See POLREPs #4 and #5 for Site Description information.
Removal Action activities are continuing. In general, contaminated water and oil is being pumped from basement and vault areas to assist the OSC to identify connections between the Site and area drainage systems.
The ERRS contractor completed the removal of the majority of the contaminated water from the former degreaser tank vault and adjacent sump and drain (located in former Crane Shop 2 Area 1d of the Site). As observed during excavation, the sump and drain outlet pipe is heading west from the sump and is completely full of black sludge. The destination of this line will be attempted through excavation. The sediment within the vault is being allowed to settle before the last of the water is removed and any exit point in the vault identified.
The ERRS contractor completed the removal of the majority of the water and pumpable oil from the basement of the facility. A piece of the basement roof was removed to allow for the drums in the basement to be removed. Some of the drums contained solids or residual resin-like materials. Other drums were empty. Most of the drums were in extremely poor condition which would have allowed for any liquid contents to come out. The last of the oil and water will be removed to allow for the identification of drains.
The ERRS continued removal of contaminated water from the former compressor room. Water from an adjacent vault is also declining indicating connection between these two features. The water level in the adjacent feature was at the elevation of a drainage pipe leading from the Site along its western edge.
The OSC continues to inspect the Site and try to determine how contaminated waters are migrating from the Site into area storm drains and sanitary systems.
A 36 inch diameter drop box located along the western alley adjacent to the Site was found to contain black oily material and a chemical odor. Two pipes at the bottom of the drop box are oriented north/south. Liquid level in the drop box is within the pipes. This feature, thus appears to allow drainage from the Site to enter a storm inlet located at a gate along the western edge of the facility. Black oily material was removed from the storm inlet at the gate. Drainage from the storm inlet at the gate appears to be connected to a grated storm inlet within the northern gutter of Bluefield Avenue located adjacent to the Site.
The START contractor conducted sampling of soils and sediments located at the Site. A hammer mounted on a backhoe was used to break away small portions of the concrete slab to allow for sampling of undisturbed soil beneath. Sediment within some of the storm drains was also sampled.
The OSC spoke to a local radio station on 8/18.
During the removal of contaminated waters from the various subsurface features and the removal of pieces of concrete slab to facilitate investigation, the OSC has noticed that underground waters are entering the excavations and the subsurface features. For example, water is re-entering the former degreaser tank vault (estimated at less than a gallon every 5 minutes) and the adjacent sump and drain. The water rose to within the level of the drain of the sump and drain feature in area 1d. This indicates that potentially contaminated waters may continue to migrate from the Site unless the drains are plugged or the Site contamination is removed.
Continue removal of contaminated waters to enable evaluation of drainage from the Site. Coordinate with City officials to determine how the drainage may be connected to the area drainage systems (storm and sanitary). Evaluate how drainage from the Site can be minimized.
Sample surface waters and sediments at the Site and in areas which may be affected by the Site
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