This purpose of this assessment project is to evaluate metals concentrations in the sediment pore water and surface water along the portion of the West Fork River adjacent to and in the vicinity of the slag pile.  This assessment attempted to determine if concentrations of inorganic consituents in the sediment pore water and/or surface water are negatively impacted by the presence of the slag pile.  The sampling event included an evaluation of the background surface water for comparison purposes. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On 7/15/2013 at 1200 hours, START mobilized to the assessment site upon EPA direction.  At approximately 1400 hours, START arrived at the site.  START used the remainder of the afternoon to scope out the access point for the week's sampling activities, the pre-determined sample locations, and the river conditions.  The river was more turbid and flowing at a faster rate than previous years.  The OSC also mobilized to the site on this day.

On 7/16/2013 at 0815 hours, START met with the OSC at the site and prepared to begin sampling operations.  Following a brief health and safety discussion and plan review, the OSC and START began heading to the access point which was located at the fencing just above the slag pile, along the rails to trails recreational trail.  START prepared the push point sampling equipment, which included push point samplers, a peristaltic pump, tubing, and decontamination supplies.  At 1018 hours, START began collecting samples at location SW05.  The first sediment pore water sample was collected at 1325 hours.  Following each push point sediment pore water sample, decontamination of the push point sampler was conducted by connecting a decon sprayer with an alconox mix to the push point and allowing a flow of alconox water to flow through the push point device.  Following the alconox water, a sprayer with distilled water was connected to rinse the push point device to complete the decontamination process.  At 1735 hours, a rinsate blank was collected through the push point sampling device.  At 1735 hours, sampling operations were completed for the day.  START collected GPS coordinates using the EPA owned Trimble ProXH GPS receiver during the sampling activities at each sample point.  After sampling, START returned to the hotel and worked on entering information from the sampling event into the Scribe data management program.  START conducted photographic and written documentation of all pertinent sampling activities.  A total of 8 samples were collected on this day, including one duplicate pore water sample, one rinsate blank, four discrete pore water samples, and two surface water samples.   

On 7/17/2013 at 0805 hours, START met with the OSC at the site and prepared to begin sampling operations.  Following a brief health and safety discussion and plan review, the OSC and START began heading to the access point which was located at the fencing just above the slag pile, along the rails to trails recreational trail.  START prepared the push point sampling equipment, which included push point samplers, a peristaltic pump, tubing, and decontamination supplies.  At 0935 hours START began sampling activities.  The first sample of the day, PW12 was collected at 1000 hours.  Decontamination, following the same procedures as on 7/16/2013, was conducted on the equipment after each sample was collected.  The final field sample for the day was collected at 1510 hours.  At 1750 hours a rinsate blank was collected through the push point sampling device.  START collected GPS coordinates using the EPA owned Trimble ProXH GPS receiver during the sampling activities at each sample point.   START conducted photographic and written documentation of all pertinent sampling activities.  During and after sampling was complete, START entered information from the sampling event into the Scribe data management program.  A total of 6 samples were collected on this day, including five discrete pore water samples and one rinsate blank sample.

On 7/18/2013 START collected eight sediment samples and one duplicate sediment sample from the West Fork River, from areas along the right descending bank upstream and adjacent to the slag pile.  START subsequently began to label and package the samples for shipment to the Contract Lab Program analytical laboratory assigned by the Region III Client Services Team (CST).  During packaging and labeling, it was noted that one surface water sample location was not collected.  START collected this sample and a duplicate at 1434 hours.  At 1845 hours, sample labeling and packaging was completed and the samples were dropped off at FedEx in Morgantown, WV, for overnight shipment to the analytical laboratory.  Following shipment of the samples, START returned to the START office in Wheeling, WV.  START provided the requisite copies of the COCs to the Sample Managment Office (SMO) via the SMO portal website.  START also provided an email notification to the CST that the sample shipment was made, and included details of the sample shipment contents.