United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
From:
Sonia R. Vega

To:
Sonia R. Vega, USEPA
Mary Gade, U.S. EPA
Bharat Mathur, U.S. EPA
Rick Karl, U.S. EPA
Linda Nachowicz, U.S. EPA
Ralph Dollhopf, U.S. EPA
Charles Gebien, U.S. EPA
David Chung, U.S. EPA
John Maritote, U.S. EPA
Steve Lee, MPCA
Mark Johnson, ATSDR
Dorene Fier-Tucker, MPCA
Fred Micke, U.S. EPA
lori olson, City of Minneapolis

Subject: 

State Requests Assistance with Additional Air Sampling and Monitoring
I-35W Mississipi River Bridge Collapse
Minneapolis, MN
Latitude: 44.9789000
Longitude: -93.2450000


POLREP No.:
3
Site #:
B5KZ
Reporting Period:
8/4/07 to 8/7/07
D.O. #:
Start Date:
8/1/2007
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
8/3/2007
Response Type:
Emergency
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Assessment
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

See PolRep 1 or 2.


Current Activities

As of August 6, we have received sampling results for asbestos, silicates and VOCs.  There is NO evidence of a hazardous materials release at this time.  For a complete data package please see the Documents Section.

The State of Minnesota asked the U.S. EPA for assistance with perimeter air monitoring during demolition activities.  The objectives of this additional sampling is to identify if there is a problem with dust and particulates during demolition activities, and to prove that there is not.  Specifically, they are interested in the following parameters: metals, silicates, asbestos, and particulates.


Planned Removal Actions

As a baseline, we will be collecting air samples this coming weekend for 3 consecutive days.  Then, once the demolition begins, we will sample for 5 consecutive days.  The data will be evaluated at that time, and adjustments will be made as necessary.  For this first round of samples the State selected 7 sampling and monitoring locations in the nearby residential areas.  Please see Sampling Location Map in the Documents Section.  These potential locations will be visited today to evaluate accesibility, and will be adjusted as necessary.  

Once EPA receives sampling results, they will be given to the Minnesta Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and the City of Minneapolis for interpretation.  The City of Minneapolis will relase the information to the public, if necessary.


Next Steps

Complete the sampling plan first draft, and get comments from MPCA, MDH and the City.  Also, request comments from EPA's ERT, and Region's 5 Water and Air Divisions.

We will also coordinate with the City to have access to a couple of vehicles when they are removed from the collapsed area, to collect wipe samples.  This might be the only indicator of what was in the air at the time of the collapse.

Coordinate with the state OSHA inspectors to share information on monitoring and sampling efforts on both the work and perimeter areas.


Key Issues

Safety is still the number one concern for rescuers and responders.  There are still people missing, and the bridge continues to shift.


response.epa.gov/I35WMississippiRiverBridgeCollapse