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.

1.1.2.2 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).

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.

2.1.1 Narrative
Period Covering August 12-14

All personnel are wearing reflective vests, hardhats, steel toe boots, and have radio communication when down in the removal area. The ground crew members handling the water hose have sealing goggles and have available  dust masks. Hearing protection is also required and provided for personnel working near the screening plant. 

With the setting up of the screening plant and the stockpiling of screened material near the entrance, the site is significantly more crowded. All personnel on the ground and operating equipment will need to be very alert to avoid potential accidents. With the loading of trucks and pups from the discharge stockpile, the work area will only become more congested. Ground crews must communicate with truck drivers and heavy equipment operators so that everyone maintains a high situational awareness. Ground crew members need to maintain eye contact with the drivers and operators when transitioning through work areas or have the drivers and operators temporary halt their activities during the transition. If ground crews are working with the operators, they need to be positioned so that they are always in view of the operators. Ground crew members need to be aware that as the excavators rotate, the operator may loose sight of crew members. 

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