U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Samoa Pulp Mill - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IX
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Subject:
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POLREP #15
Rainwater Management / Commence Sludge Removal
Samoa Pulp Mill
Samoa, CA
Latitude: 40.8049600 Longitude: -124.1933100
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To:
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Harry Allen, EPA Region 9
Peter Guria, EPA Region 9
Dan Meer, EPA Region 9
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From:
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Steve Calanog, OSC
Chris Weden, OSC
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Date:
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1/23/2015
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Reporting Period:
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1/12-23/2015
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
A949 |
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Contract Number: |
EP-S9-12-01 |
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D.O. Number: |
0937 |
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Action Memo Date: |
7/30/2014 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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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: |
9/30/2013 |
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Start Date: |
10/1/2013 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
6/30/2015 |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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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
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
The Samoa Pulp Mill Site is a 70 acre former industrial pulp manufacturing facility. The pulp mill was constructed in 1963 by Georgia Pacific. In the early 1970's Louisiana Pacific acquired and ran the facility until 1990. From 1990 until 2008 various smaller groups owned and operated the facility. The last operating owner of the facility was the Evergreen Pulp Company which ran the facility until 2008. Evergreen experienced financial difficulties and "walked away" from the mill site without properly closing operations. Sometime in 2009 a venture group called Freshwater Tissue Company purchased the facility site with intent of converting to a tissue mill. This quickly failed to reach fruition and Freshwater began scrapping the facility and consolidating hazardous waste. In August of 2013 Freshwater Tissue Company sold the facility to the Humboldt Bay Harbor District (aka - Port Authority). The facility is currently staffed with 2 part-time Humboldt Bay Harbor District employees.
1.1.2.1 Location
The Samoa Pulp Mill Site is located within Humboldt County in Samoa, CA. The Site is approximately 70 acres of industrial pulp processing operations and is situated on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay. The facility is on the shore line of Humboldt Bay and has an industrial wharf on the Bay. The Pacific Ocean is located within 800 yds to the west of the facility.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The primary concern is 11 ASTs containing 3-4 million gallons of highly caustic liquids (pH greater than 13). Five of these ASTs are not designed to store caustic liquids and periodic seismic activity (6.8 earthquake occurred off coast of Humboldt Co. 3/9/2014) has caused grave concern regarding their stability. Additionally, there are a half dozen ASTs containing 2000-3000 gallons of sulfuric acid (pH less than 1), 3,000 tons of corrosive sludges in uncontained areas, approximately 3000 gallons of turpentine, and several thousand containers of various types (i.e., compressed gas cylinders, paints/thinners, mercury containing gauges and equipment).
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Please refer to previous Polreps
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
Since site work was halted last November, the USCG Pacific Strike Team and/or EPA's Contractor (Environmental Quality Management ) periodically pumped accumulated rainwater from sumps to 20,000 gallon storage tanks. During this reporting period,
. Also during this reporting period tank removal/dis-assembly resumed, sludge was solidified and sampled for T&D purposes, and scrap steel was prepared for recycle.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
An estimated 2,737,314 gal of pulping liquors were loaded to tank trucks (647) and delivered to the Kapstone Paper Company in Longview, WA for reuse.
- Black Liquor = 937,946 gal
- Green Liquor = 811,148 gal
- White Liquor = 988,220 gal)
EPA contractors disassembling emptied tanks and the associated piping to these tanks. Steel tanks and stainless steel fittings have been recycled at the Sims Metal Recycling facility in Richmond, CA.
- Scrap Steel - 306 Tons
- Stainless Steel - 5 Tons
- Net return to 1900-55 - $66,875
EPA contractors have been solidifying the sludges in the disassembled tanks with fly ash from neighboring power plant.
- 5 – Caustic Steel ASTs ranging from 175,000 to 320,000 gallon capacity and ancillary above ground piping
- 3 – Sulfuric Acid Steel 175,000 gallon capacity ASTs
- 6 - 10,000 gallon poly tanks containing sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
On-going
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
Recycled |
| Caustic liquids |
liquids |
2.7m gallons |
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To date - 2.7 million gallons
Kapstone Paper Company, Longview, WA |
| Sulfuric Acid - Re-usable |
liquids |
6k gallons |
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Purchased by Valley Acid, Stratford, CA (11/13) |
| Sulfuric Acid - Waste |
liquids |
4k gallons |
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x |
x |
21st Century Environmental Management of CA, LP |
| Hydrochloric Acid - Waste |
liquids |
2,100 gallons |
011138259 JJK |
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x |
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| Corrosive sludges |
semi-solids |
9k tons |
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| Turpentine |
liquids |
3k gallons |
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| Lab Chemicals |
various |
~2k containers |
0000990296DAT |
x |
x |
21st Century Environmental Management of CA, LP |
| "HHW" type |
various |
~2k containers |
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| Hg |
liquids |
Unk at this time |
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| Waste oils |
liquids |
~2k gallons |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Crew de-mobilized from Site on 9/6/2014 for one month. During this period, contractual issues stemming from sludge disposal should be resolved. Further, another infusion of removal funds should be received to cover the costs associated with T&D of the sludge.
2.2.2 Issues
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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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No information available at this time.
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4. Personnel On Site
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1 - OSC
5 - PST
1 - HBHD
7 - ERRS (4 - EQM, 3 - Global)
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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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No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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