Franke's Laundromat operated as a laundry and dry-cleaning facility from the early 1960's until the business closed in March 2000. The site has been unoccupied since. Site investigation activities conducted by the property owners and City of Caldwell since 1999 have revealed high concentrations of tetrachloroethene, also known as perchloroethylene (PCE) in soils and groundwater at and downgradient of the site. PCE was detected in shallow groundwater at the site as high as 155,000 ug/l. PCE is in the lower aquifer 400 feet downgradient from the site at 120 ug/l. PCE in soils at approximately 9 foot depth are as high as 450 mg/kg.
On June 24, 2003, EPA entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with the property owners for removal site investigation activities, to characterize the lateral and vertical extent of PCE contamination and investigate appropriate removal action. The property owners refused to enter into additional negotiations for removal cleanup activities. EPA, therefore, is initiating a removal action to remove PCE contaminated soils that present an on-site human health exposure threat, or threat of continued migration off-site in groundwater and soils. In order to access highly contaminated soils beneath and adjacent to the former laundromat, the abandoned building must be demolished and removed.
See Polreps #1 and #2 for work performed prior to June 1.
June 1, 2004
Personnel on site:
ERRS Contractor - 7
START Contractor - 2
EPA ERT - 1
EPA OSC - 1
Weather: Sunny, high in 70s.
Work Performed: Pumped accumulated groundwater out of excavation pit and ran water through carbon filter for storage in 20,000 gallon tank until batch sampling/analytical results and planned discharge to City of Caldwell POTW. Continued excavation in first shoring box (21' x 19') down to approximately 15 feet. This box is centered on what was the west corner of the former laundromat building, where site investigation results showed the highest PCE concentration in soils. Analyzed 12 samples with field GC/MS to characterize distribution of PCE contamination vertically and laterally through excavated area. Segregated excavated soils in approximate 50 cubic yard stockpiles. Excavated a footprint for second shoring box to the NE of first box.
June 2, 2004
Personnel on site:
ERRS Contractor - 7
START Contractor - 2
EPA ERT - 1
EPA OSC - 1
Weather: Sunny, high in 80s.
Work performed: Pumped accumulated groundwater out of excavation pit through carbon filter into 20k gallon tank (this will be a daily activity). Estimated water volume is 400 gallons/day, which will likely increase as excavated area increases. Received a Short-Term Discharge Authorization from City of Caldwell Industrial Pretreatment Program which outlines parameters for discharge to City POTW. Completed excavation of first box down to 16' depth. Below that the clay layer begins to turn to silty clay. Analyzed 8 samples with field GC/MS. Highest concentration in field-analyzed samples was 227 ppm. Began excavation into 2nd box (to NE of first). Received TCLP analytical results from lab for two earlier excavated soil stockpiles. Results show that these excavated soil stockpiles do not fail TCLP.
June 3, 2004
Personnel on site:
ERRS Contractor - 7
START Contractor - 2
EPA OSC - 1
Weather: Sunny, high in 80s.
Work performed: Pumped accumulated groundwater through carbon into storage tank. Hauled 6 truck loads (204 tons) of excavated soils for disposal at US Ecology facility in Grandview, ID. Continued excavation into 2nd shoring box. Collected one 5-point composite sample of stockpiled soil and shipped to lab for TCLP and totals analysis for disposal purposes. Continued analyzing samples with on site GC/MS for determination of extent of ongoing excavation per cleanup goal.
June 4, 2004
Personnel on site:
ERRS Contractor - 7
START Contractor - 2
EPA OSC - 1
Weather: Sunny, high in 90s.
Work performed: Pumped accumulated groundwater through carbon into storage tank. Hauled 2 truck loads (68 tons) of excavated soils for disposal at US Ecology facility in Grandview, ID. Completed excavation of 2nd shoring box (21' x 19' x 16' deep). Began excavation into third box, continuing in NE direction. Collected and shipped samples from two 50-yard stockpiles for laboratory TCLP and totals analysis, for disposal purposes.
June 5, 2004
Personnel on site:
ERRS Contractor - 7
START Contractor - 2
EPA OSC - 1
Weather: Sunny, high in 90s.
Work performed: Pumped accumulated groundwater through carbon into storage tank. Hauled 2 truck loads (65 tons) of excavated soils for disposal at US Ecology facility in Grandview, ID. Set shoring for third box to NE. Continued excavation into third box. Quit work early because of excessive heat. No work on Sunday, June 6.
Continue excavation of contaminated soils. Install slide rail shoring as necessary. Field screen during excavation using PID and samples collected for on-site GC/MS analysis. Collect and analyze samples of excavation pit walls and floor to determine necessary extent of removal. Stockpile excavated soils in 50 yard piles for TCLP analytical and disposal. Send contaminated soils off for proper disposal based on analytical results. Backfill excavation pit, compacting each lift, and restore site.
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