The site is at the location of the formerly known Ashton Texaco retail fuel sales facility and convenience store located at 363 Highway 20 in Ashton, Idaho, at the intersection of US Highway 20 and Walnut. Tests have indicated that one 12,000 gallon underground storage tank (UST) and three pump housings are leaking. The station has removed all but 5 inches of gasoline from the UST. Gasoline was detected in on-site and off-site monitoring wells by IDEQ contactors. IDEQ requested EPA's Emergency Response Unit's assistance to address potential surface water releases from the facility (sheen was detected in downgradient wetlands and surface water ditches).
June 3, 2003: EPA received confirmation from Bill Kerssen, the operator, that the remaining gasoline (approximately 165 gallons) was pumped into drums. The drums were Paul Parkinson for use in his farm equpment.
June 4, 2003: EPA issued an order under the Clean Water Act, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to Bravehearts, LLC and Bill Kerssens. Order consisted of removing remaining gasoline inside of the 12,000 gallon tank (completed by operator), removing the leaking 12,000 gallon tank, and installation of extraction wells to recover gasoline and treat ground water to reduce the threat of a release of surface water.
June 10, 2003: Bravehearts indicates that they are working to comply with the part of the order dealing with removal of the underground storage tank. Bravehearts indicates that they do not have finances to install extraction wells. The operator, Mr. Kerssen also indicated he does not have the finances to comply with the order.
June 10 - 13, 2003: EPA issued a Delivery Order to EPA's ERRS contractor and a Technical Direction Order to EPA's START contractor to mobilize to the site on June 17, 2003 to install extraction wells and treatment system on site. In addition, the contractors were instructed to be prepared to remove the leaking underground storage tank. In addition, the START was tasked with making arrangements for conducting pump tests at the site prior to and after construction of extraction wells. A total of 5 extraction wells are anticipated to be installed at the facility. The pump tests will provide information as to the productivity of the wells. The data from the pump tests also will aid in determining the optimal recovery system to install at the site. The ERRS contractors were working to secure a drilling subcontract.
June 16, 2003: EPA - 0, START - 2, ERRS - 1 Bravehearts requests an extention to the order's due date for delivery of a work plan to remove the 12,000 gallon tank because of difficulty finding a contractor to do the work. In addition, they had the tank retested and it passed. They planned another test on 6/18/03. EPA OSC consulted with State and EPA Tanks programs. Two START geologists mobilized to the site in Ashton, Idaho. Equipment for conducting pump tests at the site also was mobilized.
The ERRS contractor made final arrangements to have a driller and other equipment necessary for installing the extraction wells on site this week. One ERRS contractor mobilized to the site.
June 17, 2003. EPA-1, START-2, ERRS-1
EPA granted Bravehearts an extention to the order requiring the work plan to be completed by close of business on 6/18/03. EPA mobilizes to the site. Two START geologists are on site. They pick up additional equipment for the pump test. The START also provides the EPA with engineering specifications for construction of the extraction wells.
June 18, 2003. EPA-1, START-2, ERRS-1,Wheeler-2. The facility owners performed another tank tightness test using an EPA-approved method. The tank and distribution lines were tested using a negative pressure test. Over the weekend, the facility owners also tested the tanks and lines using a postivie pressure test. The tanks and lines passed both the positive and negative pressure tests. EPA tasked the geologists to begin a specific capacity test on MW-1 to determine how much water it can produce. The well was pumped dry and was found not recover quickly. START geologists started to conduct pump test on MW-2 for initial recovery information.
June 19, 2003: EPA-2, START-2, ERRS-1, Layne-4
Layne GeoConstruction, Salt Lake City, Utah on site with drill rig, and support vehicles. Erik Sirs with EPA's Tanks Program on site to witness the tank tightness test being conducted with approximately 3,000 gallons of gasoline added to the 12,000 gallon tank (per testing method protocols). Tank tested tight barring the water level measurements in EPA's new extraction wells. Drillers began to drill extraction well #9 (for conventional purposes each well (monitoring well)will be labled EPA MW-9).
June 20, 2003: EPA-1, START-2, ERRS-1, Layne-4
Drillers finished EPA MW-9, EPA MW-10, and partially completed EPA MW-11. START conducted product recovery test on MW-3. Initial readings indicated 1.0 feet of gasoline on the groundwater surface inside of the monitoring well. After 4 hours approximately 85% of the initial volume of gasoline was recharged inside the well.
-Install approximately 5 extraction wells.
-Develop each well and conduct pump tests and product recovery tests on appropriate wells.
-Design product and groundwater extraction system.
-Install extraction and treatment system according to the engineering design.
-Determine product recovery rate and develop operating parameters and timeline.
The owner, Bravehearts, L.L.C. and the operator, Bill Kerssen, indicated that they do not have the funds available to install the groundwater extraction and treatment system.
-Groundwater monitoring wells off site and on site contain gasoline.
-Fractured Basalt is located at 5 to 10 feet below ground surface to a depth of 45 feet below ground surface.
-Basalt was visible in ditch. The ditch, with flowing water, leads to tributaries of navigable waterways.
June 18, 2003: Channel 3 TV conducted brief interview and video shoot.
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