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.
ACOE representative arrived on site at the request of the OSC to provide guidance on the bridge construction. ACOE determined that the rock that had been stockpiled and formed the stone base for the bridge was inadequate to meet the specifications. ERRS arranged for a different vendor to begin supplying the stone. ACOE and START visited the quarry and requested spec sheets and gradation information for the various sizes of stone needed. The spec sheets would have to be faxed; START provided a fax number. After visual inspection, ACOE determined that the new stone would be acceptable. ERRS placed an order with the company to begin delivering stone tomorrow.
ERRS staged the old stone on site and began using it for a road base leading to the pressure treatment area of the operations. This road is necessary for the trucks entering and departing the site with contaminated soil/materials.
ERRS removed the old stone base material from the stream bed.
ERRS completed excavating and backfilling the upstream keyway for the culvert pipe. The keyway consists of a trench approximately 2 ft deep, excavated from the stream bed, and filled with 24 inch stone. This is covered by a thin layer of 6 inch stone to lock the larger stone in place. The keyways prevent the stream during high flow conditions to undermine the culverts and erode the stream banks. This is constructed on both ends of the culvert pipe. ERRS completed the downstream keyway for the bridge.
ERRS completed layering the stream bed with 6 inches of a stone base.
The piping for the culvert was delivered. The original plan called for 8 gauge pipe. The delivered pipe was 12 gauge. The OSC requested that the ACOE review the plan and determine if 12 gauge pipe will be adequate. After review and speaking with the supplier, the ACOE informed the OSC that the pipe received was adequate for the bridge construction.
ERRS began clearing brush and clean debris from around a concrete pad next to the treatment area.
Clear burnt down building roof, trusses, and support structure in order to access the pressure vessel and tanks on site. This will also provide access to the contaminated soil areas from around the pressure vessel. Operation to be conducted in Level C PPE with dust suppression.
Install the culvert pipe and complete the bridge construction week of 9/25/06.
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