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Upper Columbia River (UCR) Residential Soil Removal

All POL/SITREP's for this site Upper Columbia River (UCR) Residential Soil Removal
Northport, WA - EPA Region X
POLREP #2
PROGRESS POLREP 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Upper Columbia River (UCR) Residential Soil Removal - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X
Subject: POLREP #2
PROGRESS POLREP
Upper Columbia River (UCR) Residential Soil Removal
10NZ
Northport, WA
Latitude: 48.9459753 Longitude: -117.7734473

To:
From: Jeffrey Fowlow, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 9/12/2015
Reporting Period: August 31 - September 12, 2015

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: 10NZ    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 8/6/2015
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: PRP    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 8/17/2015    Start Date: 8/19/2015
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Residential properties with contaminated soil.

1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
Refer to POLREP 1.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Refer to POLREP 1.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Refer to POLREP 1.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
During this reporting period (August 31 - September 12), the following tasks have been completed: 

4765 H Mitchell Road

  • Confirmation samples collected during the previous reporting period were shipped to the lab.  Based on laboratory results, 5 of 15 samples submitted were above cleanup levels for lead or arsenic.  One area with elevated concentrations at 6" below ground surface (bgs) was excavated to 12" bgs.  An additional confirmation sample at 12' bgs was collected and submitted to the lab.  Results are pending. 
  • There are several large trees in the DU and contaminated soil has been detected among the tree roots.  Arcadis has attempted to excavate this soil by hand shoveling, but some contaminated soil is inaccessible without damaging the trees.  Some areas in the vicinity of the roots were confirmed to be contaminated and have been further excavated to 6" bgs, but many areas are shallower than that because of the presence of roots.   
  • The property owner identified four small fruit trees that were excavated and replanted outside the DU allowing greater removal of contaminated soil.
  • A total of 60 additional cubic yards (cy) of contaminated material were removed for a total of approximately 200 cy (Note:  all estimated volumes are based on square footage calculations and are likely to be significantly different than actual volumes as excavated).   

4361 A Highway 25 North 
  • As of Monday, August 31, an additional 80 cy of soil from 0-6" bgs was excavated and stockpiled on site.  The 0-6" bgs layer is approximately 65% excavated (570 cy of 880 cy).
  • 40 confirmation samples were collected at the 6" bgs horizon.  Laboratory results indicated 2 locations with concentrations of lead that exceed cleanup levels.
  • From September 9-11, a total of 33 trucks (approximately 330 cy) were loaded for transportation and disposal at Stevens County Landfill.
  • As the soil stockpile is removed for disposal, excavation of the 0-6" horizon under the stockpile footprint continues and is added to the existing stockpile.

Unknown Property Address, End of Mitchell Road

  • From September 1-8, excavation was completed from 0-12" bgs.  Approximately 60 cy of material was excavated and transported to the central stockpile.
  • On September 8, a total of 8 samples were collected for laboratory confirmation.  Two of these samples had arsenic concentrations above the cleanup level and one sample had arsenic and lead concentration above the cleanup level.

4765 C Mitchell Road

  • From September 8-10, excavation from 0-6" was completed at all 4 DUs on this property.  A total of approximately 400 cy of soil was transferred to the central stockpile to await transportation and disposal.
  • On September 9-10, all 4 DUs were screened using an XRF for in situ analysis.  A total of 4 locations had concentrations of lead and/or arsenic greater than the cleanup level.  Hotspot removal was not conducted.
  • On September 10-11, confirmation samples were collected and submitted to a laboratory.  Analytical results are pending. 

4765 Q Mitchell Road 

  • From September 10-11, both DUs (194 and HUB) at this property were excavated from 0-6" bgs.  A total of approximately 195 cy of soil was transported to the central stockpile to await transportation and disposal.
  • At DU 194, 3 areas of elevated lead and/or arsenic were identified.  Two of the areas were amongst tree roots.  Arcadis hand excavated by shovel as much soil as possible without damaging the tree roots.  XRF in situ screening of the soil amongst the tree roots indicated concentrations of lead and/or arsenic at concentrations predicted to be greater than the clean up level.  The areas around the tree root balls will be covered with geotextile (as a warning) and capped with topsoil.  The third area exceeding cleanup levels was laterally delineated by insitu XRF screening and the area was excavated from 6-12" bgs.
  • At DU HUB, 1 area of elevated lead and/or arsenic was identified.  The area was laterally delineated by insitu XRF screening and the area was excavated from 6-12" bgs.
  • On September 12, confirmation samples from both DUs were collected for submission to a lab. 

4765 A Mitchell Road 

  • On September 12, excavation began at DU 35, 35PA, and 35DL.

Central Soil Stockpile (located at the Command Post)

  • A total of approximately 9 trucks and trailers (180 cy) of contaminated soil was loaded from the central soil stockpile and transported to the Stevens County Landfill for disposal. 

 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Refer to POLREP 1. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
On August 11, an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (ASAOC) for Removal Action (Docket No. CERCLA-10-2015-1040) was signed by EPA, Teck Metals Limited, and Teck American Incorporated.  The ASAOC provides the terms of the agreement under which Teck will conduct the removal action under oversight by EPA.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 Soil  Solid  510 cubic yards TBD  NA Landfill
           
           


  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
During this removal action, contaminated soil will be excavated and removed from 14 residential properties and 1 tribal allotment.  Soil will be excavated in 6" lifts to a maximum depth of 12" total depth (24" total depth in garden areas).  The excavation will be backfilled with the material of the property owner's choice.  The excavated soil will be transported and disposed at an appropriate landfill. 

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Excavation, sampling, and/or backfilling will continue at the properties described in Section 2.1.  In the next reporting period, September 14-21, excavation is scheduled to begin at property 4361 K Highway 25 North. 

2.2.2 Issues
Backfill: 
Teck/Arcadis has collected  9 samples of top soil and submitted 8 of those for lab analysis for metals and other organics analysis.  They also are not able to find a vendor that certifies their topsoil as "weed-free".  Teck/Arcadis is proposing to inspect and purchase high-quality topsoil and providing documentation the origin and content of the soil and/or manufacturing details.  The soil source will not be selected if the source is observed to be actively growing weeds. 

Soil disposal: 
Approval has been granted by state and local agencies for soil disposal at the Stevens County Landfill.  The Stevens County Landfill currently is not prohibited from accepting waste due to any provision of the CERCLA Offsite Rule. 
  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
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
Safety meetings are conducted every day.  No lost-time injuries have been reported.

2.5.2 Liaison Officer


2.5.3 Information Officer
The OSC provided an interview and information to a local newspaper, the Statesman Examiner.  An article was published on September 9, 2015. 

A public meeting is scheduled for October 1 in Northport.  Topics will include an update on current removal activities and information regarding additional soil sampling in 2016.
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Washington Department of Ecology personnel conducted a site visit on Tuesday, September 8.  Several active and planned removal locations were visited.
4. Personnel On Site
  2        EPA          
3        START      
2        CCT        
1        Teck        
~17    Arcadis    
5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.

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