Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Powhatan Mining Company
Woodlawn, MD - EPA Region III
POLREP #31

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On-Scene Coordinator - Jack Kelly	8/20/2011
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #31
Start Date: 8/16/2010

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
08/08 to 08/20 - OSK Kelly on vacation.  OSC Ham onsite 08/08 to 08/10 and OSC Wenning onsite 08/11 to 08/17.  This period primarily involved construction of the micro bio retention facility, placement of the pre-fab drainage trench across the driveway (per Weston PE design), grading and stockpiling soil for disposal, and the placement of orange warning fencing over a section of the old processing facility footprint before covering with clean fill.  START earlier collected samples from the soil before covering in order to let the State and current and future property owners know what asbestos contaminant levels remain in the subsurface should future excavation/construction in the area be contemplated.

8/18 - OSC Kelly returned to the site.  He went over daily cost sheets with START to clarify some issues. The OSC met with a family concerned about a perceived increase in insects and rodents based on our work.  The OSC indicated he could not see how our work caused this. The OSC took the opportunity to discuss with the residents some details on future yard cleanup. The OSC noted that the micro bio retention system is nearing completion.

8/19 - ERRS crew focused on completing the bio retention system. Stone and mulch were delivered.  The OSC spoke with another resident about a perceived increase in insects and rodents.  The owner stopped by again asking that the electrical wiring in his foyer be modified (he wants the wiring behind the existing wall not boxed in).  The OSC indicated he will discuss this with the owner near the end of the project.  The owner also indicated that two refrigerators ERRS moved no longer operated. The OSC replied that he had no information that they ever did function.

8/20 -  The ERRS crew continued work on the bio retention facility.  The OSC and RM discussed future activities and the likely schedule for the work.  The OSC addressed administrative tasks.

Planned Removal Actions
- Complete micro bio retention filter in former processing building footprint.
- Continue to transport and dispose of stockpiled contaminated soil.
- Grade and lay down clean fill over former processing facility footprint.
- Begin to move to area behind and adjacent to owner's home just above residential yards.

Disposition Of Wastes
Below values are all rough estimates for

Friable and Non-Friable asbestos-containing waste (ACM) has been disposed of. This includes porous, contaminated personal items and demolition waste. Beginning in late July, asbestos-contaminated soil will be disposed of.

Approximately twenty 30 cu yd containers of concrete were sent off for recycling to Machado Construction primarily from May 13 to June 6 after demolition.

The demolition subcontractor arranged for the recycling of approximately ten containers of scrap steel.

Personal "white good" items that were cleaned of asbestos but identified as not needed by the owner were sent off to the local county landfill for disposal.

Waste Stream	Quantity	Manifest #	Disposal Facility
Asbestos from interior cleaning	20.32 tons total	057176, 057177, 057178	Old Dominion Landfill, Richmond, VA
Asbestos	1.92 tons	057183	Old Dominion Landfill, Richmond, VA
Asbestos from demolition	102.6 tons total	Tracking Numbers 1 through 19	Cumberland County LF, Shippensburg, PA
Asbestos (mainly from interior cleanup)	~ 30 cu yds	Tracking Number 20	Cumberland County LF, Shippensburg, PA
Asbestos contaminated soil	~ 23 tons EACH	Tracking Number 001 to 033	Modern/Republic Landfill, York, PA