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Buffum MKE

All POL/SITREP's for this site Buffum MKE
Milwaukee, WI - EPA Region V
POLREP #2
Progress 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Buffum MKE - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #2
Progress
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: 7/2/2014
Reporting Period: 6/18/2014 - 7/2/2014

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
See Initial POLREP for threat description.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See Initial POLREP for pre-removal assessment information.
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
See Initial POLREP for activities that occurred June 10-17, 2014.

The following activities took place during this reporting period (June 18 - July 2, 2014):
  • Collection,characterization, and consolidation of all liquid wastes abandoned at the Site;
  • Collection and identification of all compressed gas cylinders abandoned at the Site;
  • Recovery by suppliers of three abandoned cylinders (three additional cylinders remain for pick-up and/or disposal);
  • Collection and staging of approximately 2 tons of hazardous solid waste from the rooftop elevator shaft/mechanical room;
  • Collection, staging, removal, and disposal of non-hazardous debris and RCRA empty containers from the first and third floors of the building;
  • Collection and recycling of scrap metal from the first and third floors of the building;
  • Collection and recycling of mercury switches throughuot the building;
  • Cleaning of the main floor drain for the eastern half of the building;
  • Spill containment/runoff control for contaminated water migrating off-site through building doors;
  • Perimeter, hot zone, and personnel air monitoring;
  • Waste profile sampling and analysis; and
  • Recovery of personal documents for a previous operator.

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

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
Non-Haz Debris & RCRA Empty Containers solid  20 tons NA NA Orchard Ridge Landfill, Menomonee Falls, WI 
Scrap metal solid  5 tons NA Recycle Auto & Scrap Recyclers, Milwaukee, WI
Oxygen cylinder  gas (2) 4' cylinders NA Recycle AirGas
Oxygen cylinder gas  2' cylinder NA Recycle Apria Health
Mercury switches liquid/solid  0.50 pound NA Recycle WM Mercury Solutions,  Union Grove, WI


  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
Site operations will be suspended from July 3-7, 2014. The crew will demobilize on July 3, 2014 and return to Milwaukee on July 6, 2014. There will be 24 hour security during this time.

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;
  • Disposal of liquid waste streams (flammables, corrosives, oils, etc);
  • Consolidation and disposal of hazardous solid waste;
  • Cleaning of building floors, drains, pits, trenches, and sumps; 
  • Additional assessment of migrating building contamination; and
  • Perimeter and hot zone air monitoring.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
See Section 2.2.1.1

2.2.2 Issues
Heavy rainfall and strong thunderstorms have been an almost daily occurrence since the removal action started. Winds during the June 30, 2014 storm were reported to be greater than 70 mph. Two other storms during this reporting period had winds greater than 50 mph. The holes in the roof and the cracks in the walls are noticeably expanding as a result of the severe weather and increased activity in the building, thus limiting work areas that can be safely accessed. Some of the contaminated areas will not be able to be cleaned. The effect of this is currently being evaluated. The City is currently evaluating condemnation.

The City of Milwaukee extended and repaved Buffum Street in April, 2014. MDPW returned during the week of June 30, 2014 to complete restoration of the grassy areas along the Buffum Street sidewalk and the Beerline Trail. Restoration of the sidewalk immediately adjacent to the Site will be delayed until the completion of the removal action. EPA will continue to work with MDPW to determine the specifications for the postponed restoration.
  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. A safety review was conducted on July 2, 2014 by Bill Boslett and Becky Fisher (EPA Safety Contractors).

2.5.2 Liaison Officer
OSC Kathy Halbur is serving as the liaison with the community and state/local government agencies. The 54th Civil Support Team held a training exercise at the Site on June 24, 2014. Representatives from the WDNR Spills Program observed a portion of the exercise.

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.  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
    Department of Public Works
State of Wisconsin
    Department of Natural Resources
    Department of Health Services
    54th Civil Support Team
Riverworks Development Corporation
4. Personnel On Site
  U.S. EPA - 3 (OSCs Halbur, Ruesch, and Mendoza coordinated oversight during this reporting period)
ERRS (EQM, Inc) - 6
START (TetraTech, Inc) - 2 (START personnel rotated during this reporting period)
Security Officer Services, Inc - 1

Total daily workers = 9
5. Definition of Terms
  CFR - Code of Federal Regulations
CIC - Community Involvement Coordinator
CST - Civil Support Team
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
ERRS - Emergency & Rapid Response Services
HASP - Health and Safety Plan
MDNS - Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services
MDPW - Milwaukee Department of Public Works
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.