U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
ST Clair Shores PCB Drain #2 - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Initial
ST Clair Shores PCB Drain #2
B5VE
St Clair Shores, MI
Latitude: 42.4867400 Longitude: -82.8986700
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To:
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Mark Johnson, ATSDR
Annette DeMaria, ECT
Judy Hartwell, Fed Gvt.
Tomiko Gumbleton, Fed Gvt.
Vicki Selva, Federal Govt.
Bill Misterovich, MCPWO
Roy Rose, MCPWO
Christina Rose Bush, MDCH
Jennifer Hazelton, MDNR & E
Milton Scales, MDNR & E
Bruce VanOtteren, MDEQ
Joe Walczak, MDEQ
Hae-Jin Yoon, MDEQ
Rich Berak, MDEQ RRD
Benjamin Hughes, St Clair Shores
Mick Hans, U.S. EPA
Stuart Hill, U.S. EPA
Beverly Kush, U.S. EPA
John Maritote, U.S. EPA
Linda Nachowicz, U.S. EPA
Dana Stalcup, U.S. EPA
Mary Canavan, US EPA
Jason El-Zein, US EPA
Bob Paulson, US EPA
Laura Casillas, US EPA
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From:
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Jeffrey Kimble, OSC
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Date:
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1/12/2010
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Reporting Period:
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B5VE |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
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Response Type: |
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Response Lead: |
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Incident Category: |
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NPL Status: |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
12/30/2009 |
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Start Date: |
12/30/2009 |
Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
ER/Time-Critical, Fund Lead
1.1.2 Site Description
The St Clair Shores PCB Drain Site is located in St Clair Shores, Michigan. Several studies and two removal actions have been conducted on site. However, the known source of PCBs still exists at the site. The source area of the site encompasses a several block area where PCBs have been documented to be present in significant quantities in an underground utility corridor.
1.1.2.1 Location
The site is generally located near the intersection of Bon Brae and Harper Avenue in St Clair Shores, Michigan. PCBs are bleeding into the sewer from an unknown source are. One source are was discovered and cut off from the sewer during a previous removal action.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Uncontrolled PCBs, as high as 800,000 parts per million, are entering in the sewer and threatening to contaminate 2 canals and Lake St Clair.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
For previous information on past removal actions, follow the link below.
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=2082
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
On Dec.10, 2009, EPA ER Branch and Remedial Branch attended several meetings to discuss current and new findings of high level PCBs in the 10 Mile Sewer Drain system. The first 2 meetings were with agency officials and city political leaders and were held to inform the stakeholders of the new information. In attendance were with U.S. EPA were St Clair Shores City officials, Macomb County Sewer District officials, environmental consulting firm ECT, MDEQ, and several political aides.
In those meetings, we discussed the City of St Clair Shores/Macomb County/ECT plans and current action to clean the sewer manholes and ECT's desire to place a series of weirs in the sewers (after cleaning) to allow places for sediments to build up and allow for collection. The City and ECT expressed their desire for EPA assistance to remove the approximate 1 gallon of 820,000-ppm PCB oil currently in the drain system. ECT and the City both expressed fears that if they conducted this work it would use up the remainder of the budget they have for the overall project and they would not be able to complete the work they have planned. The group feels this needs to be conducted ASAP to eliminate the potential for it to migrate down the sewer and threaten the canals. This also has to be done to allow the remainder of the manholes to be cleaned out and the weir system to be installed.
After those meetings, EPA and the other stakeholders attended a public meeting with the residents. The original intent of this meeting, which had been previously planned, was to inform the residents of the progress from MDEQ and EPA remedial program on the scoring of the site. Discussions were held about the future of the site, as well as the new findings.
Subsequent meetings by U.S. EPA and ECT identified immediate concerns and time-critical concerns at the site. ECT shared current info with U.S. EPA, and this information was used to plan subsequent activities.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
On December 30th, 2009, U.S. EPA conducted a small emergency action at the site which included the placement of a number of oil "pom-pom" collectors into the sewer to prevent short term migration of the high level PCB oil down the drain. This should allow the PCB material to be trapped effectively for at least a month as we draft the action memorandum to complete the other time-critical tasks. This action was completed in 1 day.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Ongoing, numerous leads have been pursued in the past by multiple agencies.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Conduct a limited Time-Critical Action. This action is not expected to bring closure to the site, only to temporarily stabilize conditions.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
After completion of the action memorandum with approval from ERB management, the following actions will be undertaken.
- Dewater the section of drain along Bon Brae Road and clean the high level PCB and sediment from it,
- Install up to 25 in-sewer weirs to act as a sediment traps to allow for more effective sampling of the sediments and also help to pinpoint the location PCBs are entering the sewer,
- Conduct sampling activities in several distinct areas where current City contractors believe PCBs may be entering the drain,
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Dispose of all collected PCB waste sediments,
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Remove and dispose of the temporary "pom-pom" oil retention device, and
- Clean the outfall structure where sediments have collected adjacent to the canal.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Complete action memorandum
2.2.2 Issues
There exists both known and unknown sources of PCBs in this area. Specifically for this reason, the site is being studied for the potential to become a remedial action.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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ERRS contractors, START contractors, and EPA Region 5 FIELDS Team will provide logistical support.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer Each agency/contractor will provide their own site supervisor, but all groups will conduct the activities under 1 approved U.S. EPA Site Safety Plan. Considerations will include hazardous levels of PCBs, heavy equipment safety, confined space entry, entrapment, and hazardous road work.
2.6 Liaison Officer The OSC.
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
The OSC
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
Robert Paulson will be the Community Involvement Coordinator for this site.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command The OSC is IC.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies MDEQ
City of St Clair Shores
Macomb County
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4. Personnel On Site
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TBD
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5. Definition of Terms
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OSC = On-Scene Coordinator
U.S. EPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency
MDEQ = Michegan Department of Environmental Quality
PCB = Ploy-chlorinated biphenyls
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
6.2 Reporting Schedule Periodic
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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