Chesapeake Products Site is located in a heavily industrialized area of Chesapeake, Virginia adjacent to the southern branch of the Elizabeth River. The site is approximately 7.6 acres in size and was previously used for the production of micro-nutrient fertilizer. Prior to 2009 several large buildings were located on site. The city of Chesapeake Fire Department deemed the buildings unsafe for occupancy in 2004. EPA conducted site assessments at the site in 2005 and 2006. Numerous piles of micro-nutrient fertilizer and fertilizer raw materials were located inside site buildings. The roof of the main warehouse building had partially collapsed and almost the entire floor was flooded with water. The building contained approximately 314,000 gallons of flood water. Analytical results indicated that site soil, material piles, and flood water contained elevated levels of lead and other hazardous substances or pollutants and contaminants. Chesapeake Products and Frit Industries, Inc. (Frit) entered into a Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (AOC) with EPA in August 2007. Frit agreed to remove material piles and flood water from the site and to demolish site buildings. All work agreed to under the AOC was completed between August 2008 and May 2009. On November 30, 2009 EPA initiated a removal action at the site to remove lead contaminated surface soil and to decontaminate concrete surfaces.
ERRS continued excavating lead contaminated soil in the southwest portion of the site (Grids A1, A2, and B1). Soil in this area was excavated to a depth of 1 - 2 feet. START contractors used an XRF analyzer to assist EPA in delineating the extent of contamination and areas that require excavation. Approximately 850 cubic yards of soil and construction debris was excavated during this reporting period and was stockpiled on a concrete pad (previous location of Building 2). Approximately 1300 cubic yards of soil and debris have been excavated to date. START conducted monitoring for airborne particulates in the area of the excavation. No exposure limits were exceeded.
ERRS maintained erosion and sediment control. Water pooling up behind of sedimentation controls was pumped through a Dirtbag (geotextile sediment filter). Silt Fence was installed along top of riverbank in the southwest corner of the site.
EPA will continue to excavate surface soil that contains lead at concentrations of greater than 800 parts per million (ppm). Areas that require excavation will be identified by using an X-Ray Fluorescence analyzer (XRF) and existing analytical data. Excavated soil will be shipped off site for disposal at an appropriate facility and will be replaced with clean fill. Concrete surfaces will be decontaminated in areas where lead is detected at concentrations greater than 800 ppm.
The following tasks are planned for the next reporting period:
- Maintain erosion/sediment controls.
- Design engineering controls to stabilize riverbank and prevent erosion of soil in area where bulkhead does not exist.
- Continue excavation and stockpiling of soil.
- Site personnel will demobilize from site on December 24, 2009 for holidays. Personnel will mobe back to site on January 4, 2010.
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