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On July 19, 2005, an area business owner contacted the City of Tampa regarding the dumping of an unknown material in a drainage ditch along Channelside Drive. The dumping was estimated to have occurred on July 16, 2005. On July 25, 2005, additional material was thought to have been dumped in the ditch. The City of Tampa requested Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (HCEPC)assistance.
On August 02, 2005, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FLDEP) was contacted by HCEPC. FLDEP found approximately 100 yards of the drainage ditch was covered with a black sludge-like material. On August 12, 2005, FLDEP sampled the material. Analytical results indicate the material has high levels of lead. Based on the levels of lead and scope of the spill, FDEP requested EPA assistance.
On September 14, 2005, OSC Stilman mobilized to the Site to conduct a removal site evaluation with the FLDEP Bureau of Emergency Response. A black sludge-like material was found all along the storm water ditch. The drainage ditch flows to Hillsborough Bay. FLDEP sampling shows lead levels of the sludge as high as 2,060 parts per million (ppm) lead. The waste also failed TCLP for lead. Lead is a CERCLA hazardous substance. Access to the Site is unsecured.
Based on FLDEP analytical results and the removal site evaluation OSC Stilman initiated a removal actions and established a $250,000 Site ceiling.
On October 20, 2005, RPM Urquhart-Foster mobilized to the Site with ERRS contractor WRS to determine the scope of the response and conduct disposal profile sampling of the waste in the ditch.
On November 14, 2005, RPM Urquhart-Foster, START and ERRS re mobilized to excavate and dispose of the contaminated waste. During the excavation, groundwater was encountered at 1 to 2 feet below the bottom of the drainage ditch. Excavation was halted where groundwater was encountered. Also during excavation, RPM Urquhart-Foster and FDEP discovered a potential association between the waste in the ditch and a former adjacent Tampa Electric coal tar facility.
All wastes were excavated and disposed of by December 13, 2005. The ditch was backfilled and reseeding.
No further removal action is anticipated.
EPA and FDEP will continue to investigate a possible link between the waste in the drainage ditch and a former coal tar facility, as well as a link to coal tar contaminated ground water.
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