See previous POLREP information.
EPA, ERRS, and START remobilized to the site on 5/26/09 to continue removal operations.
ERRS pumped and treated water from the Locker/Boiler Room basement. After removing the water, ERRS removed sludge and debris from the bottom of the basement, and then degreased/pressure cleaned the sides and bottom. START collected two concrete core samples from the basement floor to be analyzed for aroclors. Preliminary analytical results for the samples indicated that the basement floor was not contaminated at levels requiring further cleanup as part of this action. The basement was backfilled with concrete chunks and gravel. ERRS also degreased the concrete pad adjacent to the north side of the basement. This area had been previously used to stage contaminated debirs from the Bluefield storm drain. A concrete core sample was collected from the pad after the completion of degreasing. Analytical results for the sample indicated that the concrete was cleaned such that further decontamination as part of this action was not necessary.
ERRS pumped water from the Compressor Room and Vault 116 and treated it in the on-site water treatment system. After pumping as much water as feasible, ERRS used the excavator with a breaker attachment to break the concrete pad above the compressor room. This facilitated the removal of the concrete pad to allow access to remove debris from the comperssor room to facilitate decontamination. ERRS removed and washed large equipment, scrap metal, and debris from the Compressor Room. The metal debris were shipped off site as scrap metal on June 11, 2009. After sediment and small debris were removed from the Compressor Room, the floor and walls were degreased and cleaned with a pressure washer. The water generated during the cleaning was treated in the on-site water treatment system (WTS) or transferred into Vault 116 to allow solids to settle before treating in the WTS. A total of 151,370 gallons of water have been pumped and treated to date from all site pits, sumps, and basements. Two capacitors were also found and removed from the compressor room. One of the capacitors still had part of a label, which indicated the capacitor contained PCBs. These were stored in drums until disposal arrangements could be made. START collected two concrete core samples from the floor to be analyzed for aroclors. Analytical results are pending.
START collected two samples of dirt/debris from two concrete electrical conduit trenches in Area 2, located to the east of the Compressor Room. The samples were submitted to be analyzed for aroclors. Preliminary analytical results for the samples indicated the presence of aroclors at concentrations up to 12 mg/kg. Subsequently, the dirt and debris were cleaned out of both trenches. The trenches were then pressure washed and cleaned. Cracks found in the trench were sealed with concrete to minimize groundwater infiltration into the trenches. The trenches were backfilled with clean gravel.
The Sanitary Board of Bluefield used video equipment to trace the area storm drain pipe from the storm drain located in the parking lot to the area storm box in Area 4, and northward to the wall in Area 3. This investigation revealed the presence of a vault located on the north side of the wall. The vault was apparently associated with a former cooling unit used at the facility. ERRS used an excavator to remove bricks and debris and found two man ways to the vault and a man way to the old sanitary sewer. Holes and pipes that entered the vault and the storm drain pipe from the wall and the concrete floor above the pipe were sealed with concrete. Subsequently, the Sanitary Board cleaned the area storm drain pipe using a flusher/vacuum truck. The storm drain pipe was cleaned to the south side of Bluefield Ave., where it connects into the primary area storm drainage system, and northward to the wall in Area 3 near the property boundary. This storm drain was previously cleaned by the owners of the building in 1987. The cooling unit vault was also cleaned. START collected a sediment sample from the floor of the vault prior to the Sanitary Board cleaning it. Analytical results are pending.
START used a Trimble GPS unit to collect GPS coordinates for pits, sumps, vaults, drainage, and other important features around the site.
ERRS cleaned out two small sumps and backfilled with gravel. The first sump was located a few feet to the west of the former Shop #2 Coil Department area. The sump dimensions were approximately 3 ft. x 3 ft. x 9 in. deep. There were no drains associated with the sump. The second sump was located approximately 15 ft. south of the compressor room and had dimensions of approximately 4 ft. x 4 ft x 2 ft. deep. This sump had a drain in the bottom. ERRS sealed the drain before backfilling with gravel.
ERRS removed the concrete sidewalk between the west side alley sidewalk storm drain to the Bluefield storm inlet to allow access to remove the storm drain pipe. While removing the pipe, a 500-gallon capacity underground storage tank (UST) was encountered. The UST was located approximately 20 feet east of the west side alley storm drain sump. The UST was encountered underneath the sidewalk but extended northward under the concrete pad in the Loading Dock area. The UST had holes in the top and a layer of oil on water was observed inside. ERRS vacuumed out the oil and water prior to excavating the UST, which was primarily filled with soil. START collected a post-excavation confirmation soil sample from the sidewall near the bottom of the excavation. The storm drain pipe was removed and the Bluefield storm inlet and sump were excavated in preparation for installation of a new storm drain vault. Much of the old storm drain sump had to be dug out by hand beacause a water main pipe went through the storm drain sump. Black sediment found around the storm drain sump was excavated prior to installation of the new storm drain vault. START collected a sample of the black sediment and a post-excavation confirmation soil sample. Analytical results are pending.
On June 10, 2009, an ERRS subcontractor installed a new concrete storm drain sump to replace the excavated Bluefield storm inlet and sump. The subcontractor also connected the associated piping into the new storm drain. The Bluefield Public Works (PW) Department installed a new PVC pipe from the west side alley to the new Bluefield storm drain. PW also constructed a new storm drain box at the south end of the west alley. This new storm box was constructed near the edge of Bluefield Ave., to the south of the original storm drain box. ERRS excavated and removed the old west side alley sidewalk storm drain box.
ERRS collected samples of waste materials generated during the removal. The samples were submitted to be analyzed for disposal parameters to determine disposal requirements.
Validated analytical data was received for soil and sediment samples collected while excavating drain pipes. Two soil/sediment samples (SS-060 and duplicate sample SS-061) were collected in Area 4 during the excavation of the Old Storm Sewer 24" drain pipe. Analytical results for aroclors were non-detect in both samples. Results for the volatile organics analysis (VOA) indicated low levels of methylcyclohexane (4.4 and 7.2 mg/kg) and benzene (0.32 mg/kg in SS-061 only) in the samples. Analytical results for a soil sample collected during excavation of the 6" pipes in Area 4 indicated a low level of aroclor 1254 at 0.31 mg/kg (sample SS-064). Several volatile organic compounds were also detected in the sample at relatively low concentrations, including: methylcyclohexane (2.2 mg/kg); trichloroethene (TCE)(0.78 mg/kg); cyclohexane (0.39 mg/kg); cis-1,2-dichloroethene (1.6 mg/kg); and vinyl chloride (0.22 mg/kg). Two sediment samples (SS-062 and SS-063) were also collected from inside the 6" pipes that connected into the Old Storm Drain in Area 4. Analytical results for aroclors indicated the presence of aroclor 1260 at concentrations of 7.9 and 8.8 mg/kg. Volatile compounds were also detected in the samples, including: vinyl chloride (up to 1.6 mg/kg); cis-1,2-dichloroethene (up to 27 mg/kg); and TCE (up to 12 mg/kg). The 6" pipes and the sediment in the pipes will be disposed of off site in accordance with federal and state regulations.
Complete removal of contaminated drainage systems.
Prepare all wastes for off-Site disposal.
Prepare to conduct final cleaning of pad area.
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