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Tank Car Corporation of America

All POLREP's for this site Tank Car Corporation of America
Oreland, PA - EPA Region III
POLREP #24 - Nov 8-15
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On-Scene Coordinator - Myles Bartos, On-Scene Coordinator 11/15/2010
Time-Critical - Removal Action Pollution Report (POLREP) #24
Start Date: 1/29/2007
Pollution Report (POLREP) #24
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
EPA (and it's contractors) and SEPTA met onsite Monday at 0900 to discuss work to be done in the SEPTA right of way.  Specifics including equipment to be used, areas to work, techniques to be employed, and time frames of work were discussed and verbally agreed to.  Special attention will be payed to an underground line that runs along the track.  The line is believed to be 3-4 feet below grade and will be marked by SEPTA.  The excavator will not cross this line and smaller equipment traffic (skidsteer and the like) will be minimized.  

EPA (OSC TOWLE) and SEPTA worked to develop a formal access agreement to memorialize the discussion.

Construction and Debris (C&D) waste was shipped offsite to Minerva Enterprises in Ohio.  A total of 10 loads were shipped.

Efforts to consolidate sand continued.  A large pile is being erected at the northeastern portion of the site.  Silt fence is being installed to minimize migration should it rain. Concrete barriers are also being installed to aid the effort.

100 tons of railroad ballast stone was delivered to the site and stockpiled in preparation for the upcoming work on the railroad right of way.

Along the eastern boundary of the Site, sand blasting material was scraped from the surface, down to the native soil layer, and consolidated into a pile onsite.

Aqua PA installed a water meter.  Water service is now functioning and will be used for dust suppression and tire cleaning.  

The structurally unsound portion of a building adjacent to the railroad tracks was successfully taken down on November 11th.  This process was coordinated with SEPTA to ensure the safety of railroad passengers. The materials were segregated and staged for disposal and recycling.  

Sand was continued to be staged onsite in preparation for lagoon excavation.  Work continues to consolidate materials onsite and develop plans for future removal work including water treatment requirements for discharge into the POTW, tarry lagoon waste disposal, sand management and/or disposal and onsite traffic patterns.



Planned Removal Actions
EPA will further investigate the need to remove the sandblasting shed onsite.  This shed appears to be sitting on top of lagoon #2.  

Next week will be the start of SEPTA right of way work including removal of industrial siding and sands.  

Based on conversations with several residents, a privacy fence will be installed in areas where significant vegetation removal occurred between the TCCA property and the residential properties.  EPA will continue investigation as to what the best method of final restoration is (trees, shrubs, etc)


 
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
Non Hazardous Construction Debris various Minerva Enterprises