The Powhatan Mining Company site is the location of a former asbestos processing facility. The mill operated from approximately 1920 to 1980 primarily processing anthophyllite asbestos. Asbestos ore for the mill was mined in Maryland until about the 1940s and later brought in from several States including California, Georgia and Alabama. The site is bordered on all sides by residential properties and the residential yards to the southwest lie within feet of the former processing facility and in the path of site runoff. In 2006, the property to the east of the former mill was subdivided into residential lots for new home construction. From 2006 to 2008, the residential lots were cleared and graded and retention ponds were installed. Development ceased after only two homes were constructed.
The former processing facility is a multi-story building with a loading area on the northeast end (cement block portion) and a processing area at the southwest end (rusted metal portion). The asbestos fiber extraction process took place inside the building complex. Asbestos ore was reportedly received and first dried in the cement block portion of the complex. Further processing of the rock ore is believed to have occurred in the metal portion of the facility, a multi-level, timber-framed structure with stone foundation and corrugated metal siding. In the milling operation believed used at this facility, the asbestos ore was first crushed to a normal, even size and then dried. Fiber extraction then occured through a series of crushing operations, each followed by vacuum aspiration of the ore running on a vibrating screen. On the screen, the fibers were released from the ore and collected into a vacuum system. Fibers recovered from consecutive vibrating screens were brought to cyclone separators, and the air filtered to remove the finer, suspended fibers.
The property was brought to EPA's attention by the Maryland Dept of the Environment. After an initial assessment, a non-emergency Removal Action primarily intended to secure building openings was initiated by the OSC in a Special Bulletin dated August 11, 2009. More recent sampling data and conditions warranted a time-critical action. A time-critical Action Memorandum for the site, concurred on by HQ, was signed on June 8, 2010. In addition, a memorandum authorizing demolition and compensation to the property owner was approved by the Region and HQ on this date.
The U.S. EPA will be conducting removal activities at the site in order to deconstruct the facility and remove/cover soil which may pose a threat to public health and/or the environment. During activities which will cause significant disturbance of interior dust or outdoor soils, samples will be collected from personal sampling devices on cleanup personnel to determine if proper levels of protection are being used at the site. Additional air samples will be collected along the perimeter of the site to confirm that engineering controls are protective of the surrounding community.
EPA, START and ERRS personnel mobilized to the site August 15 and 16, 2010.
On August 16, 2010, EPA OSC Jack Kelly met with Maryland Department of the Environment personnel, a representative for the bank holding the mortgage for the adjacent property (Parcel 304) and several residents whose homes are located directly behind the Powhatan facility. OSC Kelly discussed planned activities at the site.
Construction began on a three-stage decontamination room within the northeastern access door of the main structure. This access door will be the primary entrance and exit point for all personnel during removal activities to the structure.
Stone was delivered to upgrade the existing driveway onsite and install walkways to access the office trailer and other necessary portions of the property. Construction on the driveway and walkways commenced on August 20, 2010.
A local survey contractor identified and marked existing property lines at the site. These property lines will assist with determining the location of the proposed garage structure to be built and limitations of any excavation activities conducted onsite.
The property owner walked through the building and identified a number of easily accessible items that may be disposed of as waste. Additional classification will be necessary once other areas of the structure are made accessible. Once removal operations begin within the building, items identified as valuable to the owner will be decontaminated if possible and returned to the owner.
All site personnel attended a training class on August 19, 2010 at the Maryland Department of Environment in Baltimore, Maryland. The class provided site personnel with training to meet appicable state regulations regarding asbestos cleanup activities specific to this project only.
OSC Kelly coordinated activities with the property owner on a daily basis.
Ongoing activities include construction of the stone roadway and pathway areas onsite. All portions of the building will be sealed as long as the portion of the structure can be reached without causing significant risk to site personnel. The decontamination chambers will be completed before vacuuming and wet wiping of items for return to the owner. Waste items will either be bagged for disposal at an asbestos landfill or adequately deconned for disposal at a C&D landfill.
EPA personnel will be distributing a fact sheet to surrounding residential properties next week regarding current activities at the site.
ERRS will be preparing an Invitation to Bid for local contractors regarding the construction of the replacement garage structure to be located on the property.
Coordinate with Baltimore County Zoning on construction of the replacement garage.
Coordinate with MDE and EPA Asbestos Programs on asbestos cleanup procedures.
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