performed to provide EPA, DEQ, the City of Chesapeake and the Site owner with a characterization of present conditions at the Site.

During the assessment, surface and subsurface samples were collected throughout the Site.  This information will be consolidated as an extend of contamination study which will also have information which will serve the purpose of a Phase II assessment and provide information about contamination being left on Site.

Transportation and disposal activities are expected to continue through August 31, 2007.  At that time, the OSC will evaluate EPA's ability to conduct further excavation based on funds available.

This week, ERRS will continue primarily with transportation and disposal.  

START will perform the remaining sampling needed to complete the extent of contamination study.  This includes sampling of one user well on Site (drilled for onsite water use, not drinking water use) and surface water sampling.

The current ERRS Task Order for this project ends on August 31, 2007.  The OSC has requested an extension until September 11, 2007.  A new Task Order draft has been submitted to the ERRS EPA Project Officer.  If approved, the new Task Order will begin on August 28, 2007,  The OSC hopes to create a smooth transition without an interim demobe.

The OSC would like to acknowledge the exceptional assistance provided by the VA DEQ Site Assessment Section.  The DEQ representatives provided invaluable support by assisting with the sampling needed for the extent of contamination study.  Furthermore, the team hand-delivered the samples to the CLP laboratory.  This cooperation and assistance resulted in an approximate $6000 savings to the overall removal budget.

The OSC continues to work with the Site operator and his employees to ensure coordinated and safe working conditions.  Hazel Court Enterprises maintains several employees on Site while EPA is conducting removal actions.  To date, these operations have been conducted concurrently with continued cooperation.

30 cubic yards of creosote-contaminated soil disposed this date