U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Former Western Publishing Site - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region II
|
|
Subject:
|
POLREP #1
Initial/Final POLREP - PJ1
Former Western Publishing Site
A260
Poughkeepsie, NY
Latitude: 41.7239090 Longitude: -73.9293090
|
|
To:
|
|
|
From:
|
Margaret Alferman, On-Scene Coordinator
|
|
Date:
|
9/29/2010
|
|
Reporting Period:
|
August 19, 2010 to September 29, 2010
|
|
1. Introduction
|
|
|
1.1 Background
|
|
|
|
|
Site Number: |
|
|
Contract Number: |
|
|
D.O. Number: |
|
|
Action Memo Date: |
|
|
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
|
Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
|
Response Lead: |
EPA |
|
Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
|
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
|
Operable Unit: |
Site-wide |
|
Mobilization Date: |
9/29/2010 |
|
Start Date: |
9/20/2010 |
|
Demob Date: |
9/29/2010 |
|
Completion Date: |
9/29/2010 |
|
CERCLIS ID: |
NYC200400588 |
|
RCRIS ID: |
|
|
ERNS No.: |
|
|
State Notification: |
|
|
FPN#: |
|
|
Reimbursable Account #: |
|
1.1.1 Incident Category
Inactive Production Facility
1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
The Former Western Publishing Site (Site) is located in the southeast corner of a commercial shopping complex, the Mid Hudson Shopping Plaza, in a mixed commercial and residential area of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York. The shopping complex is addressed in its entirety as 3440-3444 North Road (Route 9). The Site consists of the abandoned southern half of a former industrial building, part of which was razed in 2002, as well as the surrounding land to the east, south and west. The parcel on which the Site is located is identified as Parcel No. 134689-6162-05-005836-0000 and totals 5.81 acres. Historically, the Site building housed auto manufacturing companies from approximately 1910 to the early 1930s, the Western Publishing printing company from 1934 until 1983, and various occupants from 1985 until the late 1990s, including a moving company (for storage space), classrooms, a bus maintenance company, and hospital offices. The Site has been abandoned since the late 1990s or early 2000s. The Site building is constructed of brick with the exception of the west wall, which is composed of sheetrock, exterior siding and interior steel braces. The Site is accessible from Fulton Drive to the south, an active driveway to the east which runs along the rear of the shopping complex, and the shopping center parking lot and drive lanes to the west and northwest. The Site is bordered to the north by the remaining half of the Site building, which is occupied by a Staples office supply store; to the east by railroad tracks, beyond which is a liquefied gas retailer; to the south by Fulton Street, beyond which is an apartment complex that houses college students as well as a commercial/light industrial building; and to the west by an access drive lane for the shopping complex, beyond which is a bank and a commercial building. Marist College is located approximately 400 feet to the west of the Site.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The EPA Removal Action Branch (RAB) received a request from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) in June 2010 to evaluate materials within the Site building for a CERCLA removal action. The request was based on the presence of approximately 70 abandoned drums within the Site building, including approximately sixty (60) 95-gallon overpack drums, as well as various containers of abandoned materials throughout the building. The contents of the drums and containers are unknown. Two doors to the interior of the Site building – a rolling loading dock door leading directly to the overpack drums and a pedestrian door – have been unsecured since at least August 2010.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
EPA conducted a site entry into the building on September 20 and 21, 2010. Due to the tightly packed positioning of the overpack drums within the loading dock of the Site building, approximately two thirds of the overpack drums were inaccessible. Most of the accessible overpack drums contained rusted and/or damaged 55-gallon drums, some of which were leaking liquids, and many of the interior drums could not be opened due to rust. Air monitoring revealed elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within several of the 55-gallon drums as well as an elevated cyanide level in one of the overpack drums. Hazardous Material Categorizing (HazCat) screening was conducted on a portion of the drums that were accessed.
|
|
2. Current Activities
|
|
|
2.1 Operations Section
|
|
|
|
2.1.1 Narrative
An inspection of the Site building by local officials in early 2010 revealed the lack of a functioning sprinkler system at the Site building. Overpack drums were observed in the loading dock and large piles of construction and demolition debris and other combustible materials were seen scattered throughout the building. Refuse is routinely dumped in the asphalt area directly outside the Site building, approximately 25 feet from the unsecured pedestrian door. People have been observed scavenging through this debris. Graffiti is present on the exterior of the building, including the areas within 60 feet of the unsecured loading dock door. EPA cleared some of the vegetation in front of the unsecured pedestrian door of the Site building during the September 21, 2010 site entry, making the door more accessible to trespassers.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
The NYSDEC and the Town of Poughkeepsie provided historical information and pertinent files regarding the Site in August and September 2010. Town of Poughkeepsie officials, with EPA as an assisting agency, were awarded a Search Warrant which allowed EPA to perform the site entry on September 20-21, 2010. Town of Poughkeepsie officials posted notices discouraging entry to the Site on September 2, 2010 and secured both of the unlocked doors at the Site on September 29, 2010 to mitigate the threat of exposure to unknown hazardous substances.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
No potentially responsible parties have been identified at this time.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
The unsecured doors of the Site building have been locked.
|
|
|
2.2 Planning Section
|
|
|
|
2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA will use the information gathered during the site entry to create a plan for sampling of the accessible drums and containers at the property. Sampling is expected to occur in October 2010, and samples will be sent to off-site laboratories. No further actions to secure the Site other than those taken by local officials are planned at this time.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
An Action Memorandum will be prepared once the analytical data is available and a decision has been made regarding removal of the drums and containers at the Site. Once the Action Memorandum is approved, EPA may activate ERRS contractors to conduct a removal action at the Site to address the waste materials.
2.2.2 Issues
Because of the unknown wastes inside the Site building, EPA and Town of Poughkeepsie officials will have to continue to monitor the Site to ensure that it remains secure.
|
|
|
2.3 Logistics Section
|
|
|
|
A logistics section was not activated for this response. No logistical challenges or issues were encountered during this reporting period.
|
|
|
2.4 Finance Section
|
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
2.5 Other Command Staff
|
|
|
|
2.5.1 Safety Officer
On September 20, 2010, the Site health and safety plan was finalized and signed by all site personnel. No safety challenges or issues were encountered during this reporting period.
2.6 Liaison Officer
A Liaison Officer was not activated for this response.
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
A Public Information Officer was not activated for this response.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
The Community Involvement Coordinator for this Site is Cecilia Echols of EPA Region II. Ms. Echols can be reached by phone at (212) 637-3678 or by email at echols.cecilia@epa.gov.
|
|
3. Participating Entities
|
|
|
3.1 Unified Command
Unified Command is not relevant to this response.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
The NYSDEC and the Town of Poughkeepsie are providing support to the EPA as needed.
|
|
4. Personnel On Site
|
|
|
None.
|
|
5. Definition of Terms
|
|
|
None.
|
|
6. Additional sources of information
|
|
|
6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
www.epaosc.org/FormerWesternPublishing
6.2 Reporting Schedule
None.
|
|
7. Situational Reference Materials
|
|
|
None.
|
|
|
