The Japanese Auto Wrecking (JAW) site (no longer operating at this location) originally occupied approximately 1.7 acres. The site (located at 7777 262nd Street in Kent, Washington) is a former auto wrecking yard that was referred to the EPA’s Emergency Response Unit by the Washington Department of Ecology, the Washington State Patrol, and the EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) division. The site located near other auto wrecking yards, is within 0.25 mile of the Green River, and within 0.5 mile of residences. Prior to their February 2003 eviction, Japanese Auto Wrecking had taken over approximately 5.72 acres of the former Astro Salvage property. During the START site visit on February 13, 2003, oil was observed floating on surface water and strong petroleum odors were noted near a car-crushing area on the Japanese Auto Wrecking property. Workers on site reported dumping of thousands of gallons of gasoline directly into the soil at several locations. The site was closed by Washington Department of Labor and Industries in January, 2003, due to unsafe working conditions. On February 27, 2003, the EPA responded to the site due to the potential for buried chlorine gas cylinders to leak. On May 2, 2003, the EPA defined the entire 15 acre property (this includes the approximately 8 acres formerly occupied by Japanese Auto Wrecking) the site area.
Removal Assessment Phase I
March 11, 2003
The START mobilized to the site on Tuesday, March 11, 2003, to collect groundwater surface and subsurface soil samples at the site. Several surface soil locations were identified previously during the February 13, 2003, site visit by EPA Project Manager Shawn Blocker. During this phase of the removal assessment samples were collected by the START at five locations. Laboratory analysis include TCLP and TAL metals. Subsurface soil and groundwater samples were also collected at three locations with the direct-push GeoprobeTM . According to former Japanese Auto Wrecking employees the owner dumped unknown quantities of pure product (gasoline) at several locations on site. Subsurface soils were field screened with the Flame Ionization Detector (FID) for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). At two of the three locations organic vapors were detected at concentrations exceeding the response range for this instrument. Samples were shipped to a laboratory for confirmation analysis. Benzene was detected at concentrations exceeding federal guidelines and state cleanup levels in subsurface soil and groundwater samples at two of the three GeoprobeTM borings (see attached analytical data tables).
Removal Assessment Phase II
May 21-26, 2003
On May 21, 2003, the START re-mobilized to the site to install three monitoring wells. The purpose of installing the wells were to determine if contamination had migrated off site hence, impacting the Green River. These wells were installed (to a depth of 25 feet below ground surface) with a drilling rig. Prior to well installation subsurface soil samples were collected at four foot intervals (per location). Groundwater samples were collected (per location) once the wells were developed 24 hours after installation. Samples collected were analyzed for VOCs, SVOCs, Pest/PCBs, TAL metals NWTPH-Gasoline and NW-TPH-diesel range petroleum hydrocarbons and TCLP. All samples were shipped to laboratory contracted by the START for analysis.
Removal Assessment Phase III
July 17, 2003
On July 17, 2003, the START re-mobilized the the Japanese Auto Wrecking site to collect additional
subsurface soil and groundwater samples. During this phase of the removal assessment samples were collected by the START at five locations. Laboratory analysis include TCLP VOCs, and NWTPH-Gx. Subsurface soil and groundwater samples were also collected at three locations with the direct-push GeoprobeTM. Samples collected for TCLP analysis were shipped to the EPA Region 10 Laboratory for analysis. All other samples collected for VOCs and NWTPH-Gx were shipped to a private laboratory contracted by the START.
On Thursday, August 28, 2003, the EPA OSC Mike Sibley, START, the RP and the RP's consultant met to discuss analtyical data that were generated during the three phase removal assessment. After review of all data the RP decieded to remediate the site.
RP agreed to put together removal action plan under an Administrative Order of Consent (AOC) and submit to EPA for approval that will include the following:
-The removal of several 55-gallon drums (with unknown contents) and various size containers at the site,
-Determine the extent of plume contamination at the site (this may include additional subsurface drilling with a Geoprobe).
-Remove contaminated soils.
-Backfill with clean soils.
-The removal of waste oil in a 2500 gallon oil tank.
-Erect a fence surrounding the site.
Determine after further characterization of the plume hot spots on site, what the actual removal action will be;
1. Excavate contaminated soil; or
2. If excavation area to large some type of pump & treat or vapor extraction system will be needed.
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