1.1.1 Incident Category
Time Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description

The Solberg Drum Site was a former tank scrapping business.  There are approximately 355 deteriorating drums, former USTs, and numerous smaller containers stored outside containing hazardous wastes, including tank bottom sludge, waste oil, and other flammable liquids. 

1.1.2.1 Location

The Solberg-Haegele property is located at 2004 Daisy Circle, Clearwater, Stearns County, Minnesota, 55320. The 6.4 acre property is part of a subdivision of residential homes and borders six other parcels.  The Clearwater River is located approximately 160 feet southeast of the Site.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
EPA has documented a release of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants at the Site.  Many of the containers on the Site are in poor condition and leaking.  Some of the drums at the North end of the Site were leaking a black, viscous fluid.  Similar fluid was observed to be leaking from a number of containers and steel tanks.  In addition, there was a tank that was cut in half on a trailer bed in the center of the Site that was filled with tar. The majority of the drums are not fit for shipment.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

A removal assessment was conducted on July 22, 2015. EPA documented abandoned drums, tanks and containers with ignitable, organic and inorganic hazardous waste at the Site. The drums were in a deteriorated condition and leaking.  There are also areas of tar-like material spilled or discharged on the ground and a burn pile. Hazardous materials and pollutants and contaminants include; lead, thallium, antimony, manganese, arsenic, PCE, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzene, and ignitable wastes. 

2.1.1 Response Actions to Date

The EPA mobilized contractors to evaluate and remove the abandoned wastes,  The following actions occurred during this reporting period:

- Crew and equipment mobilization and site set-up,

- The 55 gallon drums are being screened and moved to a staging area in preparation for hazardous characterization and waste profiling. To date, 150 drums have been unstacked, screened and staged,

- The 400 pails of material are also being staged and inventoried for waste disposal profiling,

- Composite sampling of the burn pile for waste profiling has been conducted,

- Shallow test pits were dug to evaluate an area where black tar appeared to be coming up out of the ground.  Soil samples were collected for waste profiling, and

-Continuous air monitoring is being conducted with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, Atlantic Strike Team to ensure worker safety and community/neighbor protection. Significant vapors from volatile materials are being found in the exclusion zone near leaking drums during removal operations.

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

EPA enforcement team is continuing to address the follow-up on the General Notice Letters.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Pending

2.2.1 Planned Response Activities

Continue to stage drums and conduct haz-cat evaluations and waste profiling.

Continue to stage, open, and evaluate other containers and tanks.

Continue to sample and plan for waste disposal.

Continue to conduct air monitoring activities for the safety of contractors and community/neighbors. 

2.2.2 Issues

Waste disposal options regarding roll-offs, dump trucks, over packs, bulking containers, etc. are currently being evaluated.

2.5.1 Safety Officer

OSC Morrison is the Safety Officer, with assistance from USCG AST and START.  While ERRS contractors are working in the Exclusion Zone, AST personnel are conducting air monitoring to ensure worker safety. The AST is screening each drum with an UltraRae (Benzene) and MultiRae (VOC &CGI) to ensure personnel are not being exposed above the Threshold Limit Values (TLV) as determined, and outlined in the Health & Safety Plan (HASP).  If elevated action levels are reached, AST personnel inform the OSC. It is at this point that a work stop order is issued and PPE level adjustments are made appropriately.  To date the AST has detected high levels of VOC’s and elevated readings of Benzene/PCE in the vicinity of the stacked drums. VOC’s however, have not been detected on any of the perimeter air monitoring AreaRaes.

EPA Safety Office provided a Health and Safety Plan (HASP) review and conducted a site-safety audit on 10/07/2016.

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

OSC Morrison working with local officials.

2.5.3 Information Officer

OSC Morrison talked with neighboring residents before and during the removal.

A copy of the Administrative Record is available at Clearwater City Hall.

3.1 Unified Command

Not Established for this removal action.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

State of Minnesota, MPCA 

Clearwater Fire Department,

Stearns County Sheriff's Office,

City of Clearwater Administration and Lynden Township

EPA: 2 OSCs

ERRS: RM, Foreman/Equipment operator & 3 laborers.

U.S. Coast Guard NSF: 3

START: 2

AST, Atlantic Strike Team

CERCLA, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1990

 EPA, Environmental Protection Agency

ERRS, Emergency and Rapid Response Services

IAG, Interagency Agreement

MPCA, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

NSF, National Strike Force

PCE, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

RM, Response Manager

START, Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

WWW.EPAOSC.org/SolbergDrumSite

6.2 Reporting Schedule

Progress Polreps will be issued as significant new activities occur.

Removal Action is expected to take 65 working days to complete.