Work Mission Statement:
Safely and efficiently investigate and remove Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC); Materials Potentially Possessing an Explosive Hazard (MPPEH), Munitions Debris (MD) and explosively contaminated soil(TNT) from the Elkton Farms Firehole Site, as defined in EPA's geophysical study.
The following stats apply since remobilization occurred on April 24, 2007:
1. Total Grids Cleared Gov't QA: 59
2. Total MEC found: 15590 (MEC items include detonators,grenade fuze,blasting caps,tracer elements, incendiary bomblets, flares etc. etc.)
4. Total MD found: 1818lbs.
5. Scrap metal found: 394lbs
6. Total Phase II processed soils: 42,608 cuft.
Specific grids that were worked (both Phase I and II) and passed QA this reporting period included: D3b,D4c,G5a,H1a,L1d,L3c,L3d,I1b
Phase II work continues in association with Phase I work. Phase I is surface whereas Phase II is excavation and processing of soils thru the hydroaeration stations. Approximately 42,000 cuft of phase II soils have been processed since Phase II work commenced on 9/18/07.
Air monitoring for dust and paticulate consistently reveals levels less than the TWA standard established for the site by OSHA. Air sampling for asbestos fibers has been completed on six separate sampling events. Thus far no ACM fibers of any appreciable quantity have been detected.
In an effort to determine the extent of the Phase II pits ie. aereal extent, the FOSC initiated an addendum to the Phase II Work Plan. This addendum titled "Exploratory Trenching Operations and Modifications to High Density Area Mechanical Excavations", allows for exploratory trenching to ascertain where the pits are located. This exploratory line trenching will help the OSC determine the extent and location of Phase II grids. This line trenching was initiated and completed during this reporting period. This trenching revealed that the area south of the known fireholes appear not to be pits or fireholes but rather surface metal anomalies spread out over a rather large area. This may reduce the total volume of originally estimated soils to be processed. Each line trench was walked with metal detection equipment and revealed only detection in the shallow side walls and nothing along the trench bottoms.
An evaluation of the type of MEC items found on the screens within the Phase II soil hydro aeration separation process has revealed the following stats:
3047 items on the top screens
1516 items on the bottom screens
4563 total MEC items.
These items include small tracer elements, dets,caps, fuzes, primers and grenade fuzes. All these items are less than 3inches in size and may be considered small to medium risk items.
EPA Region III performed a surprise site safety audit at the site. The audit was performed by members of the region III Core ER Safety Subcommittee and stressed an evaluation of the site HASP and its implementation. The auditors performed an extensive review of the HASP and a lengthy site walk thru. A report is forthcoming.
FOSC continues to conduct weekly meeting/conference call, which includes EPA, MDE, Start, GES, USA and RMC both field components and their offices. FOSC continues to participate in biweekly conference calls with MDE, ORC and site assessment regarding site progress and site issues.
Site removal activities are limited to soil hydroaeration during the week of November 19 due to Thanksgiving holiday. Most sub contractor personnel are offsite.
OSC to conduct meeting with property owner to discuss site progress and options for site removal activities during the next reporting period.
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