U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Prosser Pomace Pits

All POL/SITREP's for this site Prosser Pomace Pits
Prosser, WA - EPA Region X
POLREP #2
Progress Polrep
Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Prosser Pomace Pits - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X

Subject: POLREP #2
Progress Polrep
Prosser Pomace Pits
10KL
Prosser, WA
Latitude: 46.2666469 Longitude: -119.6302986


To:
From: Kathy Parker, OSC
Date: 10/22/2011
Reporting Period: 10/03/2011 - 10/21/2011

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: 10KL    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 4/27/2011
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 10/17/2011    Start Date: 4/18/2011
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: WAN001002932    RCRIS ID: none
ERNS No.: none    State Notification: 4/15/2011
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category
Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description
Two pits and a large disposal area of fruit pomace and diatomaceous earth waste on agricultural land currently being farmed for concord grapes.

1.1.2.1 Location
36108 North District Line Road, Prosser, WA 99350, Benton County

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Heat produced by the decomposing piles in excess of 1000 degrees F. Unrestricted access has led to several people walking into the piles and being severely burned.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Heat readings in several areas were measured to be in excess of 1000F, accompanied by smoldering humous material.  Removal Evaluation results for SVOC, pesticides, herbicides and metals show exceedances of RSLs only for arsenic and vanadium. No MTCA exceedances. Background levels for arsenic and vanadium were higher than the concentrations in the waste samples.

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
On 10/4/2011 PRP contractor reinforced the fencing.

EPA and ERRS mobed to site on Monday 10/17/2011 - 6 ERRS, 1OSC. Set up office trailer and started filling water tower. Received heavy equipment - excavator, wheel loader, D6 Dozer, two 10 cy haul trucks.

Tuesday 10/18/2011 - 6 ERRS, 1OSC. 7am safety meeting. Pushed apple trees into three piles for burning. Started excavating Pit #1 in afternoon. Hauled and spread waste material on southwest corner of site.  Three PRP experts arrived to observe excavating and collect soil samples and temperature measurements. Unarmed security hired to prevent trespassers from entering open pits and to protect equipment.

Wednesday 10/19/2011 - 6 ERRS, 1OSC. 7am safety meeting. Continued excavating Pit #1. Hauled and spread waste material on northeast corner of site.  Three PRP experts on-site to observe excavating and collect soil samples and temperature measurements. Replaced haul trucks with 20 cy articulated trucks.

Thursday 10/20/2011 - 6 ERRS, 1OSC. 7am safety meeting. Continued excavating Pit #1. Hauled and spread waste material on southeast and northwest corners of site.  Two PRP experts on-site to observe excavating and collect soil samples and temperature measurements

Friday 10/21/2011 - 6 ERRS, 1OSC. 7am safety meeting. Started excavating Pit #2. Spread hot material in front of the pit, watered and mixed it until it was not hot to the touch.  The burn ban was lifted so the landowner torched the three piles of apple wood, which burned down by noon.  Copy of burn permit provided to OSC. Two PRP experts on-site to observe excavating and collect soil samples and temperature measurements.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
*Enforcement Confidential*

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
All waste material will be land-applied on-site.

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 D001          
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

More waste material is present than expected.  Also, more Diatomaceous Earth is present in the waste than expected. Applying the excess to the current site footprint may make the land unusable for the landowner’s intended purpose (planting grapes).  EPA will investigate the cost of off-site disposal of the excess waste material vs adding organic amendment to the site soil to off-set a higher application rate of the inorganic component of the waste material.

A large quantity of non-hazardous solid waste (household garbage such as toys and beds and indsutrial waste such as tires and machine parts) has been found mixed into the waste in both pits. ERRS crew is separating out the solid waste at each stage of handling. Tires, large rocks, and moderately hazardous household waste (herbicide containers) will be left on-site for proper disposal by the land-owner. Other debris will be removed with site trash.

 

  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
ERRS RM Brad Coury was designated as Site Safety Office during Field work. HASP wa prepared by ERRS

2.6 Liaison Officer


2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer  - Mark Macintyre

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator

3. Participating Entities
  No information available at this time.

4. Personnel On Site
  6 ERRS, FOSC, 4 total PRP experts, and the landowners were on-site during field work.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
www.epaosc.org/prosserpomacepits

6.2 Reporting Schedule
weekly

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.


Click here to view Attached Images