U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Buffum MKE - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
|
|
Subject:
|
POLREP #1
Initial
Buffum MKE
C5Y4
Milwaukee, WI
Latitude: 43.0813980 Longitude: -87.9059090
|
|
To:
|
Karen Dettmer, RACM
Lindor Schmidt, MHD
Ryan Wozniak, WDHS
Mark Drews, WDNR
|
|
From:
|
Kathy Halbur, OSC
Paul Ruesch, OSC
|
|
Date:
|
6/17/2014
|
|
Reporting Period:
|
6/10/2014 - 6/17/2014
|
|
1. Introduction
|
|
|
1.1 Background
|
|
|
|
|
Site Number: |
C5Y4 |
|
Contract Number: |
EP-S5-08-02 |
|
D.O. Number: |
141 |
|
Action Memo Date: |
5/14/2014 |
|
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
|
Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
|
Response Lead: |
EPA |
|
Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
|
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
|
Operable Unit: |
|
|
Mobilization Date: |
6/10/2014 |
|
Start Date: |
6/11/2014 |
|
Demob Date: |
|
|
Completion Date: |
|
|
CERCLIS ID: |
|
|
RCRIS ID: |
|
|
ERNS No.: |
|
|
State Notification: |
WDNR |
|
FPN#: |
|
|
Reimbursable Account #: |
|
1.1.1 Incident Category
Time Critical Removal Action
1.1.2 Site Description
The Buffum MKE Site is a 3-story abandoned industrial building on a small lot in a mixed residential, commercial, and industrial area. The building was constructed in the early 1900's, and many different businesses have operated there over time. The last business to operate at the Site closed in 2008, and the property has fallen into disrepair.
1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located at 3456 North Buffum Street, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Residential properties are located to the north and east, the Beerline recreational trail is located to the south, and an operating business is located across the street to the west. Across the Beerline Trail are more residential properties.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
There are numerous physical and chemical hazards associated with the Site, including 3 incinerators/ovens, numerous piles of ash, and containers of waste oil, flammable and corrosive materials. Some containers are open, bulging, and/or leaking. There is evidence of waste flowing into floor drains and seeping out a door. Waste from open and spilled drums as well as hazardous ash piles flushes into floor drains with each rain event, as failing portions of the roof allow stormwater to fill the building during rain events. Lead paint chips and friable asbestos are uncontrolled in the building.
MFD issued a warning not to enter the building, and WDHS & MHD have concluded that the conditions at the Site pose a human health hazard to nearby residents. Despite efforts by the City of Milwaukee to secure the building, trespassers are regularly at the Site. On September 27, 2013, RACM sent a letter to EPA requesting assistance. According to RACM, trespassers regularly break into the Site building and debris regularly is dumped onto an asphalt lot despite measures to secure the Site. Broken windows and continued dilapidation of the Site building create entrance points, rendering the building a neighborhood safety hazard.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
On October 31, 2013, representatives from EPA, WDNR, RACM, MDNS, and MFD conducted a Site visit to document conditions and plan for a removal site assessment. Numerous drums and containers were observed in open or poor condition, with visible evidence of spills. On December 12, 2013, EPA collected liquid and solid waste samples from small containers, near incinerators, and spilled on the floor; wipe samples from surfaces of incinerator and fume hood structures; paint chip samples; and building material samples, including suspected ACM. On January 23, 2014, EPA collected additional paint chip samples from the building exterior. On April 21-22, 2014, EPA collected soil gas and groundwater samples, additional wipe samples, and a sample of sludge from the floor drain sump.
Containers noted during site assessment activities include various sizes of buckets, drums, and totes, some of which are open, spilled, and/or damaged. Compressed gas cylinders also remain at the Site. There are piles of ash throughout the building, including in the elevator shaft on the roof. Analytical results for samples indicate that ignitable, corrosive, and toxic hazardous wastes are present in liquid and solid wastes present at the Site. The site assessment also documented metals, SVOCs, and PCBs in solid waste samples at concentrations above WDNR NR 720 soil direct contact RCLs for industrial and non-industrial land uses and EPA RMLs for residential and industrial soils. The solid waste samples also contained PCBs. The sludge in the floor drain sump is hazardous for lead.
