Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Tank Car Corporation of America
Oreland, PA - EPA Region III
POLREP #23 - Nov 1-7

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On-Scene Coordinator - Myles Bartos, On-Scene Coordinator	11/8/2010
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #23
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.

Current Activities
Surveyors were onsite to evaluate existing conditions for laying out a temporary dump truck access road, which will utilize the existing Site entrance/exit on Walnut Avenue.

Due to the presence of significant surface sand, additional vegetation was removed along the eastern boundary of the site.  The crew continued the "take what you need, leave whatever you can" approach with the trees. Removed vegetation was chipped and was staged onsite for future use. As of weeks end, the vegetation removal and wood chipping efforts are now complete.

Carney Plumbing installed water service piping and hardware to service the site during removal operations.  The water will be used for onsite dust suppression and for a truck tire wash rack.

OSC Myles Bartos traveled door to door along Orlemann Avenue in to meet with residents and discuss the Site operations.  Not all residents were home, but the OSC encouraged those who were to relay the information to their neighbors.  It is EPA's intent to install some privacy fence along the property line between Tank Car's property and the residential properties.  This will act as a temporary boundary limiting the the view of what residents call and "eyesore".  EPA will evaluate final restoration options for this area.

Preparations were made for the future demolition of the eastern wing of the paint building, which is adjacent to the railroad tracks. The building will be removed for a number of reasons including safety of workers and to more easily and efficiently deal with the sand onsite.   Upon completion of the building removal, a catch basin will be constructed to help manage onsite water.

Piles of sand blasting grit along the eastern portion of the Site have been moved and consolidated in a temporary sand staging area.  The demolition of the building will be conducted in coordination with SEPTA.  The building is out of the right of way, however, SEPTA asked that they be there for the demolition.  EPA agreed.

Silt fencing is currently being installed starting at the south end of the site and traveling along the eastern boundary of the site.

Springfield Township Water Department tested a sewer lateral onsite to confirm it is still connected to the municipal sanitary sewer main located under the center of Walnut Avenue. The connection to the sanitary sewer is a prospective location to discharge pre-treated stormwater that could potentially collect in lagoon locations during excavation activities. This is dependent on the outcome of discharge permit discussions with the Philadelphia Water Department.

A meeting is planned with SEPTA to discuss the removal of sand blasting grit that migrated offsite and onto the adjacent railroad right of way.  OSC Towle is working with SEPTA and EPA to establish a new access agreement for the anticipated work.

In addition to equipment already onsite, new equipment onsite this week: trencher, bulldozer, larger size loader, and an additional porta-potty designated for women only.

ERRS continued to work with Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to determine what criteria will need to be met to discharge into the POTW.  Historical sampling data and Site historical information was compiled for submission and will be sent in next week.

ERRS and EPA also discussed sampling and disposal strategies for the lagoon materials.  We plan on having potential bidders collect samples onsite in the near future to prepare bids.  The exact date is yet to be determined.

Next Steps
Prepare disposal sampling strategy.

Prepare POTW discharge strategy and order treatment system based on PWD requirements.

Continue to segregate, consolidate, and dispose materials.

A meeting with SEPTA is planned for Monday morning to discuss all activities in the SEPTA right of way. These activities include rail removal, sand removal, and restoration with rail ballast. The details of the operation, including equipment to be used, will be discussed and agreed upon at that time.

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