1.1.1 Incident Category
This incident is a Time-Critical Removal of CERCLA hazardous substance: asbestos.

1.1.2 Site Description

The Delancey-Houghton Elementary School is a partially demolished school with no roof, windows, doors or interior walls.  The school was opened in 1947 with 171 students and expanded to add a library, multi-purpose room, and kitchen in 1950. A new elementary school was constructed at a different location in town sometime in the early 2000s, and it is not clear when the Delancey-Houghton Elementary School closed. Evidence suggests that the Site was purchased from the Soap Lake School District prior to demolition work and the new owners subsequently flied for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012. Based on aerial photography, it appears that demolition of the building began sometime between 2009 and 2011. It is unknown when demolition activities ceased. According to the Grant County Assessor's office, the parcels were transferred to Grant County Tax Title in 2013.

1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located in a residential neighborhood at the comer of Fourth Avenue South East and Cannas Street South, in Soap Lake, Grant County, Washington. The precise location is 47.385857 North Latitude; 119.485848 West Longitude.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Asbestos containing material (ACM) and asbestos contaminated debris may release asbestos fibers when disturbed. Future site workers, trespassers, and homeless people using the site for shelter may inhale asbestos fibers. Continued exposure can increase the number of fibers that remain in the lungs. Fiber embedded in lung tissue over time may cause lung disease, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

On December 14, 2015, the EPA and Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) conducted a removal assessment of the Site. The school is divided into three wings. The original school building forms the east wing of the school, which has standing walls with no roof, windows, doors or interior walls; two-thirds of the area is a soil crawlspace and the other one-third is a basement with concrete floor. The basement floor is covered with approximately six inches of demolition debris and trash dumped from off-site. The basement boiler room retains a concrete ceiling. The central wing is completely demolished with the foundation remaining and vegetated soil throughout. The west wing was a gymnasium and auditorium with no doors or windows and fire-damaged floors, walls and ceiling. The school is currently abandoned with no physical barriers to entry. The Site is apparently used as shelter by homeless people; children reportedly play at the Site, and it may be subject to illegal dumping. The Site has residences across the street on two sides; the nearest house is approximately 150 feet away. Homeless people were observed on the Site the morning of the assessment and the anonymous complaint indicates that the Site is an attractive nuisance for children. There was evidence on-site of recent graffiti and the Soap Lake City Supervisor described a recent fire in the boiler room which was likely caused by homeless people who created a fire for warmth.

Twenty-three samples of suspected ACM were collected by START. Analytical results indicated that corrugated "air-cell" type Thermal System Insulation (TSI) in the basement boiler room contained 55 percent chrysotile asbestos and a pile of insulation and other demolition debris north of the school contained less than 1 percent Actinolite asbestos and 20 percent vermiculite. The vermiculite is assumed to be from Libby, Montana, and is likely to contain additional asbestos which is difficult to detect in vermiculite. The west wing was only partially assessed; a fire had caused structural damage that resulted in a high worker safety risk. The asbestos survey in this wing was limited to the three building entries and stairwells. A visual inspection from the exterior indicated that the majority of unassessed materials were composed of wood. Two drums and one bucket of unknown materials were assessed. One drum and the bucket were determined to be non-hazardous; however, one drum was identified as containing waste oil.

2.1.1 Narrative
EPA, START and ERRS contractors arrived on site on June 27, 2016 to remove asbestos containing materials and debris that is likely to be contaminated by asbestos.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Washington Department of Ecology removed the drum of waste oil from the Site during the week of June 20, 2016.

6/27/2016

• Personnel and equipment were mobilized to the scene
• Asbestos and nuisance dust was controlled through continuous application of water
• Certified asbestos workers removed visible ACM pipe wrap and staged in labeled double polyethylene bags
• Pile of debris with asbestos contaminated vermiculite insulation was wetted and covered to provide containment
• Conducted personal air sampling for asbestos for worker health and safety
• Conducted perimeter air monitoring for nuisance dust and perimeter sampling for asbestos
• Cut exterior wall to permit access with equipment; structural engineer oversaw all alterations to building structure for safety
• Began construction of gravel ramp to provide equipment access to basement
• Collected building measurements and photographs to document the site for Washington Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation at State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) request

6/28/2016

• Completed construction of gravel ramp for equipment access to basement
• Conducted activity based sampling of boiler room to determine if large pile of soil is contaminated
• Removed approximately 10 cubic yards of asbestos contaminated demolition debris from basement and staged for disposal
• Screened exterior and interior paint for lead (at request of City of Soap Lake) using XRF; no Lead was detected
• Asbestos and nuisance dust was controlled through continuous application of water
• Conducted personal air sampling for asbestos for worker health and safety
• Conducted perimeter air monitoring for nuisance dust and perimeter sampling for asbestos

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Potentially responsible parties have been identified. EPA will determine the appropriate enforcement action upon completion of clean-up activities.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
No waste has been transported for off site disposal. Transport for off site disposal is anticipated to occur on June 30 or 31, 2016.

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Continue removing potentially contaminated demolition debris from basement. If additional pipe wrap is found in debris the pipe wrap will be hand bagged and labeled as asbestos containing material by certified asbestos workers.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
When demolition debris is completely removed from the basement the walls will be washed, debris will be loaded into roll-off boxes and waste will be transported to off-site disposal facility. Air samples will be collected in the basement to confirm adequate clean-up.

2.2.2 Issues

2.5.1 Safety Officer
All entries into the school basement are conducted in level C PPE. Daily health and safety meetings occur prior to operations.

2.5.2 Liaison Officer
The OSC will coordinate all liaison activities.

2.5.3 Information Officer

The site was visited by ifiberone.com on June 27, 2016. additional inquiries are being coordinated with the Public Information Officer in the regional office.

3.1 Unified Command
EPA is the lead agency.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

Washington Department of Ecology removed a drum of waste oil from the site one week prior to EPA operations.

Grant County Health District provided a public health notice in April 2016. The notice included signs and a fact sheet developed jointly with EPA. The notice informed residents of the health risk and advised them to avoid entering the site. Fact sheets in Spanish, Russian and Ukrainian were posted on-site and distributed electronically and through a press release.

EPA - 1

START - 2

ERRS - 5

Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) - any material containing more than 1% asbestos as determined by approved laboratory methods