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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B433 |
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Contract Number: |
EP-S4-07-04 |
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D.O. Number: |
078 |
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Action Memo Date: |
11/5/2009 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
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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: |
11/29/2009 |
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Start Date: |
11/30/2009 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
NCN000410468 |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
9/10/09 |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
CERCLA incident category: Other; improper disposal of batteries
1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
The Oak Haven Lead Site (the "Site) is located in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina (35.6369299 latitude, -80.5296993 longitude). The Site is currently the location of the Oak Haven Mobile Home park. The mobile home park is approximately on 31 acres with the projected impacted area to be 3 acres. There are 63 mobile homes in the community.
The Site is bordered by Airport Road to the north, woods to the east and south, and industrial buildings to the west. The site drains into a storm sewer that cuts through the middle of the community that empties into an unnamed tributary of Grants Creek.
During the installation of a sanitary sewer along the western portion of the property, the work crew dug into battery chips and referred the Site to North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). DENR conducted an investigation of the property and determined that the storm sewer that runs through the Site was built up on battery casings and battery chips were used as fill material. DENR conducted sampling activities and found elevated levels of lead contamination in the soils surrounding the storm sewer. It is believed that the chips were deposited in this location sometime in the early 1970s while grading the land for the mobile home park.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
In September of 2009 DENR asked Region 4 Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB) to visit the Site. During that time DENR was excavating one portion of the contaminated soil but due to budgetary restrictions would not be able to complete the full removal. During the excavation, DENR dug down as far as 10 feet below ground surface (bgs) and were digging into large quantities of battery chips. DENR then referred the Site to ERRB for a Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) based on the elevated levels of lead present from the battery chips in surface soils.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
During the week of September 14, 2009 EPA and its Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor mobilized to the Site to determine if the Site needed an immediate response from the removal completed by DENR. Over 300 surface (0-1") samples were collected and screened using X-Ray Florescence (XRF) technology. Only one sample came back above the EPA residential screening level of 400 ppm for lead.
The following week of September 21, 2009, EPA and START again sampled the site; this time using a hand auger and XRF to collect samples at 0-6", 6"-1', and 1'-2'. At several of the sample locations battery chips were found in the sampled soil. Results of this sampling concluded that there was lead levels above EPA residential screening levels present in the surface soils. In most locations in the contaminated area, the lead concentration increased as the depth of the sample increased; this is in concurrence with DENR sampling conducted earlier.
On November 30, 2009 ERRB started a time-critical removal action at the Oak Haven Lead Site to remove lead contaminated soil and to mitigate the threat of further releases from source materials still buried onsite.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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The following actions have taken place at the Site during this reporting period:
Beginning on Monday December 7, ERRS continued to excavate soils to the south of the storm sewer. These activities continued throughout the week. Of notes during the excavation process were two particular areas; between the western most grate and the center grate, and around the eastern most grate. In the former area were hundreds of battery casings and chips in an area that appeared to be a former burn pit. Infiltrating water exhibited a sheen when mixed with the chips and casings. ERRS excavated the materials and put them in a separate stockpile for future disposal analysis. These casings and chips were found approximately 6-7' below ground surface (bgs). It also appears that in this area the casings go underneath the storm sewer to the other side.
The area around the eastern most storm sewer, which is closest to the road, appears to be built up on battery casings. The casings are stacked like bricks around the cinder block channel of the sewer inlet. ERRS will excavate these casings at a later date as proper care will be needed to remove the casings without damaging the storm sewer inlet.
Finally during this week, START received back the results of the water sampling conducted at the eastern most storm sewer and at the outlet to the creek. All levels were below Region Screening Levels (RSL) of 15 ppb for lead.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
During the next reporting period it is anticipated that ERRS will continue to excavate contaminated soils. START will also screen the excavation to determine if any residual lead contamination is present. 400 ppm will be used for the screening level. It is also expected that TCLP will also come back on two stockpiles of excavated soil that contained the majority of the excavated batteries. START will also conduct further sampling on areas beyond the proposed
areas; these areas include near the well and further up the hill from
the storm sewer.
Excavation activities will continue through December 17, 2009 and the Site will be shut down for two weeks for Christmas and New Years Holidays. ERRS and START will demobilize on December 18 and return January 4, 2010.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
The next steps for this site will be disposal and/or treatment of stockpiled soil. Beyond that will be site restoration including backfilling of excavated areas, seeding, and erosion control.
2.2.2 Issues
Issues at this site include the proximity of residences which includes vehicle and foot traffic. Rain also continues to be an issue during the excavation. The final issue is the presence of ground water infiltration into the excavated areas.
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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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2.5.1 Safety Officer
2.6 Liaison Officer
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
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3. Participating Entities
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No information available at this time.
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4. Personnel On Site
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1 EPA OSC
7 ERRS - ER
1 START - Otie
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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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