Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Stubblefield Salvage
Walla Walla, WA - EPA Region X
POLREP #12
FINAL POLREP

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Stubblefield Salvage - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X

Subject:

POLREP #12
FINAL POLREP
Stubblefield Salvage
10HD
Walla Walla, WA
Latitude: 46.0646500 Longitude: -118.3689200

To:

From:

Jeffrey Fowlow, OSC

Date:

6/25/2013

Reporting Period:

June 24-28, 2013

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	10HD	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:	5/2/2013
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Non-Time-Critical
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	5/13/2013	Start Date:	5/13/2013
Demob Date:	6/28/2013	Completion Date:	6/28/2013
CERCLIS ID:	WAN001002813	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Inactive Production Facility.

1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located at 980 NE Myra Road in Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington (46.0646 latitude and -118.3689 longitude). The Site is 11 acres in size and is a former metals salvage and recycling business. The main salvaging operation consisted of a large hydraulic shear used to cut up scrap metal and a large press to compress it into blocks. An abandoned three-story wooden building, which had been used as a rendering plant, is adjacent to the shear and press. Piles of metal scrap cover most of the rest of the Site.

The Site borders Mill Creek to the north, Myra Road to the west, agricultural land to the east, and a single residence to the south. Population within 1/4 mile of the Site is 102.

Stubblefield Salvage and Recycling, LLC (SS&R), has operated at the Site since the 1960s. Historically, the SS&R property occupied a footprint of approximately 40 acres on the outskirts of Walla Walla. Sometime around 1995, the western half of the 40 acres was sold to the City of Walla Walla, who built a waste water treatment plant at that location. EPA is informed that the scrap material that was on the surface of the now City-owned property was pushed to the eastern area of property still owned by SS&R. Prior to 2007, the SS&R-owned property was approximately 22 acres. In the Fall of 2008, the SS&R property was halved again – the west half of the property was sold and all of the scrap material (that was on the surface, at least) on the west half of the property was pushed over to the east half of the property. Presently, a county road (Myra Road) bisects (north/south) at about the middle of the historical SS&R property. The property to the west of Myra Road and east of the waste water treatment plant was reportedly sold to a developer. All of the processing of scrap metal at the Site, including operation of the hydraulic shear and compactor, and the smelter, has reportedly historically always taken place at its present location, within the footprint of the current 11-acre Site. The property that was sold was reportedly used only for storage of scrap metal.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
This removal action focuses on the removal of the contaminated soil in the Process Area. The contaminants of concern include PCBs, metals, SVOCs, pesticides, and petroleum hydrocarbons at concentrations exceeding Regional Screening Levels and/or MTCA standards. A total of approximately 7,700 cy of contaminated soil exists in the Process Area. The contaminated soils present a threat to human health and the environment through direct contact or ingestion from potential future site workers, and the contaminated soil presents a threat to groundwater through infiltration.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
EPA performed Removal Site Evaluations and other field investigations from May 2009 to April 2012. Seven field events were performed during this period to characterize the nature and extent of soil and groundwater contamination at the site. In the Process Area, 25 boreholes were installed for the collection of soil and groundwater samples. A total of 45 soil and 12 groundwater samples were collected and submitted for laboratory analysis. Analytical results indicated the presence of PCBs, SVOCs, metals, and petroleum hydrocarbons ant concentrations exceeding RSLs in soil and groundwater. More detailed information is provided in the RSE report and the EE/CA available on the site's website.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative
An Action Memorandum for this removal was approved on May 2, 2013. This removal action addresses the contaminated surface and subsurface soil located in the Process Area. The conceptual site model for this area is that the hydraulic equipment, used for shredding and baling scrap metal, has been leaking hydraulic fluid more or less continually for 30 years, and that there have reportedly been other larger releases from the hydraulic oil storage tank utilized by the equipment.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date (for reporting period)
Field operation for this reporting period began on Monday, June 24 and lasted through Friday, June 28, 2013.

Overview: During this reporting period, all stockpiled soil was loaded and shipped off site for disposal. This week, a total of 847 tons of non-RCRA contaminated soil was transported and disposed of at the Finley Buttes landfill in Oregon for a project total of 12,966 tons disposed there.

Soil loading and transport was conducted on Monday and Tuesday. It rained steadily on both days and therefore dust control was unnecessary. The wet ground surface did create a lot of mud and ERRS conducted street cleaning on Myra Road multiple times each day.

By Friday, June 28, all personnel and equipment were demobilized from the site and the keys to the property were returned to the Estate representative.

Monday, June 24: Approximately 619 tons of non-RCRA contaminated soil were loaded and transported to the Finley Buttes landfill. ERRS used the excavator the compact the backfill around OU1 and used the front-loader to smooth off areas in the haul road where wheel ruts were forming.

Tuesday, June 25: Approximately 228 tons of non-RCRA contaminated soil were loaded and transported to the Finley Buttes landfill. All excavated soil has now been transported off site for final disposal. ERRS and START begin final demobilization activities.

Wednesday, June 26: .START conducts final demobilization activities (decontamination of equipment, packing instrumentation and equipment, etc). ERRS levels and rough or rutted areas, restores any areas to normal grade surface, decontaminates and prepares equipment for return to vendors, EPA and START demobilize. All ERRS staff demobilize except the Account Specialist. The Account Specialist remains to ensure all services and equipment are picked up by respective vendors.

Thursday, June 27: Most heavy equipment is picked up: electricity is disconnected from the trailers.

Friday, June 28: The trailers are removed and the last remaining vehicle (water truck) is parked outside the property gate. The property gates are locked and the keys are returned to the Estate representative.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Identified PRPs include Stubblefield Salvage and Recycling, LLC, as well as its owners and officers. The Stubblefield Soil Removal Action is conducted as an EPA Fund-lead removal. Access to the property was granted to EPA by the Personal Representative of the Estate of Emory Stubblefield.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

Non-Hazardous Waste Soils Soil     12,966.50 tons     0001-0396          X

RCRA Characteristic Soils Soil     711.15 tons 005072346 -
005072347          X

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
2.2.1.2 Next Step
2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section