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RAMCO

All POL/SITREP's for this site RAMCO
Dallesport, WA - EPA Region X
POLREP #3
Progress 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
RAMCO - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X
Subject: POLREP #3
Progress
RAMCO
10HF
Dallesport, WA
Latitude: 45.6253834 Longitude: -121.1312199

To:
From: Jeffry Rodin, OSC
Date: 8/4/2010
Reporting Period: 02Aug - 04Aug 2010

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: 10HF    Contract Number: ER-R7-07-02
D.O. Number: 0029    Action Memo Date: 5/13/2010
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 7/26/2010    Start Date:  
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: WAN001002793    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

CERCLA Time Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description

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.


1.1.2.1 Location

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.



1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

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).


1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

 The waste in the landfill contains up to 28 percent aluminum, up to 8 percent sodium, up to 2.8 percent magnesium, up to 2.1 percent calcium, up to 1.5 percent potassium, plus lesser amounts of chromium, manganese, iron, copper, nickel, and zinc.


The waste material placed in the landfill produced ammonia gas when wet.  The odor of ammonia has been detected in the past during direct push soil sampling, groundwater monitoring, and after rainfall events.

 Nitrates, sodium, chloride, and total dissolved solids in groundwater have been measured at levels exceeding primary or secondary water quality standards. Because major salt-forming chemical elements (sodium, calcium, potassium) measured during groundwater sampling exceeded levels of these elements found in seawater, there is a strong indication that salts from the landfill are leaching into groundwater.

Leaching tests performed to determine whether the waste is a Dangerous Waste indicate that metals also could leach from the aluminum waste. However, groundwater monitoring thus far has not shown elevated levels of metals attributable to leaching from the landfill.




2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

Aug 1, No filed activities

Period Covering August 2-4

ERRS contractor continues excavation of contaminated material from the southeast portion of the removal site. Awaiting arrival of screen plant to allow for continued progression of site remediation.

8/2/10 Monday
  • One ERRS 330 Cat track hoe continued to aerate and move material from stockpile #3 to stockpile #2.  The operator could also visually check the material for any foreign materials and crushed large pieces.   There was enough moisture in the soil that dust control measures were not needed.
    • The second ERRS 345 Cat hoe started to clean the South wall to remove contaminated soil that was part of pile #1.  A ground crew member used an 1 ½ water hose to control dust.  They will continue cleaning the wall, moving east, for the rest of the day. 
    • START and USCG place the Weatherpak monitor at monitoring well #2 and a Data Ram 4 and Area Rae downwind at monitoring well #3.
    • Two samples were taken from the existing stockpile that has the K088 listed waste to determine if the loose material is K088 waste.  If it is not, the volume of K088 listed waste can be reduced.
    • ERRS 330 Cat track hoe started to break up the large pieces of the K088 material into smaller ones in preparation for transporting off site.
    8/3/08 Tuesday
    • The ERRS 345 Cat hoe continued to clean the South wall to remove contaminated soil that was part of pile #1 and from the landfill itself.  A ground crew member used an 1 ½ water hose to control dust.  They will continue cleaning the wall, moving east, until the screening plant arrived.
    • START and USCG prepared the two samples and USCG delivered them to the lab.  
    • ERRS 330 Cat track hoe continued to break up the large pieces of the K088 material into smaller ones in preparation for transporting off site.
    • Screening plant arrived and set up took several hours.
    • The onsite trash dumpster was emptied.

    8/4/10 Wednesday

     

    • ERRS crew and screening plant contractor completed initial set up of screening plant and radial stacker.  Plant was operational by noon and started to run soil through the screening plant.  A problem with a low voltage control circuit shut down the screening plant operations.
    • ERRS returned to moving contaminated soil from the site onto the stock pile that would be run through the screening plant.
    • START continued to monitor for particulates and ammonia downwind of the work area and next to the screening plant operations.
    • The START onsite did have electrical experience from a previous life, but failed to diagnosis and remedy the low circuit problem that plagued the stacker generator.
    • After over a week of delays due to shipping complications, the long awaited wind sock has arrived on scene and was installed on the west bluff above the primary operational area.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
      2.2 Planning Section
       


      2.3 Logistics Section
        No information available at this time.
      2.4 Finance Section
        No information available at this time.
      2.5 Other Command Staff
        2.5.1 Safety Officer
    Each morning a safety briefing is attended by all site personnel.  Information from ERRS, EPA, USCG, and START personnel is reviewed.  All personnel are encouraged to voice any concerns or ask questions related to their own safety and safety expectations while on-site.  A roster is maintained of all site personnel.  Visitors, truck drivers delivering equipment, and other agency visitors must initially contact the ERRS PM before being allowed on site.  Unless it is necessary, outside personnel are restricted to the support area.  The primary issues being reviewed each day are dust control, monitoring for ammonia, and protecting ground personnel as they use the water hose to control dust around the heavy equipment.  All personnel were advised that there would be a special safety briefing when the screening plant was ready to go into operations.
      

    Weather information and forecast is reviewed each morning by START and USCG.

    All personnel are wearing reflective vests, hardhats, steel toe boots, and have radio communication when down in the removal area.  The ground crew member handling the water hose has sealing goggles and have available  dust masks.  With the setting up of the screening plant the site is significantly more crowded.  All personnel on the ground and operating equipment will need to be very alert to avoid potential accidents.

     

    Air monitoring for particulates and ammonia continues.  No detection levels have been above established action levels.


    A USCG provided weather monitoring station with remote monitoring is placed in service each morning. 

    Shortly before noon, the screening plant and radial stacker were ready to start processing the soil.  All personnel assembled at the screening plant for a safety briefing from the screening plant mechanic.  The emergency shotoffs were identified for everyone and procedures for communicating with everyone when the plant was going to be started up or if it needed to be shutdown.  Everyone was cautioned about the safety issues with the congestion of heavy equipment and personnel around the screening plant. 

    There have been no near misses or accidents on the Ramco site.

    2.6 Liaison Officer


    2.7 Information Officer
    3. Participating Entities
      3.1 Unified Command


    3.2 Cooperating Agencies
    Cooperating Agencies include:
    US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
    Port of Klickitat, WA

    4. Personnel On Site
      EPA OSC - 1
    USCG Strike Team - 1
    START - 1
    ERRS - 7

    5. Definition of Terms
      No information available at this time.
    6. Additional sources of information
      No information available at this time.
    7. Situational Reference Materials
      No information available at this time.