Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Tank Car Corporation of America
Oreland, PA - EPA Region III
POLREP #21 - Oct 18-24

Printer Friendly | PDF

On-Scene Coordinator - Myles Bartos, On-Scene Coordinator	10/27/2010
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #21
Start Date: 1/29/2007

Site Description
See previous POLREPS for Site description information.

A summary of the removal site evaluation (characterization) conducted is contained in the document "Summary of Removal Site Evaluation Analytical Data", dated February 2, 2010, posted to the web at www.epaosc.org/tcca.  In general, the Site contains inorganic and organic contamination of soil (primarily sandblasting grit) and shallow underground water (contaminated by former lagoon contents and tank releases).  Additionally, the Site's ground water and surface water exiting the TCCA property contains detectable concentrations of Site-related contamination.  Finally, samples collected from residential properties adjacent to the Site and from dirt alongside the roadways leading from the Site contain detectable concentrations of inorganic and/or organic contaminants attributable to the Site.

The TCCA Site contains a large amount of sandblasting grit contaminated by inorganic contamination (e.g., lead) and organic contamination (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)).  The Site formerly contained lagoons; the residuals in these lagoons contain high concentrations of organic contaminants such as benzene, naphthalene, and PAHs and these contaminants have entered into the subsurface soils and shallow underground water.

The Site property continues to be used by numerous businesses for storage of equipment and materials.

Based upon the analytical results of the samples collected during the removal site evaluation and an evaluation of the potential threats posed by the hazardous substance contamination at the Site, EPA Region III approved additional funding to conduct additional response actions at the Site. The total funding now available for response actions is $2,650,469.  The response action will generally include actions intended to consolidate onto the TCCA property those hazardous substances posing a threat which have migrated from the property and to minimize further release of hazardous substances from the Site through a combination of disposal and covering actions.

After obtaining formal access to the railroad property adjacent to the TCCA property, EPA re-initiated the response action at the Site.  Initial actions focused on characterizing the contaminants upon the railroad right of way, evaluating drainage from the TCCA property, evaluating details of the pending response action (such as erosion controls), and coordinating with the Site owner, users of the property, and State and Local government entities.  The OSC informed adjacent residents of the general nature of the pending response action and then re-initiated response activities on October 19, 2010.

A portion of the paint building along the northern boundary of the Site in the area of EPA's planned erosion controls was found to be partially collapsed and shows continued evidence of collapse.  EPA sought and received approval from the owner to remove a portion of the structure to facilitate the response action and improve safe working operations in the vicinity of the building.

OSC Myles Bartos will be assuming OSC responsibilities for all on-Site operations.  OSC Towle will remain involved until SEPTA work is completed.

Current Activities
EPA, ERRS and START mobilized to the Site on Tuesday October 19th 2010, set up work trailer, AST fuel tank, discussed health and safety plan and performed a Site walk with the work crew.

EPA discussed Site issues with the property owner (TCCA rep) on October 19, 2010. Key outcome of discussions:

o   Verbal permission was given for EPA to remove/demolish the east wing of the paint building adjacent to SEPTA right of way and the shed canopy near main building

o   Asset collected around the Site will be placed inside the paint building after east wing removal.

o   Rail car adjacent to SEPTA right of way will be scraped.

o   Buried rail lines on the Site will be pulled up.

o   Propane cylinder, small propane cylinders and surrounding fence will be removed.

ERRS crews began clearing and grubbing southern vegetated portion of the Site. Consolidated fugitive railroad ties from the southern portion of the site.  Consolidated and chipped trees which were removed during clearing and grubbing.

SEPTA onsite to oversee soft dig/vacuum excavation of area near a historic drainage pipe along the SEPTA right of way.  ERRS Removed sand and soil from area indicated on historic documents and by an underground utility locator to be the pipe location, but were unable to locate the drainage pipe. The excavation was backfilled.

Contact was made with Montgomery County Conservation District. They have been briefed on the proposed site work and the erosion and sediment control best management practices that will be utilized onsite.

Initial contact with the Philadelphia Water Department was made in preparation to obtain a permit to discharge Site water into the POTW.

Disposition Of Wastes

Waste Stream	Quantity	Manifest #	Disposal Facility
Hazardous Waste Liquids (USTs)	13,330 gallons	various	Republic Environmental Hatfield, PA
Hazardous Waste Liquids (AST-2)	14,011 gallons	various	Republic Environmental Hatfield, PA
Non Hazardous Liquids (AST-1)	14,590 gallons	various	Republic Environmental Hatfield, PA
Non Hazardous Solids (AST-4)	31840 pounds	552437	Republic Environmental Hatfield, PA
Non Hazardous Liquids (Ammonia)(AST-5)	7518 gallons	various	Vickery Environmental, Vickery, OH
Hazardous Waste Solids (USTs)	387 tons (est)	various	CasieEcology, Vineland, NJ
Hazardous Waste Liquids (UST-4)	8356 gallons	various	Giant Resource Recovery, Sumter, SC
Hazardous Waste Solids (UST-4)	25,632 pounds	004352265	Green America Recycling, Hannibal, MO
Hazardous Waste Debris (UST-4)	1500 pounds	004352265	Waste Management, Emelle, AL
Flammable Liquids(drums)	165 gallons	004352265	Ross Incineration, Grafton,OH
Flammable solids	300 pounds (est)	004352265	BuzziUnicem, Cape Girardeau, MO
Phosphoric Acid	55 gallons	004352265	WastePath, Calvert City, KY
Non Hazardous Liquids (drums)	140 gallons	004352265	WastePath, Calvert City, KY
Non Hazardous Soil (around UST-4)	209.42 tons	various	Commonwealth Environmental, Hegins, PA
Waste Fuel	760 gallons	77436	Enviromental Recovery Corp., Lancaster, PA
Non Hazardous solids (UST residue from scrapping ops)	300 pounds	001	Modern Landfill,York,PA