Pollution/Situation Report Profile

FMO Pesticide Site
Orefield, PA - EPA Region III
POLREP #16
On-going Removal Action

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
FMO Pesticide Site - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III

Subject:

POLREP #16
On-going Removal Action
FMO Pesticide Site
A3PZ
Orefield, PA
Latitude: 40.6322715 Longitude: -75.6149893

To:

Gerald Heston, US EPA Region III
Jeff Bartlett, North Whitehall Township
Dennis Carney, EPA Region III
Linda Marzulli, EPA Region III

From:

Ruth Scharr, Federal On-Scene Coordinator

Date:

7/20/2011

Reporting Period:

7/10/2011 through 7/17/2011

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	A3PZ	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:	9/1/2010
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Time-Critical
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	7/1/2010	Start Date:	9/17/2010
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:	PAN000306719	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Time-Critical Removal

1.1.2 Site Description

The Site is characterized as a time-critical removal. The Site includes land that was used formerly for the commercial growing and harvesting of fruit from orchard trees and are currently zoned for residential or public use primarily in North Whitehall Township, PA. Lead arsenate pesticide was historically used for several decades at the Site until its use was banned in 1988 by EPA. Elevated levels of arsenic and lead have been detected in surface soil samples on residential parcels and in public use areas. The FMO Pesticide Action Memo was submitted by the OSC and signed on September 1, 2010 approving a Removal Action which addresses contamination at residential parcels.

1.1.2.1 Location

The site is located in the Orefield/Schnecksville area of North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Incidental ingestion of lead and arsenic through direct contact with contaminated soil, or ingestion of contaminants from small particles that have been aerosolized from the disturbance of soil.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

As a result of the cancellation of the property that was to be excavated this week, a toddler play area at one residence and a small portion of a backyard (approximately 45 square feet) of another residence were excavated this week. Due to accessability issues and to minimize damage to grass and other improvements (sidewalks, driveways, patios, etc...), excavation activities at both residences were conducted by hand digging and wheel barrel. The toddler play area and back yard were both excavated to a total depth of 6 inches below ground surface. Samples were collected for analysis from the base of each excavation. The areas were back filled with certified clean topsoil. No significantly elevated dust concentrations were identified downwind of or within the work area at either residence. A total of one rolloff was used for excavation activities conducted this week. Installation of sod was conducted at another residence that had previously been excavated and at which the quality of the sod was unsatisfactory.

ERRS continues to water the sod each day at properties identified by EPA. Sod is watered in early morning and later evening to avoid burning. Sod was not watered if it rained.

Removal activities have been completed at 12 of the18 properties currently scheduled for a removal action. A total of 58 rolloffs containing an estimated 928 tons of soil have been shipped offsite for disposal. Three rolloffs are currently staged onsite; two containing soil, one containing PPE.

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Next week, sod will be installed at the Toddler Play Area and small back yard section that were excavated this week at two seperate residences, weather permitting.

Property specific work plans for residences requiring soil excavation will continue to be prepared. EPA will be meeting and scheduling with residents where removal activities may take place. At times scheduled between the resident and EPA, excavation of properties will occur, samples will be collected, backfill installed, and sod installed.

Air monitoring will continue to be conducted during excavation activities to ensure contaminated soil is not being spread to areas outside of each work zone and appropriate levels of personal protective equipment are being utilized by site workers.

Samples will continue to be processed at the onsite laboratory for Post-Excavation activities. For the newly added removal action properties, Extent of Contamination samples will be shipped off-site to a laboratory for analysis. This will provide quicker results and enable the action to be taken this year.

ERRS will continue to excavate, dispose of soils, restore yards, and water sod.

Close-out letters will be prepared for those properties where we have received validated data for post-excavation sampling. Letters will include maps showing where EPA excavated and restored the property and a table of post excavation sampling results. Post-excavation walkthroughs are being scheduled at residences at which excavation activities have been completed.

Request for Phase II Assessment samples continue to be received from property owners who did not respond to EPA's orginial letters offering sampling. As these request come in, the properties are scheduled for sampling. Phase II assessment samples will be shipped to an off-site laboratory to allow for earlier receipt of results. Thus allow the inclusion of any additional properties this year. Based on these new request for sampling, removal activities are expected to continue through the summer and, possibly, early fall of 2011.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps


2.2.2 Issues

        The lack of rain and severe heat has complicated the restoration of properties.  Sod installation has been delayed at times. Sod watering has been increased because during the period of initial rooting (approximatley 3 weeks), enough irrigation should be applied to maintain moisture in the upper five inches of soil at all times to promote root growth.

2.3 Logistics Section