See previous POLREP information.
On July 9, 2009, EPA issued a Unilateral Order to Cooper Industries, LLC, a Company tied to the former owner of the property at the Lin Electric Site. The Order requested that the Company complete the disposal of the waste materials accumulated and remaining at the Site. The Company submitted a Response Action Plan (RAP), which EPA approved, on August 6, 2009. Pursuant to this RAP, the Company would removed remaining wastes accumulated at the Site during the EPA Removal Action.
At this time, all accumulated wastes are removed from the Site and the EPA is monitoring the storm water discharging from the Site and evaluating whether or not possible low level residual contamination at the Site may continue to adversely affect the environment or pose a threat. PCBs in remaining concrete are likely below concentrations of potential concern. PCBs have not been detected in broad areas of soil at the Site. EPA continues to consider causes of low levels of PCBs found in waters at the Site.
The Company mobilized its contractor, Penn E&R of Warrendale, PA, on July 16, 2009, to meet the EPA OSC and identify the strategy for securing the wastes on Site and arranging for their disposal. The Site wastes are organized into wastes which may contain PCB concentrations greater than 50 mg/kg and debris or soil which contain low concentrations of PCBs.
The Response Action Plan, describing the procedures for, security of the wastes pending disposal, removal of the wastes from the Site, disposal of the wastes, and decontamination of the concrete pad under the wastes ultimately submitted by the Company on August 6, 2009, was approved by EPA. At that time, responsibilty for security and disposal was transferred from EPA to the Company.
On August 6, 2009, the analytical results of concrete core samples collected by EPA and analyzed for PCBs were received. The samples were collected in late June 2009 by EPA. These results, and previous data collected by EPA, indicate that PCB concentrations in the concrete remaining at the Site are low (e.g., less than 2 mg/kg). An area of higher concentration near the basement (which was subsequently cleaned) corresponded to an area used by EPA to store PCB-contaminated materials. The information indicates that the PCB cleanup conducted by Cooper Industries in the 1980's remained effective and that significant recontamination of the concrete likely did not occur. EPA had cut contaminated features (e.g., trenches and drains) out of the concrete and removed debris located upon the concrete. The concrete under the waste pile remaining on the Site remained to be sampled. However, the concrete is deemed to be cleaned.
Between August 17 and August 20, 2009, contractors were mobilized to the Site to complete the off-Site transportation and disposal of the wastes accumulated by EPA at the Site. Based upon scaled weights, approximately 338 tons of soil and debris containing PCBs greater than 50 mg/kg were removed from the Site and transported to Michigan for disposal at the EQ Wayne facility. These consisted primarily of the subsurface pipes and drains and surface features (e.g., concrete trenches) which contained PCB wastes as well as associated contaminated soils.
During this time period, the debris that was generated during the Removal Action which may contain low levels of PCB contamination was also removed. Approximately 349 tons of this material was disposed at Mercer County Landfill. This material consisted predominantly of rubble removed from the concrete pad and excess soils removed during the excavation of certain subsurface features.
After removal of the waste materials, contractors pressure washed the concrete pad and collected this water for analysis and disposal at EnviroTank Clean of Belpre, Ohio. The concrete under the wastes was then sampled and found to contain PCB residual concentrations similar to those within the concrete in the remainder of the Site as determined by EPA (e.g., less than 2 mg/kg).
Analytical (PCB congener) results were received for a shallow groundwater sample collected near the degreaser vault and Area 1d sump (in the northwest corner of the Site) on 6/24/09. The results indicate the presence of PCB congeners totalling approximately 10,430 pg/L (however this concentration may be on the order of 7500 pg/L considering the interference of blank contamination). This same sample also contained several halogenated organic compounds as previously determined, including: trichloroethene (74 micrograms per liter [ug/L]); vinyl chloride (1.6 ug/L); cis-1,2-dichloroethene (28 ug/L); and tetrachloroethene (1.3 ug/L). EPA will evaluate this information inthe context of potential threats which the Site may continue to pose.
Analytical results were also received for stormwater samples collected on 6/29/09 for PCB congeners analysis. The samples were collected from storm water flowing through the storm drain system under the Site and into which the various drainage features and tenches at the Site flowed. In general, the results indicate that PCB levels in the storm water at the Site had decllined significantly from previous sample events by an order of magnitude. The level was found to be approximately between 4491 and 7525 pg/L (1516 and 5105 pg/L considering blank contamination). Additionally, the results indicate that an upgradient source may exist.
EPA collected samples of water moving through an old sanitary system coursing through the Site and is awaiting anaytical results.
EPA collected an additional sample of the storm water at the Site on September 15, 2009. The result will help EPA determine whether or not the Site may continue to pose a threat.
Await pending analytical data and evaluate existing information and determine whether or not removal actions are completed or whether environmental data indicate continued threats posed.
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