The Chesapeake Fire Dept. has requested that EPA continue to provide technical support at the Site, until work in the residential areas is complete. This Pollution Report (POLREP) focuses on Site activities from February 28 through May 28, 2009. For more information regarding EPA's previous activities, please see previous POLREPs.
During this period, EPA On Scene Coordinator Laura Casillas has maintained limited on-site activities and continues to periodically visit the site. EPA OSCs Laura Casillas and Chris Wagner have communicated with local jurisdictions regarding any potential impacts to the health of the residents, or the Elizabeth River.
Allied contractors continue to pump residues that flow onto the ditches and to do weekly air monitoring for ammonia at an impacted residence. EPA has reviewed these readings for April and May and found them to be below any levels that would require actions such as an evacuation or further soil removal.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has completed its additional monitoring along the Elizabeth River. The most recent response related results where collected mid March. Based on those results, VDEQ will not be collecting any additional samples associated with the Allied response. VDEQ will continue its monthly runs on the Elizabeth River, as part of the Chesapeake Bay monitoring program.
EPA sampled two drinking water wells in the neighborhood in February. The data shows that Nitrates and Nitrites were not detected in the drinking water. Nitrates and Nitrite levels are within safe drinking water parameters. Results are posted under the "documents" section of this web site.
OSC Casillas most recently visited the site on May 15, 2009. At that time she noted that some residues still continue to make their way along with the rainwater into ditches along Bannister Street and Hannah Street. OSC Casillas noted that brown residue was coming into the ditches into areas that had already been excavated and filled with clean soils. The OSC noted that algae was growing in the stagnant brown water. A couple of neighbors spoke with Ms. Casillas about repairs to the grass and soil grading on their yards and about the replacement of their trees. OSC Casillas reminded them that that is a legal issue between them and Allied. The OSC asked that they continue to discuss those issues with Allied. OSC Casillas reminded the residents that she was from EPA and here to address health concerns they might have. The OSC asked about the ditches and how often they are filling up with brown water and vacuumed. A resident informed OSC Casillas that they are vacuumed regularly, but did not know exactly when it was done. Residents commented that during rain events brown liquid still comes up through the ditches and on some spots on the ground, even one area that had already been excavated and filled with clean soil. Pictures of this visit are posted under the “images” section of this web site.
The Chemical Safety Board released a report of their findings during a press conference on May 27, 2009. Their report included details on safety considerations and deficiencies at the Allied Terminals Facility.
EPA continues to monitor the status of residues that make their way onto street ditches.
EPA does not have a Superfund Removal Action planned for the site at this time.
The primary health concern at the Site would be Ammonia vapors. The EPA OSC has reviewed air monitoring data at the site. Ammonia vapors have not been detected and therefore do not pose a health threat to residents. Elevated levels of Ammonia are unlikely to resurge at the site because fertilizer residues have now been out in the soil for a long period of time and the Ammonia vapors are no longer present at high levels. EPA will still continue to monitor the potential for Ammonia vapors to resurge, as a precaution.
EPA continues conversations with both VDEQ and Allied to address the presence of fertilizer residues in the soil—to determine how to best capture them and keep them from reaching the neighborhood. Because of the large size of this spill and of the land it impacted, it will take some time to address fertilizer residues in the soil.
Allied and VDEQ continue to work on how to address potential storm water permitting issues related to the off-site migration of fertilizer residues.
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