RAMCO occupied a building located within the Dallesport Industrial Park, where it extracted aluminum from dross it received from primary aluminum smelters.  Dross is a by-product from the primary smelting process, and the major constituents of dross are aluminum, aluminum oxides, mixtures of nitrides, mixtures of chlorides, and traces of other impurities.

The disposal site is located in the Dallesport Industrial Park, which is owned and operated by the Port of Klickitat.  The industrial park is a mixed light and heavy industrial facility, and is approximately two miles east of the small community of Dallesport, Washington.  The 2007 population of Dallesport is 1,239.

The contaminants of concern (cyanide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], ammonia, and metals including aluminum, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and vanadium) are potential hazardous substances or pollutants or contaminants as defined by sections 101(14) and 101(33) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. section 9601(14) and (33).

7/26/10  Monday

• EQM excavated top soil on top of contaminate layer on the eastern side of site.  Water spray used to control dust.  START monitored for particulates down wind of excavation
• EQM excavated contaminate from eastern side of the site into a stock pile near center of the site.  Water spray used to control dust.  START monitored for particulates, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide.  All constitutes being monitored were below action levels.
• USCG Representative, Jeremy Thomas arrived onsite.
• Contact was made with the US Army Corps of Engineers Dalles Dam visitor center, Dallesport fire & ambulance service.  All parties were provided with a fact sheet for the remvoal activities.  A fact sheet was also posted at the nearby Spearfish lake recreation area.

7/27/10  Tuesday

EQM continued to excavate contaminate material from eastern side of the site into a stock pile.  Water spray was used to control dust.  START monitored for particulates, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide.  All constitutes being monitored were below action levels.

• USACE representative was given a tour of the site.  EPA/OSC Rodin discussed plan to remove boundary fence so that the northwest rim of the site pit could be excavated.  EPA/OSC Rodin communicated to the USACE representative that construction best practices would be followed.  A snow fence would be temporary constructed about 100 feet to the northwest to protect the site from the USACE public trail.  The fence and pre-existing grade would be re-established after the contaminated material was removed.  The USACE representative agreed with the approache.  He did ask that if there was any change from the existing plan that he be informed.
• A soil sample was taken of the recent excavated material to confirm the profile for the Wasco Landfill.  The sample was prepared, packaged and shipped by START to.  A five day turn-around was requested.

7/29/10  Wednesday

·        EQM loaded and Dietrich Trucking transported 30 truck loads of material to the Wasco Landfill.  The total tonnage was 962 tons.
·        START monitored for particulates and ammonia down wind from the stock pile that the trucks were being loaded from near the entrance to the site.  All constitutes being monitored were below action levels.
·        EQM removed the boundary, barbed wire fence between the site and USACE property.  A temporary, semi-circle plastic construction fence (snow fence) was constructed approximately 100 feet to the NE of the boundary.  The ends of the temporary fence were connected to the pre-exiting barbed wire fence.
·        EQM started to remove the top soil form the north east rim of the site. Water spray was used to control dust.
        START monitored for particulates, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide.  All constitutes being monitored were below action levels.