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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
NMN000607041 |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
3/11/2014 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
9/26/2013 |
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Start Date: |
9/26/2013 |
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Demob Date: |
3/1/2014 |
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Completion Date: |
5/30/2014 |
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CERCLIS ID: |
NMN000607041 |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
This is the second Removal Action to be conducted at the Southwest Vermiculite Site. This second removal action is a time-critical removal.
1.1.2 Site Description
Asbestos has been detected in air and soils at and adjacent to the former Southwest Vermiculite Company property. Elevated levels of asbestos have also been detected in dust samples collected inside the former SWV exfoliation building which is now used as a warehouse. Current and future employees and customers located on the former SWV facility, including inside the warehouse, may be exposed to the asbestos and employees located in the railroad right-of-way may also be exposed to asbestos by way of routine commercial work activities such as walking or conducting routine rail maintenance. Transients and homeless residents are also known to frequent the railroad right-of-way using it to access other areas and in some cases, setting up temporary homes and overnight rest stops. These transients and homeless residents may therefore be exposed to asbestos through this routine use of the railroad right-of-way.
1.1.2.1 Location
The former SWV facility is located at 1800/1822 1st Street, NW in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Geographic coordinates for the site are: 35.10251º N latitude and 106.64449º W longitude, as taken from the northwest entrance to the facility.
This removal action involves three properties: 1) The W. Silver Recycling Company (former location of the Southwest Vermiculite Company); 2) The New Mexico Department of Transportation railroad right-of-way (ROW); and 3) four separate ROWs owned by the City of Albuquerque located along both 1st Street NW and Haines Avenue adjacent to the W. Silver Recycling Company. All three locations are active commercial properties that involve daily human contact with contaminated soils.
The site area is predominantly commercial/industrial however, two residential properties are located immediately north of the W. Silver Recycling company. These properties were the subject of the first removal action conducted at the SWV site in January and February of 2012.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The previous emergency removal action conducted in early 2012 addressed only the residential properties located north of the former exfoliation facility. This removal action will now include the removal of asbestos contaminated soils on an active commercial facility that is open to the public and from adjacent non-residential properties that are also accessed by the public. These areas pose a risk to public health as a result of elevated levels of asbestos in the soils and in indoor dust. Effects of asbestos on the lungs is a major health concern as chronic (long-term) exposure to asbestos in humans via inhalation can result in a lung disease termed asbestosis. A large number of occupational studies have reported that exposure to asbestos via inhalation can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the membranes lining the abdominal cavity and surrounding internal organs). The routine daily use and disturbance of the soil on these properties greatly increases the potential for exposure to human populations.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Sample results indicate the presence of Libby amphibole asbestos in both the surface and subsurface soils. Analytical results of soil samples indicate the presence of asbestos in surface soils with concentrations as high as 2%, and in subsurface soils as high as 2%. Activity Based Sampling conducted at the Site also indicates that routine work activities may be releasing elevated levels of asbestos fibers into the air from these soils and resulting in a risk to the health of the onsite workers and customers. Air sampling data from the Activity Based Sampling at and near the former SWV Site shows Libby asbestos contamination in levels ranging from <0.0045 to 0.130 s/cc. Dust samples collected in the former exfoliation warehouse detected both Chrysotile and Libby amphibole asbestos with total asbestos dust loading concentrations exceeding the ASTM benchmark of 5,000 s/cm 2.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
December 6, 2013 to May 30, 2014:
Removal activities over this period included the following:
1. The northern portion of Grid A, as well as Grids C, D and E on the W. Silver Recycling property have been excavated down to one foot bgs (or to two foot bgs in limited areas) and transported to the Keers Mountainair landfill. The grids have now been backfilled with Grade A1A road base material (3/4 rock, sand, and clay).
2. The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Railroad Right of Way has been excavated down to one foot bgs and transported to the Keers Mountainair landfill. The grids have now been backfilled with Grade A1A road base material (3/4 rock, sand, and clay).
3. The scale trailer, main offices/loft area and main warehouse on the W. Silver Recycling property has been abated by a licensed NM asbestos contractor.
4. The replacement building (for the former Exfoliation building) was erected and passed final City inspection on May 29, 2014.
5. During the Removal, approximately 3,933 cubic yards of asbestos-contaminated soils/debris have been excavated and transported to the Keers Mountainair landfill.
6. A Final Removal Report was completed and approved by EPA on 5/30/2014. An Administrative Record was completed.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Enforcement activities including identification of PRPs continues simultaneously with the on-going removal action.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
All removal work and associated reporting was completed on May 30, 2014.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
At present, all associated site activities concluded on May 30, 2014 and no future activities are planned
2.2.2 Issues
No (future) issues are anticipated.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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No information available at this time.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
- U.S. EPA Region 6
- New Mexico Environment Department
- ERRS Contractor: Environmental Quality Management (EQM)
- Prime Subcontractor: United States Environmental Services (USES)
- START Contractor: Dynamac Corporation
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4. Personnel On Site
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Federal On-Scene Coordinator - USEPA: Mike McAteer
New Mexico Environment Department Representative: Phyllis Bustamante
Lead START member (Dynamac Corp.): John Koehnen
Response Manager from ERRS (EQM): Don Edgington
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Information regarding the Removal Action at the site is provided in the Documents section of the Southwest Vermiculite Web Site on "epaosc.org."
6.2 Reporting Schedule
The Removal Action and Reporting has been completed and no further reporting is anticipated.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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