Chesapeake Products Site is an inactive fertilizer production/packaging facility located in a heavily industrialized area of Chesapeake, Virginia adjacent to the southern branch of the Elizabeth River. The site is approximately 7.6 acres in size. Prior to current site activities the property included several structures that were used for fertilizer manufacturing and storage of fertilizer raw materials. Numerous piles of micro-nutrient fertilizer and fertilizer raw materials were located inside site structures. The roof of the main warehouse building had partially collapsed and almost the entire floor was flooded with water. The city of Chesapeake Fire Department deemed the buildings unsafe for occupancy in 2004. The main warehouse building contained approximately 314,000 gallons of flood water. EPA conducted site assessments at the site in 2005 and 2006. Analytical results indicated that site soils, material piles, and flood water contain elevated levels of lead and other hazardous substances or pollutants and contaminants. Chesapeake Products and Frit Industries, Inc. (Frit) entered into a Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (AOC) with EPA in August 2007. Frit agreed to remove material piles and flood water from the site and to demolish site buildings. All work agreed to under the AOC was completed between August 2008 and March 2009. On November 30, 2009 EPA initiated a removal action at the site to remove lead contaminated surface soil and to decontaminate concrete surfaces.
EPA ERRS contractors mobilized a partial crew to the site on November 30, 2009 to begin removal actions. EPA contractors began installation of security fencing around portions of the site. Crushed stone was spread in the crew/equipment staging area to help mitigate muddy conditions. A work trailer was installed including setup of electric and utilities. EPA contractors demobilized from the site on December 3, 2009.
EPA will excavate surface soil that contains lead at concentrations of greater than 800 parts per million (ppm) to a depth of approximately one foot below ground surface. EPA will identify areas that require excavation by using an X-Ray Fluorescence analyzer (XRF) and existing analytical data. Excavated soil will be shipped off site for disposal at an appropriate facility and will be replaced with clean fill. Concrete surfaces will be decontaminated in areas where lead is detected at concentrations greater than 800 ppm.
The following tasks are planned for the next reporting period:
- Full ERRS crew and START will mobilize to the site.
- Complete installation of security fence.
- Build up site access road with road fabric and crushed stone.
- Clear out areas of site drainage that have become clogged.
- Implement erosion/sediment control measures.
- Begin delineating areas of the site that will be excavated using an XRF.
- Move debris scattered at the back portion of the site and stage it on concrete pad.
- Begin excavation and stockpiling of soil.
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