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 #19
Sludge removal near completion
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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Chris Weden, OSC
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Date:
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7/10/2015
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Reporting Period:
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6/15 - 7/10/2015
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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: |
9/30/2015 |
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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
During this reporting period, each day began with a Toolbox Safety Meetings. Meeting topics are related to the actual work activity scheduled for that particular day. EPA’s Mobile Command Post was staged and operated by the Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team at a nearby truck scale each day to document tare and loaded weights for all trucks entering and leaving the site.
The sludge removal and tank demolition phase of this project is nearing completion. Although, Transportation & Disposal (T&D) scheduling was difficult for a few weeks due to the major oil spill near Santa Barbara, the ERRS ktr. persevered and kept this project on schedule. Other work on site was organized around the schedule and arrival of the trucks.
On June 29, 2015 it was determined that more trucks would be needed to finish the sludge removal than were allowed under the CO approved subcontract. The sludge from the tank bottoms had a higher density than what was found in the upper portion of the tanks. Further, it required more solidification media (flyash and sawdust) to be legally transported. A dual subcontract award created good competition with the trucking companies and prompt CO approval to modify the subcontracts for the increased weight enabled this removal action to near completion on schedule.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
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 |
| Pulping Liquors |
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 |
x |
x |
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| Non-hazardous corrosive sludges |
solidified |
7109 tons |
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x |
Recology, Vacaville, CA
Subtitle D facility |
| 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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HBHD to coordinate with Humboldt County HD |
| Hg debris |
solid |
2 drums of drebris |
On file |
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Clean Harbors |
| Waste oils |
liquids |
~2k gallons |
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~200 gallons removed by Asbury Environmental for recycling |
| Hg elemental |
liquid |
250 lbs |
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Arranging for retirement at Bethleham Apparatus via Stericycle |
| Hazardous corrosive sludges |
solidified |
~3500 tons |
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US Ecology - Beatty, NV
and Kettleman Hills |
| Non-hazardous corrosive liquids |
liquid |
45,968 gallons |
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US Ecology - Beatty, NV |
| Hazardous corrosive liquids |
liquid |
105,198 gallons |
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US Ecology - Beatty, NV |
| Sulfuric acid tank bottoms |
sludge |
14 over-packed drums |
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Clean Harbors |
| Steel |
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1144.53 tons |
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Recycled at SIMS Metals in Richmond, CA |
| Stainless Steel |
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83.63 tons |
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Recycled at SIMS Metals in Richmond, CA |
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2.2 Planning Section
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HBHD has been ordered by the CUPA to conduct a thorough inventory of all remaining hazardous materials on the Samoa Pulp Mill property (HHW, waste oil, sand blast grit, etc.). HBHD conducted this inventory during the week of 7/6/2015 and found more sulfuric acid sludge (stored in trash can) and chemicals in the HHW area that might not be accepted via the County HHW program. ERS will, pending management approval, re-mobilize after HBHD has finalized their inventory and assist them with the removal of these materials.
There is a possibility that Naval Special Forces may implode the smoke stack and the six concrete/tile tanks on-site. When this activity is confirmed and scheduled, an OSC, with PST and ERRS will return to provide logistical support and arrange for T&D of the wastes described above that HBHD cannot address.
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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
USEPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator
USCG PST FOSCR - Deputy
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Humboldt Bay Harbor District
CalOSHA
Samoa Volunteer FD
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4. Personnel On Site
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At the end of this reporting period after various demobilizations.
1 - OSC
1 - PST
1 - HBHD
10 - ERRS (7 - 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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