United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region X
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

Since 1966, Taylor Lumber and Treating operated a wood-treating plant at 22125 SW Rock Creek Road in Sheridan, Oregon.
Wood preserving chemicals, such as creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP), were used during operations. Several chemical spills occurred on site, contaminated soil and groundwater.  
EPA determined that a threat to human health and the environment existed from prolonged exposure to contaminated soils and water at the site.

EPA has conducted three emergency actions at the site since 1994. During the first emergency response, an underground barrier wall was built to contain the most contaminated groundwater and soil, and an asphalt cap was installed over that area. A residential yard was excavated and backfilled, as well as ditches within and next to that yard and the lumber facility.

On Tuesday August 21, 2007 the US EPA's Emergency Response Unit responded and confirmed reports that a release of suspected historic contamination had occured during excavation at the former Taylor Lumber facility.

The former Taylor Lumber facility is currently undergoing site remediation under the direction of the US EPA's remedial program.

OSC Callaghan, (4) START, (4) ERRS, (4) ESAT personnel arrived on site to: 1) prevent the released materials from reaching navigable waters of the US, 2) remove contamination soil, 3) investigate the potential source of the spill with subsurface sampling.

START, ERRS, and ESAT mobilized on 9/4/2007 to conduct sampling and removal activities.  
OSC Callaghan gave a brief tour of the site, noting the previous mitigation activities, and identifying areas of potential contamination.

START, ERRS, and ESAT departed the site at 1900.

OSC Callaghan, (4) START, (4) ERRS, and (4) ESAT personnel arrived at 0715, conducted a tailgate safety meeting.  START detailed the sample strategy with the EPA/ESAT geoprobes.
ERRS began soil removal and stockpiling operations in the Mangement Area identified here in after as the Yamhill Drainage Ditch (Yamhill DD), which runs to the south and enters the South Yamhill River.  Approximately 10 cubic yards of soil and rock have been stockpiled for disposal.  Excavation has been halted until stockpile areas can be identified and a disposal facility identified.  The excavation sidewall, composed of alluvial gravel, has visual contamination the width of the excavation bucket (4feet) from 1 to 6 feet below ground surface and runs north to south for approximately 75 horizontal feet from the culvert on the south side of hwy18 towards the yamhill river.  Degree and extent of contamination east and west in the Yamhill DD has not been determined. But we know it moves to the east and west because of visible dark staining in the excavation sidewalls.

START collected 5 total grab soil samples in the Yamhill DD(on the south side of Hwy 18 running towards the yamhill river)to characterize the contaminants and to delineate the extents of surface contamination in the release area.  Of these 5 samples 3 samples were collected in stained soil horizon and 2 samples were collected in or near the highwater mark. Samples were provided to the ESAT Mobile laboratory for analysis.

OSC Callaghan contacted Sheldon Stewart, plant manager of Pacific Wood Preserving of Oregon, Inc. (operator of the former Taylor Lumber site) regarding site access and collection of subsurface soil samples.  Mr. Stewart consented to EPA’s request for site access and sample collection.

3 Potential Management Areas (MAs)have been identifed for excavation and subsurface exploration.  All are limited to the SE corner of the facility and are identifed as:

1)Rock Creek Road Ditch (Running North and marking facilty's eastern boarder)

2)H18 Ditch (Highway 18-Running East to West and marking the southern boarder of the facility)

3)Yamhill DD(Drainage Ditch running under HW18 and towards the Yamhill River.)

-Continue removal of contaminated soils estimated at 300 tons from Yamhill DD area.  

-Continue geoprobe sampling of Yamhill DD, HWY 18 and RCC for lateral and horizontal contmination to determine subsurface contamination.

-Submit soil samples for laboratory analysis

-Traffic safety

-Identify proper disposal options.  EPA's RCRA experts will advise on disposal

-Site access for geoprobe equipment