A Time-Critical Removal Action began in September 2009 to address the hazards associated with the former Gulf State Steel Powerhouse, lagoons and Slag Piles.
The slag piles are the source of continued release of characteristic hazardous waste. The caustic leachate containing pH values as high as 12.5 from the slag piles is directly discharging into Black Creek, an adjacent wetland area, and a residential neighborhood from drainage ditches outside the Site fence. Sloughing of slag from the piles has been observed on both the northern and southern piles. The sloughing allows for the production of more leachate due to the increase in surface area of new unweathered slag.
The removal actions conducted by EPA have consisted of three phases costing $10.9 million and consist of (Phase 1) hazards associated with the former Coke Plant, (Phase2) hazards inside the powerhouse and residual mill; and (Phase 3) two residual mill waste areas of the north and south areas.
As a result, the following removal actions have been accomplished in each phase:
(Phase 1) More than 1.1 million gallons of contaminated water and 10,000 yards of hazardous coal tar sludge were disposed; approximately 60,000 yards of oily sediments from one of four waste lagoons (Lagoon 1) were stabilized and capped; and approximately 19,000,000 lbs of metal have been recycled.
(Phase 2) The dismantling, demolition, and removal of the powerhouse structure that consisting of pipes, tanks, abandoned equipment and concrete; the disposal of more than 14,000 gallons of waste, 300 pounds of mercury, 400 yards of asbestos-containing materials; de-watering of the cooling pond located along the southern edge of the building; and the drainage and disposal of approximately 6,500 gallons of transformers and oil circuit breaker PCB fluids, which was recycled.
(Phase 3) Trenches were cleaned and enlarged to properly handle surface water flow from the mill waste areas; surface water has been routed to a lagoon (Lagoon 3) located on the site. Recycling of mill waste (slag) ceased on January 7, 2013, and a landfill was created onsite for products that could not be recycled and any remaining slag will remain onsite and be contoured to facilitate runoff to trenches and Lagoon 3.
All holes were filled with "C" fines for safety & concern. The remaining materials on-site were sloped and re-contoured to control Site drainage. All perimeter ditches were cleaned and railroad tracks were cleaned to their previous condition. All equipment was decontaminated on-site and demobilized.
Estimated total of recycling metal materials
1. Coke Ovens- 17,969,190 lbs
2. Power House- 12,888,613.6 lbs
3. Slag Pile Metal Materials
A scrap- 92,491,840 lbs
B scrap- 132,659,520 lbs
C scrap- 317,306,000 lbs
Process fines (“C” fines) were used as a cap because they compact and harden over time. Materials were compacted and the area was graded to minimize leachate. Water flow from the site was re-directed to enter into the remaining lagoon before entering into black creek.
No planned removal activities. EPA has demobilized from the Site. The Alabama Department of Emergency Management has assumed control of the Site.
No next steps. EPA has demobilized from the Site. The Alabama Department of Emergency Management has assumed control of the Site.
The remediation succeeding in processing of more than 462 million pounds (about 70%) of slag abandoned at the site since its inception, January 2010
|