|
|
2. Current Activities
|
|
|
2.1 Operations Section
|
|
|
|
2.1.1 Narrative
The time critical removal action includes collection and removal of all solid and liquid wastes contained at the Site building. In addition, surfaces containing hazardous ash and dust will be cleaned. Building materials (i.e., peeling lead and PCB paint) that pose a health and/or migration risk will be removed. All associated wastes collected during the removal will be properly disposed of at EPA approved facilities, in compliance with the Off-Site Rule.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
The following activities took place during the initial reporting period (June 10 - June 17):
- A structural engineer performed a visual inspection/assessment of the building and made recommendations to ensure worker safety;
- A Health & Safety Plan, Emergency Contingency Plan, Site Security Plan, and Air Monitoring Plan were established;
- Work crews mobilized and set up a staging area for personnel, materials, waste containers, equipment and support vehicles on the south side of the building;
- The south and west building entrances were secured as exclusion zones;
- Debris was cleared from entrances and critical pathways, including stairwells, throughout the inside of the building;
- A sample of solid waste material (floor sweepings, ash, dust, sludge) was collected for characterization to ensure proper disposal;
- A perimeter air monitoring network of monitors was deployed in work areas and at building entrances/exits to ensure worker and community safety;
- All containerized wastes were collected from throughout the building and staged for sampling, characterization and eventual shipment for disposal; and
- All empty containers (drums, pails, etc) were collected & cut up for eventual disposal.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The owner of the building is tax delinquent, out-of-state, and unable to care for the building. A signed Consent for Access To Property and a declaration of inability to conduct the cleanup was submitted by the Site owner to EPA on February 26, 2014. There are no known viable previous operators.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
No waste has been transported from the Site as of the date of this POLREP.
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.2 Planning Section
|
|
|
|
2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
The work plan for this time critical removal action includes collection and removal of all solid and liquid wastes contained at the Site building. In addition, surfaces containing hazardous ash and dust will be cleaned. Building materials (i.e., peeling lead and PCB paint) that pose a health and/or migration risk will be removed. All associated wastes collected during the removal will be properly disposed of at EPA approved facilities, in compliance with the Off-Site Rule.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
The following activities are planned for the next reporting period:
- Removal and staging of non-hazardous debris from the building for shipment & disposal;
- Removal and staging of scrap metal from the building for shipment & recycling;
- Consolidation and repackaging of containers of liquid waste for shipment & disposal; and
- Sampling and analysis of other wastes (such as migrating paint chips) to define disposal requirements.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
See Section 2.2.1.1
2.2.2 Issues
The owner of a business that previously operated at the building contacted EPA seeking access to the building to recover personal property and effects that were locked up by City prior to his being able to removal them.
A crew member's vehicle was broken into on Buffum Street in front of the Site and a theft of personal items occurred on June 11, 2014.
|
|
|
2.3 Logistics Section
|
|
|
|
The ERRS contractor (EQM, Inc.) has established and is maintaining a staging and support zone for all personnel, equipment and supplies.
|
|
|
2.4 Finance Section
|
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
2.5 Other Command Staff
|
|
|
|
2.5.1 Safety Officer
OSCs Kathy Halbur/Paul Ruesch and ERRS RM Mark Douglas serve as on site safety officers. A HASP has been finalized and signed by all workers at the Site. Safety briefings are held each morning prior to initiation of work activity.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
OSC Kathy Halbur is serving as the liaison with the community and state/local government agencies. Site visits/inspections were conducted by MFD and Milwaukee Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security during this reporting period.
2.5.3 Information Officer
- A fact sheet was finalized and distributed door to door to residences and businesses in the neighborhood. A copy of the Fact Sheet can be found (in English and Spanish) on the project website under the 'documents' section; and
- A repository of the Administrative Record file was established at the following address:
2300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
The CIC for the project is Susan Pastor.
|
|
3. Participating Entities
|
|
|
3.1 Unified Command
N/A
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
City of Milwaukee
Redevelopment Authority
Department of Health
Fire Department
Department of Neighborhood Services
Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
State of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Health Services
Riverworks Development Corporation
|
|
4. Personnel On Site
|
|
|
U.S. EPA - 2
ERRS (EQM, Inc) - 5
START (TetraTech, Inc) - 1
Security Officer Services, Inc - 1
TOTAL - 9
|
|
5. Definition of Terms
|
|
|
CFR - Code of Federal Regulations
CIC - Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
ERRS - Emergency & Rapid Response Services
HASP - Health and Safety Plan
MDNS - Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services
MFD - Milwaukee Fire Department
mg/kg - milligrams per kilogram
MHD - Milwaukee Health Department
MOEMHS - Milwaukee Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
NR - Natural Resources
OSC - On scene coordinator
PCBs -Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls
ppb - parts per billion
ppm - parts per million
RACM - Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee
RCL - Residual Contaminant Level
RML - Removal Management Level
RM - Response Manager
START - Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team
SVOCs - Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
TDD - Technical Direction Document
VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds
WDHS - Wisconsin Department of Health Services
WDNR - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
|
|
6. Additional sources of information
|
|
|
6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
http://www.epa.gov/Region5/cleanup/buffum/index.html
http://www.epaosc.org/BuffumMKE
6.2 Reporting Schedule
Progress POLREPS will be issued as significant activities occur.
|
|
7. Situational Reference Materials
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
