The City of Providence is undertaking a Removal Action at the Hartford Avenue Gravel Pits Site (the "Site") under the oversight of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). The Site is located off Hartford Avenue, in Johnston, Providence County, Rhode Island. The property is owned by the City of Providence and operated by the Providence Water Supply Board as protected land for its watershed.
The cleanup is addressing contaminated soils, debris, and building materials on-site identified during an EPA Site Investigation (SI) on June 14, 15, and 16, 2004. Activities will include removal and disposal of lead-contaminated surface soils, containers of potentially ignitable chemicals (paints and aerosols), and asbestos-containing floor tiles.
On July 10, 2006 the City of Providence's cleanup contractors mobilized to the Site to initiate cleanup activities. Activities included clearing vegetation, installing erosion control measures, and preparing work areas in advance of removal of contaminated soils and wastes.
Following preparatory activities, cleanup crews completed the removal of contaminated solid waste from three areas of concern (Areas "A," "B," and "I").
Planned removal activities include:
- continuing to conduct erosion-control and dust suppression activities as needed;
- removing containers of potentially ignitable chemicals;
- continuing to collect and analyze samples as needed to further characterize the horizontal and vertical extent of contamination;
- excavating surface soils and debris piles contaminated with lead and/or asbestos;
- collecting and analyzing post-excavation confirmatory samples;
- backfilling excavations with clean fill materials;
- revegetating disturbed areas, as necessary, to control erosion; and
- packaging, staging, and removing hazardous substances for off-site disposal at licensed disposal facilities.
In one area of concern on the property - Area "D" - test pits indicate that the contaminated solid waste extends deeper than originally estimated and is present below the groundwater line, and removal of all of the contaminated material might undermine a rail bed and impact the integrity of the slope.
The City of Providence Water Supply Board will evaluate the analytical results from recent sampling in this area to determine the feasibility of leaving some subsurface contamination in place, and whether an Environmental Land Usage Restriction (ELUR) is appropriate to identify contaminated materials left in place.
EPA is coordinating with RIDEM regarding the status of site activities. Should the City of Providence no longer be willing and/or able to conduct cleanup activities, EPA may conduct the Removal Action.
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