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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B464 |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
3/7/2010 |
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Start Date: |
3/7/2010 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
GAN000410543 |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
933241 |
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State Notification: |
GAEPD |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
On March 7, 2010, EPA' R4 Phone Duty Officer received National Response Center (NRC) #933241 that reported the escape of methane from an abandoned landfill. The methane had collected in several communication vaults and caused several flash explosions that lifted two manhole covers located along Jimmy Carter Blvd near Lawrenceville Hwy. Due to the threat of explosion, GA Environmental Protection Division (EPD) requested EPA's assistance with air monitoring. Phone Duty Officer dispatched OSC Benjamin Franco to assess the situation and arrived on Site at approximately 1030.
1.1.2 Site Description
The site is located at 6321 Lawrenceville Hwy in Tucker, GA. The site is a 90 acre area that formerly contained a private landfill that started in the 1930s and recently contained a now closed inert landfill. The land has a small office building and access road that is surrounded by a fence. There is construction debris piled on a portion of the property that is attributed to an inert landfill operation. The property has a major road called Jimmy Carter Blvd to the west and and another major thoroughfare called Lawrenceville Highway on the southern side. The site is surrounded by residences and businesses
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The NRC reported that two manhole covers were lifted due to flash explosions. These manholes are located 300 yards west from the Lawrenceville Hwy and the Jimmy Carter Blvd intersection and are part of a series of communication vaults that are located along the Lawrenceville Highway's right of way. These vaults allows AT&T personnel to conduct repairs of their underground communication lines. Gwinnet County's FD Hazmat team, and GAEPD responders, through air monitoring, identified approximately six underground communication vaults owned by AT&T that had elevated levels. AT&T personnel then installed venting equipment in three of the vaults and left them there through out the night of March 7th. GAEPD, USEPA, Gwinnet Hazmat and ATT representatives met the morning of March 8th to evaluate the efficiency of the venting.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
The majority of the air monitoring conducted on March 7th was performed by the Gwinnet County Hazmat Team and found underground vaults that were above the 10% lower explosive limit (LEL) thane. EPA did not conduct air monitoring in order not to interrupt the venting operations that were being conducted.
On March 8th, OSC Franco conducted air monitoring using a TVA 1000 instrument that had a combination of flame and photo ionization detectors and MultiRae instrument that provided LEL levels in methane equivalents. At approximately 11:30 am, venting were stopped in order to determine if the methane levels had fallen. The vault directly across from the suspected property and another vault located west of the property had very high LEL levels (40 to 90% range). It was quickly determined that additional venting was needed in these vaults and a long term solution would be required. AT&T turned on the venting systems once again. There were two additional vaults that were being vented, and LEL levels were found to be zero. No more venting was required in these loctions.
In addition to the vaults, OSC Franco walked a portion of the landfill along Lawrenceville Hwy and took air readings at existing monitoring well locations. These wells and vent pipes were installed during an assessment conducted by a responsible party that was identified by GAEPD. GADOT had also installed several monitoring vents as part an assesment for a possible road expansion. The majority of the vents had methane levels in the 5,000 to 8,000 ppm range. This proved that the methane found in the vaults was definetely coming from this abandoned landfill. Staff from GEPD's Emergency Response Program, Hazardous Waste Program and Solid Waste Program were on site and showed the OSC some of the data obtained from the assessment. Air samoles indicated that the landfill was producing methane below ground. OSC Franco did not find an explosive environment in open air. All elevated values were found to below grade inside confined space area.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Response Actions to Date
Using several direct reading instruments, OSC Franco was able to identify dangerous methane levels that were migrating under the surface and verified that the gas was coming from the abandoned landfill. EPA did not conduct any removal actions, and we do not anticipate performing any activities beyond supporting EPD with air monitoring activities.
2.1.2 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The property's former owners are deceased and the land is currently held in a trust and undergoing legal proceedings. APT has located a responsible party and has ordered them to conduct a clean up. The responsible party has submitted a correction action plan and was approved by GAEPD. The plan includes the installation of a methane recovery system. The delay in the implementation is due to one of the potential members of the RP group has contested their liability and will not contribute monetarily. The RP group will not move forward until this issue gets resolved.
2.1.3 Progress Metrics
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Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
EPA will continue to offer limited air monitoring assistance.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
2.2.2 Issues
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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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No information available at this time.
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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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No information available at this time.
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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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