In November 2006, EPA was notified of this site via an NRC report indicating a potential release of hazardous substances at the Kentucky Wood Preserving facility in Winchester, KY. The facility was reported to have ceased operations in October 2006, and that wood treating chemicals abandoned onsite may pose a potential threat of a release. The company used Copper Chromated Arsenate (CCA) wood preservatives, and the treatment works were reported to be full of CCA solution at the time that the business ceased to operate. Based on this information, EPA OSC Smith initiated a Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) under Section 300.410 of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). See Polrep No. 1 for more complete information on the RSE.
On 06/12/07, KDEP visited the site and discovered that vandals had broken into the treatment building and pried open the door of the pressure cylinder. KDEP referred the site to EPA on 06/15/07, for purposes of conducting a time-critical removal action, citing concerns over the unstable conditions at the site. Due to the seriousness of the situation, the OSC initiated a time-critical removal action at the Site on 07/18/07.
The emergency phase of the removal action is short-term in nature and is deigned to mitigate immediate threats. Work activities include securing the site, clearing debris, and arranging for the offsite disposal/treatment or legitimate reuse of wood treating solutions. This phase of work is expected to be completed by September 1, 2007, at an estimated cost of up to $250,000.
Various removal activities have taken place during this reporting period from 08/06/07 to 08/12/07 and are as follows:
•ERRS cleared brush from the perimeter fence line.
•ERRS repaired segments of the wooden fence.
•ERRS decontaminated and demobilized the trackhoe with grappler attachment and the off-road dump truck.
•ERRS moved the old treatment cylinder on the east side of the site to allow access to the fence line.
•Representatives from Community Bank Trust and the USDA were onsite to detail site assets.
•ERRS dug about 50 post holes on the west side of the site.
•ERRS set fence posts in concrete and began chain-link fence installation.
•START recorded descriptions of the soil excavated from the post holes. No significant soil staining was observed. Dark grey/greenish soil discoloration was observed in subsurface soils at the topographic low point of the site.
•ERRS completed a small-quantity hazardous waste inventory.
•EPA Community Involvement Coordinator and START prepared Fact Sheet No. 2 and a presentation for the City Commission meeting.
•EPA Community Involvement Coordinator presented site progress details at the Winchester City Commission meeting.
•START initiated a database of analytical data from current and historical investigations at the site.
During the week of 8/13/2007, work activities are expected to include the following:
• ERRS will complete installation of a chain link fence around the site perimeter for additional security.
• ERRS will complete research of disposal and treatment options for chemicals on site.
• ERRS will design and construct a passive filtration system for removal of arsenic-contaminated sediment in surface runoff.
- START will prepare a Work Plan, detailing the scope of a comprehensive investigation designed to characterize the nature and extent of contamination at the site.
- EPA to prepare response to issues raised at 08/07 City Commission meeting.
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