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.
Principal Activity - ERRS crew continues interior cleanup of the old factory building to allow for demolition with minimal concern about asbestos fiber release.
2/14/11 - OSC not onsite. Meeting in upstate PA.
2/15/11 - OSC met with START employee for large part of the day regarding another site. The OSC and ERRS RM discussed upcoming work and strategy.
2/16/11 - The OSC and ERRS RM discussed the bids submitted by the demolition subcontractors and agreed on the company to be proposed to the EPA CO. Bid amounts from two companies were very close. Subcontract consent package to go to CO in a day or two.
- The Weston engineer provided the OSC with the E&S/Stormwater design to submit to the MDE. The OSC questioned the need for: super filter fence (vs standard), need for or size of the rip-rap outlet and channel, equipment entrance pad. ERRS will ensure that the buidling sub (Rasche Bros) obtains a copy of the proposal and the Weston grading design.
- We will obtain the services of a surveyor to stake out the grading layout features and the new building perimeter lines.
2/17/11 - The OSC drove to the MDE office and dropped off the Weston engineer's proposed E&S/Stormwater design and plan. The OSC wrote (by hand) his intention to modify the proposal by using standard filter fencing, further discuss the need for or size of the rip rap apron, and not build a construction entrance pad.
- The surveyor arrived to plan for survey work in the coming days.
2/18/11 - The OSC spoke with the Pastor of the adjacent church property asking if we can remove five trees along the property boundary that might interfere with the new garage. The Pastor agreed. (After reviewing the MDE Dept of Environment & Sustainability website regarding tree removal, the OSC concluded there was no need to contact the department regarding this activity.)
- The OSC informed START to plan for soil sampling and ABS sampling in the portion of the owner's lot to the west side of the house. This information will be used to determine if there are any safety concerns for the builders as well as provide additional information on the extent of soil contamination.
- Took photos of ERRS crew cleaning the old factory processing equipment. They are trying to remove any interior hard-to-get areas with water spray and cleanup.
2/19/11 - The OSC spent a large portion of the day on general EPA administrative matters and discussed future site activities with the ERRS RM.
- The owner said he was hoping EPA would be removing all trees (~ five or six more than the five identified by the OSC) along the property boundary. The OSC indicated he would only remove the five as they were the only ones identified as a potential problem. The OSC acknowledged that some limbs on a few other tres may need to be cut back.
2/21/11 - The OSC prepared a cover memo for the EPA RA regarding the two Agreements for signature and forwarded to ORC for review.
- The ERRS RM, electrician and owner are coordinating next steps regarding electrical work.
- START sent a second version of the PHD Geoprobe report to the OSC for review.
- The owner stopped to meet with the OSC for an extended period of time to discuss electrical work, ask that ERRS move a trailer and forklift (the OSC agreed) and again ask about cutting down all trees (the OSC did not agree).
2/22/11 - Weston engineer onsite. He and the OSC discussed the building grading design and E&S/Stormwater design. Following agreed to:
- the new building will be moved eastward about 6' to potentially eliminate the need for a retaining wall and back channel behind the building to west.
- provide 3-D drawings or drawer's renditions of new building and grading.
- provide options for erosion conrol in the south side of the site above residential properties. This is critical to prevent re-contamination of the residential properties after EPA excavates soil and provided sod cover.
- ERRS crew loading asbestos-containing bags from Bay 3 into a container for shipment to landfill.
2/23/11 - the OSC attended a course at the EPA Boothwyn location.
- OSC arrived on site 1500 hours. The ERRS RM indicated that the electrician was here to work on the panel box and service connection to the owner's home. The owner may be concerned about how the panel box was installed. Electrician may complete his work tomorrow.
- ERRS HQ in Atlanta indicated that the demo subcontract consent package will go to the CO tomorrow.
2/24/11 - ERRS crew removed asbestos from the back shed that is separated from the old factory. Finished loading asbestos-containing bags into the roll-off container for disposal. Transporter ETW picked up the roll-off for disposal of bags at Old Dominion Landfill.
- The electrician completed work at the owner's home. Inspector to check in ~ one week.
2/25/11 - ERRS crew continues washing interior of processing equipment and spraying encapsulant.
- the OSC requested the EPA Project Officer for the START contract to add funds to START TDD 001.
2/26/11 - ERRS crew continued cleaning activities.
- The OSC assisted a co-worker at a different site with information needs, performed administrative work.
- Complete interior cleaning.
- Complete an E&S/Stormwater plan for approval by MDE.
- Obtain services of a demolition subcontractor.
.
- Work out issues with owner.
|
