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Sierra Zinc Mine & Mill

All POL/SITREP's for this site Sierra Zinc Mine & Mill
Northport, WA - EPA Region X
POLREP #10
Continued Removal Activities
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Sierra Zinc Mine & Mill - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X

Subject: POLREP #10
Continued Removal Activities
Sierra Zinc Mine & Mill
WAN001002396
Northport, WA
Latitude: 48.7745000 Longitude: -117.6684000


To:
From: David Rees, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 6/19/2015
Reporting Period: June 8 - 26, 2015

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: 10MC    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 8/28/2014
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 10/13/2014    Start Date: 10/13/2014
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: WAN001002396    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Time-Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description
See initial POLREP.

1.1.2.1 Location
See initial POLREP.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
See initial POLREP.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See initial POLREP.

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
June 8 - 12, 2015

SWPPP controls and BMPs were inspected on-site prior to work each day. Approximately 500 cubic yards (cyds) of contaminated material were excavated in the cedar trees north of Harrier Creek Road and placed on the tailings impoundment. Minimal amounts of contaminated material were found east of the cedar tree area. Test pits were excavated in the area and will be reviewed the week of June 15 to determine an excavation strategy. Approximately 15,000 cyds of contaminated material were excavated south of Harrier Creek Road and placed on the impoundment. On June 10, clearing and grubbing of the Arrington borrow area began, approximately 6 acres have been cleared to date. A total of nine air samples were collected during removal activities. The samples were analyzed for lead using NIOSH Method 7300. Sample results were received for samples collected the week of June 1, 2015. One sample collected on June 1 from the northeast corner of the site had a detection of 0.00016 mg/mg3, all other samples collected during this week were below the detection limit.

June 15 - 19, 2015

SWPP controls and BMPs were inspected prior to work each day and necessary improvements were made. Approximately 4,000 cyds of contaminated material were excavated on the perimeter of the impoundment. Test pits were excavated on the west side of the impoundment to determine a possible new source for ecological barrier material. The area east of Goldfield Mine Road was countered. Approximately 2,500 cyds of contaminated material were excavated from the waste rock pile and placed on the impoundment. The horse chestnut tree previously on the impoundment was transplanted in the Mill Area. Clearing and grubbing of the Arrington borrow area continued, approximately 8 acres has been cleared to date. A total of nine air samples were collected during removal activities. The samples were analyzed for lead using NIOSH Method 7300. Sample results for the samples collected the week of June 8 were received, all samples were below the detection limit.

June 22 - 26, 2015
SWPP controls and BMPs were inspected onsite prior to work each day. Approximately 3,000 cyds of contaminated material were excavated south of Harrier Creek Road and the impoundment perimeter and placed on the impoundment. Approximately 5,000 cyds of contaminated material were excavated from the Mill Area and placed on the impoundment. Approximately 1,000 cyds cover soil was placed on the road slope east of Goldfield Mine Road and north of Harrier Creek Road to create a safe grade on the side of the roads. Soil suitable to promote growth was excavated from the borrow area and stockpiled. Shaping of the impoundment and storm water drainages continued. On June 22 - 23, START and RMC collected X-Ray fluorescence confirmation samples of bottom excavations in the Mill Area. In addition, two samples were collected for off-site analysis of total metals.


2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
           
           
           


  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Remaining contaminated material in the Mill Area and Arrington parcel will be placed on the impoundment. Shaping of the impoundment will be finalized prior to placement of cover materials.Excavation of the newly proposed ecological barrier borrow area will begin, excavated material will be placed on the impoundment and thickness will be guided by grade stakes.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Colville Confederated Tribes.
Washington State Department of Ecology

4. Personnel On Site
  June 8 - 12, 2015
EPA None
START None
REMC 1 employee (2 on June 11/12)
ACI 6 employees

June 15 - 19, 2015
EPA         None
START     None
REMC      1 employee 
ACI          6 employees

June 22 - 26, 2015
EPA         1 (June 23 - 25)
START      1 (June 22 - 23)
REMC      1 employee (2 on June 25)
ACI          6 employees

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

6.2 Reporting Schedule
RMC is providing weekly reports.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.