The Browning Lumber Company operated a pressure treatment facility at the site location until 1996 and a sawmill at the site location until 1998. Chromated Copper Arsenate was utilized during the pressure treatment processing of lumber and the company obtained an EPA ID number for hazardous waste activity in 1987; the company also received a WV/NPDES Permit for operation of the treatment facility.
Since the facility's abandonment in 1998, a fire destroyed portions of the facility. However, during an inspection conducted by WVDEP in July, 2002, to evaluate compliance with the West Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Act, residual products from the operations conducted at the facility were observed on the site. WVDEP observed that human trespassing was occurring at the site by evidence of dumped materials and trash. WVDEP conducted TCLP sampling and determined that elevated TCLP values for arsenic were present in one of the pressure treatment vessels and in the soil below the vessel.
WVDEP contacted EPA Region III and requested that they take the lead in conducting a full assessment at the site and take any necessary actions in mitigating the threats at the site.
On June 19, 2006, the OSC activated a removal action at the site under his delegation of authority for $250,000. Initial actions included the installation of an entrance fence and coordination with the Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) for assistance in design/construction of an access bridge across Pond Fork stream.
OSC received Stream Crossing Plan from ACOE on 06/20/2006.
EPA has notified current and former owners and/or operators of the Site that they may be potentially liable for the costs incurred by EPA for the Site clean-up.
On September 13, 2006, a Removal Action Memorandum for the amount of $2,516,339 was signed to address the environmental issues at the Site.
On Monday, September 11, 2006, EPA, START and ERRS met on Site to begin removal operations.
ERRS cleared brush and trees from the area where the access road is to be constructed over Fork Creek. Security was arranged to begin on Tuesday, September 12, 2006.
ERRS began excavating the stream bed in accordance with the Army Corps of Engineers plan. Large rocks and stone were removed and staged along the stream bank. The right descending bank (RDB) was stabilized with stone and a temporary berm was formed to divert water from the RDB in order to allow for the placement of a stone bed for one of the culverts’ placement.
OSC and ERRS determined that it would be necessary to divert the creek’s flow around the construction location in order to adequately secure the culverts and spacing stone required by the plan. ERRS completed construction of the diversion ditch along the left descending bank (LDB) of the stream.(see video in documentation section). ERRS completed the removal of excess material and final leveling of the stream bed.
ERRS and START assessed the largest tank (approximately 8,800 gallons) labeled chromated copper arsenic and determined it was empty, but may require minor cleaning. Additionally, two mixing tanks were assessed. Neither tank had a top but covered with a piece of corrugated sheet metal and bricks. One tank was covered completely and contained approximately 3 inches of wet solid material. The other tank was partially covered by the sheet metal and filled with liquid. It also contained approximately 3 inches of solids on the bottom.
ERRS completed the installation and leveling of the stone base materials with the dozer and loader. ERRS utilized laser level to monitor installation of the stone base in the stream.
Construction of the access bridge is anticipated to take up to 2 1/2 weeks to complete.
Installation of culvert pipes.
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