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. Removal actions began at the site on 08/14/08.
On August 18th, 2008, removal actions continued at the site. ERRS began moving metal scrap debris from storage bay 2 into the main building for staging. ERRS was continuing to move debris when a tire blew out on the skid steer. A tire repair service was called to deliver and replace the tire. ERRS also installed additional silt fencing in a location south (downstream) of the site buildings. START performed hot zone and perimeter air monitoring during this day. No levels of concern (TWA) were detected. 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 19th, 2008, removal activities continued at the site. At 0915 hours, WVDEP inspectors Dale Gable and Kevin Campbell arrived at the site to monitor the removal operations and progress. Following the WVDEP visit, a local resident that owns a mixing machine inside the building stopped by to inquire about obtaining the machine. The resident was advised that the machine would not be available until the removal was completed due to safety issues. ERRS continued to clean out and segregate materials in the storage building. To facilitate this, approximately 50 empty 55 gallon drums arrived on site. START performed hot zone and perimeter air monitoring during this day. No levels of concern (TWA) were detected. 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 mid 80s.
On August 20th, 2008, removal activities continued at the site. ERRS continued to clear out and segregate debris and materials in storage building. START investigated the small shed at the northern end of the site. The building contained a drum, a few open bags of vermiculite, and a box of gravel-like material. START reported these finding to the OSC and subsequently the ERRS Response Manager. During the afternoon, ERRS placed an order for ~100 more empty drums to assist in the segregating and staging of materials/chemicals from the storage building. These drums arrived late in the day from Youngstown Barrel and Drum. The drums were staged temporarily in the main facility building. START performed hot zone and perimeter air monitoring during this day. No levels of concern (TWA) were detected. 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 mid to upper 80s.
On August 21st, 2008, removal activities continued at the site. ERRS continued to fill drums with segregated materials/chemicals from the storage building (storage bay 2 specifically). ERRS discovered a metal drum labeled "caustic ash flakes". ERRS performed a pH test that resulted in a pH of 14. This drum was staged in a safe area away from other potential incompatibles. Also, the small shed at the north end of the site was cleared out and the materials that were within it were staged in the storage building. START performed hot zone and perimeter air monitoring during this day. No levels of concern (TWA) were detected. 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 high 80s.
On August 22nd, 2008, removal activities continued at the site. ERRS continued to concentrate on operations within the storage building. All work conducted in this building during this week was performed in Level "C". During this day, the OSC, START, and the RM discuss the next steps including what work will be performed in the main facility building. START produces a list of these items for reference purposes. ERRS continuing to fill drums in the storage building. ERRS staged drums according to material type, and/or suspected material type to facilitate disposal coordination. START performed hot zone and perimeter air monitoring during this day. No levels of concern (TWA) were detected. 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 high 80s.
On August 23rd, 2008, removal activities continued at the site. ERRS continued to containerize materials in the storage building. Also, ERRS tested the pH of the contents of some drums. ERRS also used a vacuum to help clean several areas of the storage building. START performed hot zone and perimeter air monitoring during this day. No levels of concern (TWA) were detected. START collected written and photographic documentation of site activities. One START, and five ERRS were on site during this day. The weather was partly cloudy with temps in the high 80s.
Continue removal operations at the site.
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