The American Creosote site is an NPL site currently in the feasibilty study phase of RI/FS stage. Following the emergency response in August of 2005, the On-Scene Coordinator noted that the removal program has the authority to respond to the presence of creosote waste on the Site. The remedial program enlisted the support of the ERRB in order to address the ongoing threat to which they are unable to respond.
Please see Initial Pollution Report for additional information.
The Site was temporarily demobilized on 1/26/07 following the completion of preparatory work including Sie clearing and road construction. Roads outlining the perimeter of possible sheet piling placement were completed during this reporting period. The roads are constructed using geofabric material, surge, gravel and crush and run. The thickness of the road ranges from approximately 8 to 12 inches depending on the state of the underlying material. Many areas of the targeted portion of the Site are located down gradient, so rain water travels via overland flow and collects in the trenches and surrounding areas before flowing into Hughes Creek. There were several rain events during the month which saturated the ground and prolonged the clearing/construction activities. The road width is approximately 22 feet in order to accomodate the track crane necessary for the installation of the sheet piling.
Community relations activities took place coincident with ongoing clearing and construction activities. During the week of January 8, the on-scene coordinator and community relations coordinator went door to door around the surrounding community passing out fact sheets and fliers for the Availability Session. Two 2-hour Availability Sessions were held on January 18. Approximately 30 citizens attended the Sessions in order to gain additional information on the planned removal action and long-term remedial solution for the Site. EPA personnel present included the On-Scene Coordinator and Community Relations Coordinator for the Removal Program, and the Remedial Project Manager and his Community Relations Coordinator. Due to the fact that the Site is in between the Feasibility Study and Remedial Design phases of the Remedial process, the latter were present in order to address questions and concerns pertaining to the long term remedy.
The containment of the source at the former lagoon area will consist of installation of a barrier system between the creek and the source area in order to mitigate the ongoing release into the creek. Once the seepage from the source is controlled; removal, treatment and disposal of creosote contaminated soils and sediments in the wood chip pile area and Hughes Creek may be addressed.
On February 20, the On-Scene Coordinator will accompany members from EPA's Environmental Response Team and Science and Ecosystem Support Division to the Site in order to delineate the extent of free product present in the subsurface.
The response manager and crew will remobilize to the Site on February 20th and begin with a test run for installing the sheet piling. Following the test run, the crew will begin installing the sheet piling along the eastern side of Hughes Creek.
|
