This purpose of this assessment project is to continue to evaluate metals concentrations in the sediment along a portion of the West Fork River, which is situated downgradient from a slag pile believed to have been generated by the long defunct Clarksburg Zinc Company.  This assessment will determine if, and if so to what extent, this source is negatively impacting the West Fork River sediment downstream of the slag pile. The project previously included an evaluation of the background sediment from areas upstream of the assessment area.

On 08/21/2012 at 0800 hours, START met with the OSC and prepared to begin sampling operations.  Following a brief health and safety discussion, the OSC and START traveled to the boat launch area to launch the sampling team.  At 0950 hours, the boat was launched, and the sampling team was heading downstream to collect samples.  At 1015, START began collecting samples at locations adjacent to the slag pile area.  START performed written and photographic documentation of all sample locations.  At 1030 hours, USFWS expert Kathy Patnode arrived on-site at the current sampling locations near the slag pile.  Kathy indicated that there were not many significant sediment deposits that she observed.  She also indicated that water quality appeared impaired, but the river has nice potential as it appears to be a good riparian corridor.  START inquired about the potential need for pore water sampling.  Ms. Patnode indicated that she would use a water quality meter to survey potential locations along the slag pile area of the river to assess for the need to collect pore water samples.  At 1100 hours, START resumed collecting sediment samples.  At 1400 hours, following a brief lunch, START headed to the furthest downstream location, about a river mile downstream of the slag pile, in order to minimize sediment disturbance by collecting samples in an upstream direction.  At 1430 hours, START again met with USFWS expert Kathy Patnode to over the results of her water quality testing for potential pore water sampling locations. Kathy provided results.  Ms. Patnode recommended we collect pore water samples at five locations, and provided a sketch of the recommended sample locations.  At 1805 hours, START had completed sampling operations for the day, and returned to the hotel in Bridgeport, WV.  The boat was left moored at the private residence located near the downstream border of the assessment area.  Throughout this day, START attempted to use the Ponar Dredge with little success due to rock and/or sand encountered along the mid-channel area of the river.  A GPS location was logged using an EPA Trimble unit for all samples collected on this day. A total of 11 samples were collected on this day, including one duplicate sample. 

On 8/22/12 at 0800 hours, START met with the OSC and prepared to begin sampling operations.  Following a brief health and safety meeting, START and the OSC returned to the boat mooring location to begin collecting samples.  The OSC arrived with Larry Siranek, representative for WVDEP.  Once sampling was underway, the START project manager, the OSC, and WVDEP Larry Siranek set up a base camp in order to log sampling information into the Scribe documentation program.  Scribe was also used to produce sample tags and labels on this day.  At approximately 1430 hours, Larry Siranek departed the site.  At 1730 hours, START had completed sampling operations for the day, and at 1745 hours returned to the hotel in Bridgeport, WV.  The boat was left moored at the private residence located near the downstream border of the assessment area.  START conducted written and photographic documentation of all sample locations.  A GPS location was logged using an EPA Trimble unit for all samples collected on this day.  A total of 15 samples were collected on this day, including two duplicate samples. 

On 8/23/12 at 0800 hours, START met at the residence where the boat was moored, and prepared to begin sampling operations.  A rinsate blank was collected as one sample was collected on the previous day using the Ponar Dredge.  Sampling was delayed on this day due to trolling motor battery issues.  START worked to remedy the battery issues.  At 1030 hours, the battery issues were remedied and the sampling team was departing the downstream residence to resume sampling where efforts ended the previous day.  At 1045 hours, the START project manager and OSC set up a base camp in order to log sampling information into the Scribe documentation program.  The START project manager kept in contact with the sampling team in order to obtain sampler and sample time information for Scribe program data entry.  At 1800 hours, START had completed sampling operations for the day, and at 1900 hours returned to the hotel in Bridgeport, WV.  The boat was left moored at the private residence located near the downstream border of the assessment area.  START conducted written and photographic documentation of all sample locations.  A GPS location was logged using an EPA Trimble unit for all samples collected on this day.  A total of 25 samples were collected on this day, including three duplicate samples and one rinsate sample.  

 On 8/24/12 at 0800 hours, the OSC and START met at the START hotel in Bridgeport, WV.  START began organizing equipment in preparation to collect a final rinsate sample, perform final decon on the Ponar Dredge, and make room to pull the Jon boat out of the water.  At 1000 hours, START and the OSC met at the Clarksburg wastewater treatment facility flapper valve outfall as this location was thought to be the easiest extraction point for the Jon boat.  While pulling the boat out of the water, a wastewater treatment facility representative inquired as to the boating/sampling activities.  The OSC spoke with the representative and provided a brief explanation of the assessment.  Following Jon boat extraction, The OSC and START returned to the staging area along North 25th Street.  START collected another rinsate sample, and began preparing samples for final labeling and packaging.  At 1100 hours, the OSC demobilized from the site.  At 1430 hours, all samples were labeled, bagged, tagged, and packaged for shipment to the CLP laboratory.  At 1500 hours, START demobilized from the site.  At 1630 hours, four coolers containing all samples collected were dropped off at the Federal Express location in Wheeling, WV for priority overnight shipment to the CLP laboratory.  At 1645 hours, START arrived back at the Wheeling, WV START office.