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 6/16/2014 at 1500 hours, START mobilized to the assessment site upon EPA direction.  At approximately 1920 hours, START arrived at the site.  Travel time was longer than usual due to heavy traffic in construction areas en route to the site.  START traveled to the site to scope out the new access point at the Harrison Warehouse Access Bridge.  The OSC also mobilized to the site on this day.

On 6/17/2014 at 0840 hours, START met with the OSC at the site to recon the new access point and to confirm that permission to use the site was still valid.  START purchased additional sampling supplies and prepared to begin sampling operations.  START returned to the site at 1000 hours.  Following a brief health and safety discussion and plan review, START began moving equipment to the sampling access location.  START prepared the push point sampling equipment, which included push point samplers, a peristaltic pump, tubing, and decontamination supplies.  The first sediment pore water sample was collected at 1155 hours.  At 1540 hours, START began collecting surface water samples at location SW10.  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 1457 hours, a rinsate blank was collected through the push point sampling device.  At 1710 hours, sampling operations were completed for the day.  START collected GPS coordinates using the START iPhone 5s 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 and packaged the samples in adequate ice for the night.  START conducted photographic and written documentation of all pertinent sampling activities.  A total of 12 samples were collected on this day, including one duplicate pore water sample, one rinsate blank, three discrete pore water samples, and two surface water samples. Five sediment samples were also collected on this day, including one field duplicate.    

On 6/18/2014 at START completed decontamination of rental equipment.  The equipment was then packaged and prepared for shipment back to the rental company.  After a meeting with the OSC at an off site location, START updated the Scribe database with information from the previous days sampling activities. 

On 6/19/2014, at 0930 hours, START collected a field blank sample.  START 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).  At 1130 hours, sample labeling and packaging was completed.  Additional ice was purchased for shipment of the samples and at 1250 hours 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.