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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 #30 - Dec 27 - Jan 9
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On-Scene Coordinator - Myles Bartos, On-Scene Coordinator 1/10/2011
Time-Critical - Removal Action Pollution Report (POLREP) #30
Start Date: 1/29/2007
Pollution Report (POLREP) #30
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 ERRS met onsite on Friday, December 31 to review the disposal bids.  Several disposal options were presented by the bidding vendors.  In order to award the bid, some additional sampling will need to be conducted and questions answered.  EPA and ERRS will discuss this in the coming days to make a decision.  

EPA, ERRS, and START mobilized to Site on Monday to begin work.  Primary work included equipment preparation for sand consolidation and removal.  

On Wednesday, Jan 5th, PADEP officials (Harkins and Lorin) visited the Site.  

START used a GPS to stake aout a 20 by 20 foot grid over the large lagoon area.  Using this grid, approximately 50 pits were dug to collect additional samples for disposal.  These samples will be used to ensure the material is fully characterized and and appropriate for the disposal facilities it will be shipped to.  Each disposal facility has its own set of sampling requirements.  This sampling will meet those initial requirements.

ERRS crew regraded the large sand pile and covered the top with polysheeting to minimize sand blowing.  EPA also directed the crew to increase the sand management efforts to ensure the pile is not blowing around.  A variety of techniques will be used including wetting it down (if not snow covered or already wet) or tarping when possible.  


Key Issues
Disposal of waste.   The lagoon materials has numerous constituents.  This "mix" is making selecting an appropriate disposal facility difficult.  Each facility is permitted for specific types of waste at specific levels.  In the case of the lagoon waste, we are finding that an individual facility may be able to take one type of constituent but not another.  There are facilities available, we are just looking for the best option.    

 
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 approx 512 tons various Minerva Enterprises