Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Beetham Ranch Site
Powell Butte, OR - EPA Region X
POLREP #2
Progress POLREP

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

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X

Subject:

POLREP #2
Progress POLREP
Beetham Ranch Site
10GS
Powell Butte, OR
Latitude: 44.3124800 Longitude: -120.9774206

To:

From:

Michael Boykin, On-Scene Coordinator

Date:

12/11/2009

Reporting Period:

12/10/09 - 12/11/09

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:	12/11/2009	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 through Wednesday December 9, 2009

(See previous Pollution Report)

Thursday December 10, 2009

Removal Action operations began at the Main Cinder Pit Decision Area. Contractors for DBWI excavated test pits at locations of concern to evaluate the presence of any remaining waste materials. The day's work items included:

Two long test pits were placed within the Main Cinder Pit Decision Area.
No solid or hazardous waste was found in the test pits.
Confirmation samples were collected at 15 foot intervals along the length of each of the test pits. EPA collected split samples at selected sample locations.
Imported fill material was transported onto the site and placed at locations in the Horse Facility Decision Area and the Workshop Decision Area and dumped adjacent to open excavations from previous removal actions (2007, 2008). The material will be used to restore the areas to their original grade.
DBWI and EPA conducted reconnaissance observations and shallow hand-tool excavations at an area on the northwestern portion of the Main Cinder Pit Decision Area, referred to as the “West Ledge.” A pile of angular quarry spall rocks was observed near the center of this area. No obvious indications of waste materials were observed in this area.

Friday December 11, 2009

Removal Action operations concluded today. The day's work included the following tasks:

Analytical results from the on-site mobile laboratory indicated that the levels of formaldehyde were below laboratory detection levels. Test pits in the Work Shop and Main Cinder Pit Decision Areas were backfilled using the excavated cinder material.
Open excavations from prior removal action work in the Horse Facility and Work Shop Decision Areas were backfilled with imported fill material, and restored to match the grade of the surrounding ground.
The equipment crates in the Horse Facility Decision Area were repacked and secured. DBWI is coordinating with EPA to arrange for transportation of these crates to a DBWI facility, where the equipment and materials will be reused, recycled, or evaluated for proper disposal.
It was confirmed that the container of DBWI laboratory chemicals had been removed from the site. DBWI will verify in a report to EPA when the lab-pack was removed from the site, and where it was transported to and/or disposed.
15 soil/cinder samples to be submitted to the DBWI laboratory for confirmational analysis.
The DBWI contractor and their subcontractors and EPA demobilized from the site.

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 Respondents 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 60 tons Crook County Landfill

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Demobilize from the site.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

DBWI fixed laboratory to analyze field laboratory samples for confirmational analysis.
Once agreement is made, crated equipment will be transported to a DBWI facility for reuse, recycling, or appropriate disposal.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Once DBWI fixed laboratory confirmation sample results received, DBWI will write and submit report to EPA for review.
Ownership of McDaniel Road is private and DBWI will coordinate with owners to have DBWI repair road once weather permits.
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.
Finalizing agreement on equipment crates disposition and completing transportation and appropriate reuse, recycling, and/or disposal.

2.3 Logistics Section