Site Description
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.
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, air samples periodically 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.
Current Activities
- ERRS continues cleaning the owner's personal items for conex box storage and bagging items to be discarded as asbestos-containing waste. Tires are being cleaned of asbestos and staged in the building for ultimate removal from the site by the recycler. A wood and poly "air-lock" was constructed at the side garage door for removing the tires and bagged asbestos waste,
10/25/10 – Began laying out locations for geoprobe sampling. ERRS sloped both soil stock piles to provide access for the geoprobe. Conducted air sampling from the SE facility side and downwind locations utilizing the Gillian pumps. Worked with TPI Environmental to identify underground utility locations. Sent air samples and blanks to lab via FedEx.
- OSC Kelly not onsite 10/25 for work in Phila office.
10/26/10 – deployed two Gillian pumps at building perimeter and downwind locations. Also deployed two personal sampling pumps, one pump was deployed at the geoprobe location the second pump was deployed in the decontamination area. Collected 6 geoprobe soil bore samples and 4 test pit samples.
10/27/10 – Continued with geoprobe operations. Collected an additional 9 soil bore samples. Shipped all samples off to lab via FedEx.
10/28/10 – Deployed Gillian pumps to perimeter locations 2, 5 and 6 and one to the interior Junk location. Deployed two personnel monitoring pumps on ERRS members. Shipped all samples off to lab via FedEx
- ERRS began removal of decontaminated refrigerators and dishwashers from Bay 3.
- OSC Kelly not on site 10/28 and 29 for medical appts.
- OSC Kelly not onsite 11/1 for work at K&M Site in Ambler, PA.
11/03/10 - OSC Kelly and property owner attended the Baltimore County Zoning Board variance hearing. Zoning board was chaired by the Deputy Zoning Commissioner. The only other attendee was the Pastor for the church adjacent to the site. The Pastor brought up concerns about the building size and the desire to have a large privacy fence or vegetation installed along the property line of the project site. The Deputy Zoning Commissioner indicated he will make his decision on the variance request within the next two weeks.
11/05/10 – ERRS continues to decon items and clean building. Contacted Pine Environmental to return Gillian pumps to Pine Environmental per OSC direction as their use is limited at this stage of the cleanup. .
- Property owner expressed serious concern that the proposed design for the building is post frame (wood) construction and not "metal". By metal, the OSC believes a pre-engineered metal structure.
Planned Removal Actions
- Continue cleaning personal items of asbestos and storing in conex boxes. Properly bag discardable items for ultimate transport and disposal.
- Continue fine tuning what will be needed for new garage construction.
Next Steps
- Await to receive Zoning Board decision.
- Continue to coordinate with the site owner on the fate of interior items and the likely progression of upcoming work.
- Work on IFB for demolition contractors and issue.
Key Issues
- The zoning hearing results will have significant consequences for future work.
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