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 completed excavation of contaminated soils. All contaminated soils are covered and awaiting transportation and disposal. Approximately 3,600 cubic yards of soil and debris have been excavated to date.
Approximately 100 cubic yards of railroad ties have been stockpiled for off site disposal / recycling.
Approximately 189 cubic yards of concrete have been recycled.
This week, ERRS worked primarily on restoration of the Elizabeth River bank on the western edge of the property. Soils in this area were heavily contaminated. Soil and erosion controls were necessary to stabilize the bank following excavation. OSC Ventura coordinated with NOAA on restoration activities. The excavated area was covered with clean topsoil and then covered with geofabric. A combination of rip-rap and smaller stone was used to stablize the bank. The bank is being checked at high tide and no erosion has occurred.
ERRS cut steel railroad rails down to a manageable size and removed excess dirt from the rails. Rails will be stockpiled and left on site for recycling by the property owner.
ERRS continued filling excavated areas with clean fill and grading the surface. Erosion and sediment controls were maintained. Water pooling up behind sedimentation controls was pumped through a Dirtbag (geotextile sediment filter).
Excavated soil and material will be shipped off site for disposal at an appropriate facility and will be replaced with clean fill. Rail ties will be transported off site for disposal as hazardous waste.
Water pooled on concrete surfaces will be pumped through a Dirtbag to remove sediment to facilitate decontamination of concrete surfaces. 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.
- Continue filling excavations with clean fill and grading surfaces.
- Continue making preparations for transport and disposal of soil and debris.
- Transportation and disposal scheduled to begin approximately 2/10/10.
- Decontamination of concrete pads to continue
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