The W.R. Grace Site is located in Wilder, Campbell County, Kentucky. W.R. Grace ("Grace") owned and operated a vermiculite ore processing facility at 112 North St. from 1960 until the mid-1990's. Residues from the processing operation were disposed of on the Grace property and an adjoining tract as fill material. The vermiculite ore and the residues contain actinolite and tremolite asbestos fibers.
In April 2003, EPA initiated a time critical removal action at the site, at the request of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KYDEP). The scope of work involves removal and off-site disposal of up to 40,000 tons of asbestos-contaminated soil, and the decontamination of two buildings formerly used in the vermiculite manufacturing operations.
February 12 to February 14, 2004
Continued installation of railroad spur behind building #1. RR spur was completed on February 12, 2004. On 2/10/04, ERRS started encapsulation of area above office space (mezzanine area) with asbestos encapsulating product. Completed decontamination of Building #1. Personal and perimeter air sampling continued through February 12, 2004. On February 13, 2004, START and ERRS collected 12 confirmation wipe samples and 10 Microvac samples from inside decontaminated buildings. Ten clearance TEM AHERA air
samples were also collected on February 13, 2004, while space heaters and the furnace provided air circulation. Five samples were collected from each building, Building #1 and Building #2. Water stored on-site from decontamination operations was treated on February 12, 2004 and sampled on February 13, 2004 for disposal parameters required by the State.
February 16 to February 21, 2004
Treated water was stored until analytical results were received indicating the water was safe for discharge. Treated water was discharged on February 20, 2004. ERRS completely dismantled the on-site water treatment system and continued backfilling and regrading in the excavation area. Analytical results from confirmation air, wipe and Microvac sampling were received. Some low levels of asbestos fibers were detected in some air and wipe samples. OSC Bass consulted with ATSDR on analytical results. On February 19, 2004, START collected two TEM air samples at the Wilder Fire Station at the request of OSC Bass. Fire station officials had some concerns about vermiculite from the W.R. Grace facility that was used during the expansion of the current fire station. Analytical results indicated no presence of asbestos in the air samples collected at the Wilder Fire Station.
February 23 to February 29, 2004
ERRS continued site restoration activities, soil from site embankment being regraded into ACM excavation area. ERRS performed additional deconatamination in Building #1, specifically in the Mezzanine area above the office area, using a 50/50 mixture of water and Greased Lightning. The wipe sample collected here indicated the highest remaining asbestos concentrations, in the form of chrysotile asbestos. Although the original clearance air samples collected were below a health-based risk level, based upon recommendations from ATSDR, OSC Bass requested additional confirmation air samples be collected, using aggresive sampling procedures which included the use of fans and leaf blowers to stir up air in the buildings. START collected additional TEM AHERA confirmation air samples on February 26, 2004. Sample locations were identical to previous confirmation air samples. A total of ten samples, five in each on site building were collected. Analytical results expected March 1, 2004. On February 27, 2004 the last roll-off dumpster containing ACM from the decontamination of the buildings and the water treatment system was transported and disposed of. ERRS worked overtime on Saturday and Sunday, Feb 28-29, due to anticipated heavy rains Monday and Tuesday, Mar 1-2. Working over the weekend allowed ERRS to finish grading work they had already begun and allowed them to grade the site so that water would run-off and not stand. If this earth work had not been done prior to the rains, the wet and muddy weather conditions would have destroyed the grading already begun and caused major delays.
March 1 to March 4, 2004
No site work was conducted on March 1-2, 2004, due to rainy and muddy weather conditions. All analytical results from the final TEM AHERA air clearance samples, using the ATSDR recommended aggressive sampling method, came back non-detect for asbestos fibers. March 3-4, 2004, ERRS continued to dismantle the shower and decon trailers and prepare them to be demobed.
ERRS will continue site restoration and prepare the site to be shut down. Regrading of the excavated area and reforming the concrete slab behind the 2 buildings will be conducted as weather conditions allow. If weather permits, all site restoration activities should be completed by the end of March, 2004.
Rainy weather conditions are periodically affecting site operations. Work involving grading and moving dirt slows considerably under these conditions.
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