United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

This polrep specifically pertains to activities performed on Site on Friday, 11/21/08.  For more general information about the incident and the response, please refer to previous polreps or Site description on the main web page.

HEPACO crews concentrated efforts on removing contaminated soils from residential properties near the Site.  This action began on the afternoon of 11/20/08.  However, exposed soils continued to emit ammonia vapors.  At the end of day meeting on 11/20/08, EPA verbally provided cleanup goals to Allied representatives.  These goals were reviewed by ATSDR and VDEQ.  Cleanup goals for excavation in residential areas are as follows:

Following excavation, CTEH, Allied's air monitoring contractor, will perform air monitoring for ammonia using real-time air monitoring instrumentation.  If readings are below 10 ppm ammonia, backfilling can commence.  If readings exceed 10 ppm, excavation shall continue until readings drop.

On the morning of 11/21/08, OSC Wagner and CTEH performed this air-monitoring on areas which were excavated the previous afternoon.  Readings in the residential area were below 10 ppm and HEPACO was directed to begin backfilling and grading these areas with clean topsoil.

In the drainage ditches, the depth of excavation is limited by groundwater, the depth of the drainage pipes, and safety concerns.  HEPACO placed seeded matting in these areas over the excavated areas.

Following backfill operations, air monitoring readings of ammonia decreased significantly.  By the end of the workday, all ambient air monitoring readings were less than 1 ppm.

A Unified Command Meeting will be held on Saturday to discuss future excavation activities.

Excavation activities will not be performed over the weekend to minimize disruption in the neighborhood.

Vacuum operations and air monitoring operations will continue through the weekend.

1.  A resident who lives in the area of the excavation suffered acute health effects this date which required medical attention.  Due to privacy concerns, EPA is not privy to the identified cause(s) of these problems.  However, the OSC did relay this information to both ATSDR and Virginia Dept. of Health.  A physician with VDH agreed to follow up with the resident.  The OSC spoke with the resident prior to her leaving the Site.  Although the resident was experiencing health problems, she declined the offer for emergency medical assistance and did provide her name and information to EPA.

2.  Based on the incident above, the Incident Commander has called a Unified Command Meeting for Saturday 11/22.  The purpose of this meeting to develop a consistent strategy for community concerns during excavation activities.

3.  Allied has not yet received access for one property which became contaminated during the incident.  This resident is represented by legal counsel.  EPA Office of Regional Counsel coordinated with the resident's attorney today.  The OSC was also on the call to explain the need for Allied to have access so that the contamination can be removed.  These actions will reduce the potential for ammonia vapors in the home.  

4.  EPA hand-delivered a letter to Allied which documents the activities required for the cleanup.  These activities have already been discussed on Site and agreed upon by VDEQ, VDEM, VDH, and EPA.  The purpose of this letter was to document these decisions to date.