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.

EPA has conducted at least 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 to and confirmed reports that a release of suspected historic contamination had occurred during excavation activities in the SE corner of the former Taylor Lumber facility.  Excavation activities were being conducted under the direction the US EPA's remedial program and as part of the contractor's scope of work.

The scope of Work On-Site for this Emergency Reponse action is focused on four Management Areas (MA).  All MA's are limited to the SE corner of the facility and are identifed as:

1)Rock Creek Road Ditch (Running North parellel to Rock Creek Road and marking former Taylor Lumber facility east border)

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.)

4)SETF Area (South East Tank Farm Area, inside the former Taylor Lumber facility, bordered by Highway 18 and Rock Creek Road)


9/5/2007 1200-1930

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.

South Fork Yamhill DD: Approximately 20 cubic yards of soil and rock have been stockpiled for disposal.    The excavation sidewall, composed of alluvial gravel, has visual contamination the width of the excavation bucket (8 feet) for 75 horizontal feet from the culvert on the south side of Highway 18 towards the Yamhill river.  Degree and extent of contamination east and west in the South Fork 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  South Fork Yamhill DD (on the south side of Highway 18 towards the Yamhill river)to characterize the contaminants and to delineate the extents of surface contamination in the release area. 3 of the 5 samples were collected in stained soil horizon and the 2 remaining samples were collected in or near the assumed highwater mark. Samples were provided to the ESAT Mobile laboratory for analysis.

START collected 2 samples during Geoprobe operations in South Fork Yamhill DD. Samples were submitted to the ESAT Mobile laboratory for analysis.
ESAT was able to complete 2 boreholes (DD01), (DD02) despite encountering cobbles and gravel material.

H18 Ditch: START collected 8 soil samples (on the north side of Highway 18 towards the former Taylor Lumber facility)to characterize the contaminants and to delineate the extents of contamination in the release area. Samples were submitted to the ESAT Mobile laboratory for analysis.
START completed 2 boreholes (H18),(H18-02)before the end of daily operations.

RCR Ditch: No samples have been collected in the RCR Ditch.

SETF Area: 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. No samples have been collected in the SETF Area.


9/6/2007 0700-1200

OSCs Callaghan and Thangamani, (5)START, (5)ERRS, (5)ESAT personnel arrived on site. START conducted a tailgate safety meeting.  START reiterated the geoprobe sample strategy, noting that additional samples will be couriered off site for analysis.
START will continue geoprobing operations to discover the lateral extents of contamination.
ESAT personnel will continue geoprobing operations at Yamhill DD, and analyze samples via mobile laboratory.
ERRS will continue excavation operations when the lateral extents of contamination are determined.

Management Areas:

South Fork Yamhill DD: START collected 2 samples during Geoprobe operations in Yamhill DD. Samples were submitted to the ESAT Mobile laboratory for analysis.

H18 Ditch: START collected 13 samples during Geoprobe operations in H18 Ditch. Samples were submitted to the ESAT Mobile laboratory for analysis.  START also completed 3 boreholes (H18-03), (H18-04), (H18-05).

RCR Ditch: No samples have been collected during the time this report was written.

SETF Ditch: No samples have been collected during the time this report was written.

-Continue removal of contaminated soils from South Fork Yamhill DD area.  

-Continue geoprobe sampling of Yamhill DD, HWY 18, RCR, and SETF for lateral and horizontal contamination to determine limits of subsurface contamination.

-Submit selected soil samples to fixed laboratory for confirmation and waste disposal

-Submit soil samples to mobile laboratory for characterization and screening analysis

-Meet with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) on 9/7/2007 at 1300 to discuss culvert contamination issues. Three options discussed: 1) No Action 2) Install a plastic sleeve into the drain 3) Replace the culvert with ODOT approval, EPA will assist with waste disposal and environmental sampling. START senior engineer will review rip rap and stormwater conveyance needs associated with culvert under Highway 18.

-Traffic safety

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

-Site access for geoprobe equipment