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Smokey Mountain Smelters

All POLREP's for this site Smokey Mountain Smelters
Knoxville, TN - EPA Region IV
POLREP #4 - Initiation of Removal Action
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On-Scene Coordinator - Lynnette Sholar, OSC 6/22/2010
Time-Critical - Removal Action Pollution Report (POLREP) #4
Start Date: 6/8/2010
Pollution Report (POLREP) #4
Site Description
See POLREP #1 for site description and background information.


Current Activities
On June 8, 2010 ERRS mobilized equipment, personnel, and established the site trailer.  During this reporting period, ERRS conducted grubbing (brush clearing), removal of asbestos containing material (ACM), and the first phase of the building demolition.  Panels of ACM were removed from the north side of the facility, stock piled separately in a roll-off container, and awaiting characterization for disposal at an approved facility.  Scrap metal was removed from the dilapidating south side portion of the facility.  Five loads totalling approximately 63,000 pounds (lbs) were recovered and hauled off by Tennessee Metals through June 19, 2010.  On June 15, 2010 a site survey was performed to delineate property boundaries.  Surveyors marked property lines with staked flags and spray paint.  

Inclement weather disrupted site activities throughout the week, interrupting production for two days.  Due to the close proximity of a known radiological waste dump site within a mile of SMS, radiological sweeps are conducted daily with a Geiger counter to ensure site safety and health of personnel.  Low levels of radiation above background (0.6 mR/hr) were detected in scrap metal south east of the building demolition.  Personnel have been directed to include Thermo-Luminescent Dosimeter (TLD) badges on their clothing or outerware/protective gear.      


Key Issues
Radiological sweeps are conducted daily to ensure site safety of personnel.