The Pennsboro Glass Site includes the facility buildings and grounds of the former Pennsboro Glass Company. The majority of the Site is occupied by a moderately sized glass manufacturing facility (approximately 2/3 of Site property). The majority of the original facility is still intact, though the buildings are in disrepair. The largest building is the main factory building, which houses several kilns/ovens, treatment and finished product storage areas. Also on the property are two adjacent warehouse buildings, located to the north of the main building. There is an unnamed tributary that runs beneath the facility, fed by waters from the hillside to the north. On the east side of the former facility is the current Champion Marble Company manufacturing building. The south side of the Site is a large gully area that was formerly the location of the Premier Glass Company, the last portions of which reportedly burnt down in the mid-1990s.
The Pennsboro Glass Company abandoned the facility in 1998. The site was purchased and used for storage (marble company storage) and asset liquidation, but was not maintained in regards to hazardous constituent safety and security. In 2005 the WVDEP requested assistance from the EPA in cleaning up and addressing the hazardous chemicals and constituents remaining at the Site. EPA unsuccessfully attempted to gain access to the site from the current property owner. Therefore, an access warrant for sampling was sought after and granted to EPA in 2007 to perform sampling at the site. EPA and its contractor (START) conducted a sampling event at the site from November 13th to November 15th, 2007, as part of a removal site evaluation. Analytical results for waste samples collected from the building indicated concentrations of several metals constituents. Contaminants of concern detected in soil samples included selenium with a concentration up to 127000 mg/kg; lead with a concentration up to 1420 mg/kg; arsenic with a concentration up to 566 mg/kg; and cadmium with a concentration up to 1610 mg/kg; and chromium with a concentration up to 144000 mg/kg.
Based on these results and situations at the site, the OSC deemed a removal action necessary. The OSC drafted a special bulletin for the site. Several hazardous constituents (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium) were identified in validated laboratory data from samples collected inside the building during the event. Based on the data results the OSC again petitioned the court for a subsequent access warrant in order to activate a cleanup. This warrant was awarded by the United States District Court of the Northern District of West Virginia on July 30th, 2008. The access warrant is good for 90 days.
On August 13th, 2008, the OSC, START, and ERRS mobilized to the Parkersburg area. ERRS mobilized all the necessary equipment necessary to perform a removal action at the site. ERRS visited the site to unload and prepare equipment to begin operations on the following day. Three ERRS personnel were onsite during this day. The weather was partly cloudy with temps in the low 80s.
On August 14th, 2008, removal action activities began at the site. The OSC advised the ERRS not to operate machinery on any wooden floor areas due to potential floor instability. Operations began in the storage building just north of the main facility building. This building was found to contain numerous drums, palate chemical bags, and other containers, along with numerous scrap metal items and debris. At 0945 hours, WVDEP inspectors Kevin Campbell and Dale Gable arrived to observe and inspect operations at the Site. WVDEP inquired about possible soil contamination, but START informed the inspectors that based on analytical results from the recent sampling event in November, soil does not appear to be contaminated in the areas sampled. START deployed a personal Dataram to monitor airborne particulate levels in the work area, and two Datarams to monitor airborne particulate levels at perimeter locations. ERRS began moving and arranging drums and debris. ERRS had one 30 yd rolloff dumpster arrive at the site for disposal of refuse and non-hazardous debris. ERRS also conducted some clearing and grubbing operations along the street side of the site. While conducting site operations, the OSC and START were deployed to an oil spill emergency response in Parkersburg, WV. START collected written and photographic documentation of site activities. The OSC, one START, two WVDEP inspectors, and five ERRS personnel were onsite during this day. The weather was partly to mostly cloudy with temps in the upper 70s.
On August 15th, 2008, removal action activities continued at the site. START deployed air monitoring equipment as conducted on the previous day. Pennsboro Fire Chief Robert Riggs offered EPA the use of the upstairs level Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Department. EPA accepted the use of this room and thanked Mr. Riggs for the offer. ERRS continued using a skid steer to move refuse and debris to the rolloff dumpster. ERRS also received another rolloff dumpster on this day, and had the original one switched as it was full. ERRS also consolidated miscellaneous containers into one staging area inside the main facility building and an area in the storage building. Mr. Robert Riggs, and two City of Pennsboro employees arrived at the site to inspect operations. One of the city employees reminded START of a piece of machinery belonging to a local resident that still resides in the storage building. The OSC and START again had to leave the site during this day due to the oil spill emergency response in Parkersburg, WV. START collected written and photographic documentation of site activities. The OSC, one START, and five ERRS were on site during this day. The weather was partly cloudy with temps in the low 80s.
On August 16th, 2008, removal action activities continued at the site. Initially during this day the OSC was needed at the oil spill emergency response mentioned above, but the OSC returned the site following the completion of the emergency response. ERRS continued to dispose of refuse and debris into the rolloff dumpsters as necessary. Also, ERRS began staging all scrap metal, including empty drums, in an area of the main facility building. ERRS continued with some weeding and clearing operations on this day. The OSC, one START, and five ERRS were on site during this day. START collected written and photographic documentation of site activities. The weather was partly cloudy with temps in the low 80s. The OSC, one START, and five ERRS were on site during this day. The weather was clear to partly cloudy with temps in the low 80s.
ERRS to continue cleanup operations at the Site. The OSC will continue to coordinate with WVDEP and local officials as to the status of the removal action.
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