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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 #44 - April 10-16
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On-Scene Coordinator - Myles Bartos, On-Scene Coordinator 4/21/2011
Time-Critical - Removal Action Pollution Report (POLREP) #44
Start Date: 1/29/2007
Pollution Report (POLREP) #44
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 Time Critical Removal Action is ongoing and current activities are described in the next sections.


Current Activities
This week 41 loads of small lagoon non hazardous waste, with an estimated weight of 943 tons were shipped to Waste Management GROWS/ Tulleytown landfill in Morrisville Pennsylvania. Approximately 9,580 tons to-date. All waste material from the lagoons has now been excavated and disposed offsite.  

All sand has been covered with at least 12" of clay.  

Two loads of non hazardous C&D (construction debris) material was shipped offsite for disposal.  

Clay continued to be imported to the Site for use as backfill.  

START collected soil samples of the clay from the bottom of the excavation.  The samples will be analyzed for VOCs, SVOCs, Pesticides, PCBs, and Metals.  The results will be forwarded to the EPA site assessment and PADEP.

EPA continued to maintain "clean" and dirty" sides of the Site to minimize the potential for cross contamination.  In an effort to meet this goal, specific traffic patterns that have been established for Site workers as well as Site tenants continue to be enforced.  

On-Site mud control and off-Site minimization efforts continue.  Trucks are directed to drive over an approximately 75 foot stone pad (with 2-3 inch stone) to knock off any mud from the tires.  The Township is aiding by sweeping the streets on a routine basis.  It is important to note that any mud tracked onto the streets is "clean" since the trucks do not enter the "dirty" portion of the Site.

Air monitoring continued around the Site, as per the air monitoring plan until disposal waste complete.  Odors continued to be present during the excavation and truck loading.  However, air monitoring indicates no levels of concern.  

EPA continued outreach to the community through a variety of methods including the website, email, phone call, and door to door.

EPA also continues to coordinate with appropriate regulatory agencies as needed including the Township and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Disposal and initial grading is complete.  Additional trucks of clay capping material will continue to import material to bring the Site to a final grade.  The final grade will divert rain water from the west and east sides of the Site to the center of it.  The center is pitched down towards the north side (tracks) and into the sediment pond.

EPA contacted the Township to inquire about any requirements for fenicing the sediment pond.  If water holds at 36" deep for more than 24 hours a fence is needed.  The pond only holds approximately 30 inches of water before it spills out over the spillway.  No fence will be needed.  At final grade, an additional elevation survey will occur to verify maximum depth of water.

EPA Sanchez and contractors were onsite to review Tank Car files.

The loader and one excavator were demobilized from Site.


Planned Removal Actions
Continue backfilling and grading of the Site.

Continue final stabilization with stone and/or vegetation.


 
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 700 tons various Minerva Enterprises
Non Hazardous solids (large lagoon) approx 8548 tons various Clean Earth, Morrisville, PA
Non Hazardous solids (small lagoon) approx 9580 tons various Waste Management , (GROWS), PA
Hazardous solids (small lagoon) 220 tons various Stablex Canada, Inc Quebec, Canada
Non Hazardous solids (sands) various