Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Beetham Ranch Site
Powell Butte, OR - EPA Region X
POLREP #1
Initial POLREP

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Beetham Ranch Site - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X

Subject:

POLREP #1
Initial POLREP
Beetham Ranch Site
10GS
Powell Butte, OR
Latitude: 44.3124800 Longitude: -120.9774206

To:

From:

Michael Boykin, On-Scene Coordinator

Date:

12/9/2009

Reporting Period:

December 7 - 9, 2009

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	10GS	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:	10/29/2009
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	PRP Oversight
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	12/7/2009	Start Date:	12/7/2009
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:	ORN001002778	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

EPA oversight of PRP-lead, time-critical removal action.

1.1.2 Site Description
The Beetham Ranch Site (the Site) is the location of a horse breeding ranch that was formerly owned in part by Dennis C. Beetham. The Site includes barns and other structures associated with the horse breeding facility, a cinder pit and a workshop areas. A private residence is located adjacent to the cinder pits.

1.1.2.1 Location
The Beetham Ranch Site is located at 1299 NW McDaniel Road, Powell Butte, Crook County, Oregon. The Site includes tax parcels number 1415000000700 and 1414000001400. The site is divided into four decision areas. The four areas are referred to as the Main Cinder Pit Decision Area, the Workshop Decision Area, the Horse Facility Decision Area, and the Site Wide Decision Area.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Wastes and hazardous materials from D.B. Western, Inc. (DBWI) facilities were transported to the Beetham Ranch Site and illegally disposed. The wastes included bulk sacks and drums of formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde resin, nitric acid, and biphenyl (from DowTherm A). The wastes were dumped, buried, and/or burned at various locations within the Beetham Ranch Site.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
In an emergency response action conducted under the oversight of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's hazardous waste authority, DBWI contractors investigated the site and removed thousands of tons of solid and hazardous waste during the Fall of 2007 and the Spring and Summer of 2008.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Monday, December 7, 2009
EPA, EPA's START contractor, the DBWI environmental consultant (DBWI) and their subcontracted equipment operators, utility locator, geophysical and mobile laboratory mobilized to the Beetham Ranch Site for the Removal Action. Subsurface utilities were located and marked within the Horse Facility, Workshop, and Main Cinder Pit Decision Areas. A site health and safety orientation was conducted for personnel associated with the Removal Action. Removal Action work was started in the Horse Facility Decision Area. Work items included the following:

Two exploration trenches were excavated in the Area East of the Hay Canopy Access Road and no solid or hazardous waste was found. DBWI collected six samples from the trenches while EPA collected two co-located samples at selected sample locations for analysis at a separate, independent laboratory.
The Geophysical contractor performed a ground-pentrating radar (GPR) survey at the concrete walkway running the length of the inside of one of the barns in order to identify subsurface anomolies. The GPR data, interpreted by a geophysist, indicated minor anomolies but did not indicate the presence of buried waste materials. A similar survey was begun inside another structure in the decision area.
The six roll-off boxes of soil, excavated during the 2007 and 2008 removal activities were moved from their location in the Northwestern portion of the Site to a temporary staging location at the Horse Facility Decision Area.
The soil piles in the area east of the Hay Canopy remaining from the previous (2007 and 2008) investigation and removal activities were excavated and placed into the available space in the six roll-off boxes. Confirmation surface soil samples were collected following soil removal. EPA collected co-located samples.
A cursory evaluation of the equipment crates north of the Hay Canopy was conducted.
DBWI field laboratory arrived and was set up for formaldehyde analysis.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Removal Action work was completed at the Horse Facility Decision Area. The day's work items included:

The Geophysical contractor completed a GPR survey of the second structure. The geophysist's interpretation of the GPR data did not indicate the presence of buried waste materials or other significant anomalies.
Subsurface samples were collected adjacent to the barn walkway (sample points included the subsurface anomolies identified in the GPR survey) and inside the second structure with the aid of a hand auger. EPA collected split samples.
A thorough inspection and inventory was made of the equipment crates located north of the Hay Canopy. Items such as valves that appeared to have possible formaldehyde manufacturing process residue were segregated. A sample of residue was collected for analysis. EPA collected a spilt sample.
Four of the six roll-off boxes of soil (as part of the Site-Wide Decision Area) were removed from the site and transported to the Crook County Landfill for disposal.
DBWI field laboratory analyzed samples collected yesterday.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Removal Action operations shifted to the Workshop Decision Area. DBWI excavated test trenches in the areas of concern.

Seven test trenches were excavated in the areas of interest surrounding the Workshop structure. No buried solid or hazardous waste materials were encountered in these trenches.
Soil samples were collected at 15 foot intervals along the bottom of each trench and submitted to the onsite laboratory for formaldehyde determination. EPA collected split samples at selected locations.
The last two loads of the original 6 roll-off boxes of soil stored on site were transported to the Crook County Landfill.
Two loads (approximately 40 cubic yards) of imported backfill material were transported to the site to backfill open excavations from previous waste removal operations in the Horse Facility Decision Area.
DBWI field lab continued analysis of samples for formaldehyde. All soil/cinder samples collected to date have been non-detect for formaldehyde. A residue sample collected from process equipment has a preliminary concentration result of 1 ppm formaldehyde.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

A Unilateral Administrative Order for a Removal Action was issued on October 29, 2009 to Respondants Dennis C. Beetham and D.B. Western, Inc to investigate and clean up hazardous wastes at the Beetham Ranch Site under EPA oversight.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

Non-Hazardous Soil Soil approx. 110 tons Crook County Landfill

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Continue investigation activities.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

DBWI, with EPA oversight and START technical support will continue investigation and removal activities in the Main Cinder Pit Decision Area on Thursday, December 10.
DBWI field laboratory will continue analysis of formaldehyde in confirmation samples.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA and START to determine split samples to be shipped off site for analysis.
EPA and DBWI to determine ownership of McDaniel Road and coordinate with owner to have DBWI repair road once investigation and cleanup is completed at the site.
EPA and DBWI to determine disposition of equipment crates in the Horse Facility Decision Area.

2.2.2 Issues

Extreme cold weather has slowed the investigation and presented challenges to personnel safety and equipment operation.
Determining ownership of NW McDaniel Road and coordinating a time to repair road.

2.3 Logistics Section