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The Browning Lumber Company operated a sawmill at this location until 1998. The company also operated a pressure treatment facility for lumber on this property till 1996. The company was in the business of manufacturing pressure treated cribbing and supports for the underground mining industry. Chromated - Copper Arsenate (CCA) was used in the process and the company obtained an EPA ID number for hazardous waste activity in June 1987.
In July 2002, the Site was inspected by West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). This inspection revealed that the former wood treating operation had not been completed closed and contaminatation, specifically chromium and arsenic, from the process still existed on the Site.
WVDEP has requested that EPA Region 3 take the lead in conducting a full assessment of the Site and take actions to mitigate the threats at the Site.
After performing an analytical evaluation and consulting with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registrar, the OSC has determined that an immediate removal action must be taken.
On February 27, 2008, ENSR performed low-flow groundwater sampling at monitoring wells MW-5, MW-6, MW-7, and MW-8 at the Site. All groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for total and
dissolved arsenic, chromium and copper via EPA Method 6020. Figure 1 provides the location of the monitoring wells. All monitoring wells were purged in accordance with the EPA Low-Flow Purging and Sampling of Groundwater Monitoring Wells methodologies (October 15, 1997) using a Grundfos submersible pump and dedicated polyethylene tubing. A Horiba U-22 was utilized to measure field groundwater quality
parameters, including temperature, pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidationreduction potential (ORP), and turbidity. Groundwater was purged at approximately 200 milliliters per minute (mL/min) and groundwater quality readings were collected every five minutes until all the groundwater quality parameters were stabilized.
Upon stabilization, groundwater samples were collected directly from the polyethylene tubing and placed into laboratory-provided bottleware. Sample bottles were placed into a cooler containing ice and transported via FedEx to TestAmerica Laboratories located in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania. Field Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) samples (field duplicate and field blank samples) were
also collected on February 27, 2008. Two field blank samples designated as FB0022708 (total metals) and FB022708 (dissolved metals) were collected by pouring laboratory-supplied deionized water
through factory-clean, polyethylene tubing, and a decontaminated Grundfos pump into laboratory provided bottleware. Two duplicate samples were also collected from MW-5 and were designated as
MW-5 DIS DUP (dissolved metals) and MW-5 TOTAL DUP (total metals).
Results of the groundwater sampling are expected by March 21, 2008 and will be discussed in the March 2008 progress report.
On February 27, 2008 ENSR also inspected the erosion and sediment controls and site security. The erosion and sediment controls remained in place and effective and the site access gate was secure.
ENSR will conduct a site inspection and abandonment of MW-4 during the week of March 17, 2008.
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