Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Tank Car Corporation of America
Oreland, PA - EPA Region III
POLREP #25 - Nov 15-28

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On-Scene Coordinator - Myles Bartos, On-Scene Coordinator	11/17/2010
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #25
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
Ten truckloads of non-hazardous, non DOT regulated construction and demolition debris were hauled off-site for disposal at Minerva Landfill in Waynesburg, Ohio. A majority of the construction and demolition debris generated are now removed from the Site.

A temporary fence with a privacy screen has been installed along the eastern border of the site.

In an effort to free up space onsite, a temporary parking area was created along Walnut Ave.  It is still on TCCA property but is "out of the way" and is intended for use only by site workers during normal business hours. Only vehicles authorized by TCCA will be parked there after hours or on weekends.

Rail line and sand blasting grit that was in the SEPTA right-of-way has been removed. This work was completed in two phases:

     1) K.W. Reese Company was on site to remove the inactive railroad siding track and ties.

     2) Following the track and tie removal, ERRS contractors scraped sand blasting material from the right of way, down to the original grade, then restored any railroad ballast stone that was disturbed during the removal.

Materials removed from the right of way were staged temporarily onsite awaiting recycling/reuse or disposal. SEPTA personnel provided track protection during the removal efforts per NORAC rule 135, Protection by Stop Signs When an In-Service Track is Obstructed for Maintenance, between the hours of 0900 and 1500.

After the removal of these materials were completed, an onsite meeting with representatives from SEPTA and EPA occurred.  Both parties agreed on a plan regarding the final grading and the placement of ballast stone along the railroad right of way.  The plan is to execute the plan and meet one more time prior to ballast placement.

In general the plan was to grade sloping away from the tracks and install a small (approximately 18-24' berm at the edge of the SEPTA right of way.  This will effectively separate SEPTA and TCCA property.

Several test pits were dug in the area of the historic waste lagoons to observe subsurface conditions and water infiltration rates. Minimal groundwater or perched water was observed infiltrating the test pits. Evidence of black, tarry lagoon waste was encountered during the investigation. A temporary well was installed to collect shallow ground water; water samples will be collected from this well to evaluate potential disposal options of the shallow groundwater. Soil samples were collected from the test pits and from the sandblasting grit stockpile, laboratory analysis results will be used to determine disposal options. The test pits were backfilled after samples were collected.  Air monitoring was conducted during the investigation to ensure the safety of workers and the surrounding public. While odors were detected via our noses, the air monitoring indicated a safe atmosphere.

OSC Bartos sent an email out to the residents explaining the above described operation and how our noses are more sensitive than instruments.  Several residents had follow up questions that were subsequently answered.

A partial crew worked a half day on Saturday, November 20th.

The effort to consolidate and collect sand blasting material continued, with collected sand being temporally stockpiled onsite.

Small quantities of sand with visible staining and odors were separated and placed on containment and covered with plastic and temporally stored onsite awaiting disposal.

Shallow ground water samples were collected from the temporary shallow well that was installed in the historic waste lagoon location (lagoon #2). The samples will be analyzed for numerous constituents to determine disposal water management/disposal options.

Silt fence was extended along the northern boundary of the site following sandblasting grit removal, also additional concrete barriers were placed along the sand blasting grit stockpile.

The crew demobilized for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Next Steps
Complete SEPTA restoration. Meet with SEPTA after the holiday to review progress.

Complete sediment pond.

Continue information transfer with residents.

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