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Browning Lumber Site

 
Site Contact:
Robert Kelly/Mike Towle
OSC

(kelly.robertj@epa.gov, towle.michael@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Route 85 near Rock Lick Creek
Bald Knob, WV 00000
 response.epa.gov/browning
NRC#: 779500

POLREP #19 WAS COMPLETED ON JANUARY 7, 2008 WITH COST UPDATE.


The Browning Lumber Company operated a sawmill at this location until 1998. The company also operated a pressure treatment facility for lumber on this property till 1996. The company was in the business of manufacturing pressure treated cribbing and supports for the underground mining industry. Chromated - Copper Arsenate (CCA) was used in the process and the company obtained an EPA ID number for hazardous waste activity in June 1987.

In July 2002, the Site was inspected by West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). This inspection revealed that the former wood treating operation had not been completed closed and contaminatation, specifically chromium and arsenic, from the process still existed on the Site.

WVDEP has requested that EPA Region 3 take the lead in conducting a full assessment of the Site and take actions to mitigate the threats at the Site.

After performing an analytical evaluation and consulting with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registrar, the OSC has determined that an immediate removal action must be taken.

On June 19, 2006, the OSC initiated an $250,000 Emergency Removal Action.

See POLREP 4 and SPECIAL BULLETIN A in the documents section.


Water path around bridge Another view of water path OSC Towle on bridge Depth of dirt that water washed away Path water took around bridge Clogged pipping of creek Closer look at clogged pipes OSC Towle in water path OSC Towle in water path Another view of depth The pressure vessels located on the site contained a powdery green substance. Close view of the green powdery substance contained in one of the pressure vessels. Evidence of trash verifies that human access is not restricted to the site. Remains of the deteriorated facility structures and ashes from the burned structures. remains of the Browning Lumber Facility structure remaining on the site materials remaining on the site structure remaining on the site pond fork, flowing adjacent to the site view of the site from across Pond Fork Pond Fork, leading to the site START collects surface water and sediment from Pond Fork Drainage pathway from the prior treatment facility START collects surface water from the site START collects sediment from a sunk area on site START collects surface soil adjacent to the facility START collects surface soil from the site START collects surface soil adjacent to transformers on site Sample location near a culvert on site START collects surface soil from the pressure vessel area on site START collects surface soil from the area adjacent to the prior treatment facility START collects surface soil from an area downgradient of the pressure vessel on site Piles of wood chip possibly contaminated with drainage Piles of possible contaminated wood chips Ruined bridge leading to Site Man Made roadway leading to Site label on CCA treatment tank soil sample location near treatment facility pad START utilizes a hand auger to collect soil samples from the migration pathway START collects a soil sample adjacent to the CCA vessel monitoring well 1 ERRS' subcontractors construct a chain-link fence to prevent site access ERRS' subcontractors complete fence construction ERRS construct silt fencing for ersosion control ERRS construct silt fence on the site START collects ground water from MW2 START collects a ground water sample from MW1 Location of MW3 START collects a water sample from MW4 condition of MW3 silt fencing silt fencing Wood chips beside wall separate pile in road Collecting sample from pile collecting sample from wall Getting sample from large pile ERRS excavating Pond Fork stream bed for installation of stone base. ERRS collecting the elevation of the original stream bed just downstream of the existing culverts. ERRS partially diverted stream to left descending bank (LDB). ERRS moving culvert pipe sections to stream bank. ERRS almost complete with diversion trench excavation. ERRS placing culvert section onto stone base in the stream. View looking downstream showing the diversion trench and the existing culverts blocked with plywood and rocks. Last section of first pipe being placed in stream. ERRS removing the partial berm constructed with excess rock from the excavation of the stream bed. Connecting bands being tightened while pipe alignment is being discussed. View looking upstream. ERRS in the process of excavating the diversion trench. Stone added to both sides of pipe to hold it in position. ERRS placing base stone on leveled stream bed with loader. Pipes are installed with 3 foot of rock filled spaces in between. Loader conducting the initial leveling of base stone in Pond Fork. Pipes covered with stone and tied into right descending bank (RDB) of stream. View from right descending bank (RDB) after completion of the stone base. The diversion trench outlet is visible in the left hand side of the panoramic photo. Large rock is placed on ends of pipe for protection. Bridge keyways and stone base complete. ERRS backfilling diversion trench and allowing the stream to flow through the new pipes. ERRS clearing brush and debris from around wood treatment operations. Bridge Keyway:Topping 24 inch rock with 3 inch stone. ERRS clearing brush from around treatment area operations. Elevation of stone base checked with level. Stone base for culverts installed Culvert sections are banded together. Culvert placement in creek Culverts anchored in place. Panorama of culverts installed. Completed Access Road Access bridge and entrance road complete. Excavator removing the roof and trusses of the collapsed building. Loader used to stage the clean materials away from the contaminated areas. Removal of the fallen roof and trusses. Rails and carts from the drainage area exposed. Rails and carts covered with plastic to minimize contact with rain water during offsite hours ERRS pressure washing the door of the pressure vessel. START collecting subsurface soil samples with Geoprobe device from the SW corner of the pad. ERRS pumping out pressure vessel sump. ERRS cutting the top off the 9000 gallon AST. Trackhoe supports the top during the operation. Sump underneath Above Ground Storage tank before cleaning. Top of the AST removed to expose contents. Piping from tank and vessel cut into small sections for disposal. Sludge from AST Sludge sloped from the north end of the AST. ERRS druming the sludge from the AST. Shows the thickness and consistancy of the sludge waste. ERRS pressure washing the bottom of the AST after sludge removal. Top of the AST being pressure washed. START collecting a rinse samples from the rails after second pressure washing. Wash water from the pressure vessel. ERRS scraping the walls of the pressure vessel prior to pressure washing. Site closed awaiting disposal. Debris piles, drums, piping, and drums covered with tarps. Tarp covered piles awaiting disposal arrangements. ERRS uncovering staged waste materials for T &D. ERRS positioning Baker storage tank on flat bed trailer for cleanout operations. ERRS loading disposal rolloff with west debris pile. West debris pile - before West debris pile area - after Closeup of the debris wastes. Trackhoe used to separate drip-tray sheet metal from their supports. Contaminated metal pieces cut for proper size for disposal. Scrap metal staged at the north end of the site. ERRS cutting angle iron off contaminated supports. Torch used to remove supports from concrete pad. Contaminated metal in rolloff for disposal. ERRS pressure washing the Baker storage tank. ERRS collecting the rinsate from the storage tank in drums. ERRS draining rinsate from horizontal storage tank into bucket of skid steer for transfering into drums. Baker storage tank being loaded for demobilization. Pressure vessel moved to edge of concrete pad for reuse by another company. South debris pile area after it's removal to disposal rolloffs. Site after EPA removal actions complete.
For additional information, visit the Pollution Report (POLREPS) section.