U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Zonolite Road Atlanta GAO144 - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV
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Subject:
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POLREP #4
Progress
Zonolite Road Atlanta GAO144
B407
Atlanta, GA
Latitude: 33.8063720 Longitude: -84.3417654
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To:
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From:
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Kevin Eichinger, OSC
Terry Stilman, OSC
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Date:
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11/8/2011
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Reporting Period:
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November 3, 2011 through November 9, 2011
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B410 |
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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: |
Time-Critical |
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Response Lead: |
PRP |
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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: |
6/1/2011 |
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Start Date: |
6/1/2011 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.2 Site Description
A removal site evaluation indicating that the Zonolite Road Site be given priority for removal eligibility was completed on March 23, 2011. The Site, also referenced as the “GAO 144 site” was the former location of a vermiculite expansion (or, exfoliation) plant. According to the previous owner and operator, the expansion plant operated from 1950 until 1970 and received between 499 and 1,225 tons of vermiculite concentrate from the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana.
1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located approximately 4.5 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, in a developed urban area of mixed light-industrial, commercial, and residential use. The site occupies about 16 acres, some or all of which was the former location of a vermiculite expansion plant. The Site is bordered to the south by Dalon Road, a landscape services and garden business, and the south fork of Peachtree Creek. To the west of the Site are Peachtree Creek and several residences. The Site is bordered to the north by railroad tracks and a complex containing numerous commercial and light industrial businesses. Residential communities are located to the south beyond the south fork of Peachtree Creek, to the west, and to the north beyond the railroad tracks.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
November 3, 2011 - Crew continued with site preparations. Five perimeter air sampling locations have been established. These locations will change based on wind conditions throughout the day. Two removal workers will wear personal sampling pumps as well. All of these samples are currently sent to a laboratory for TEM analysis for asbestos with a two day turn around for the result. Erosion control installation continues. Crews have encountered old building foundations and asphalt road beds. These structures are slowing down the silt fence and catchment basin installation. Vegetation removal continued. No asbestos was detected in air samples obtained on 10/31/2011 or 11/01/2011.
November 4, 2011 - Erosion control installation continues. Perimeter and personnel air sampling continues. The extent of the pile has become more evident as the vegetation is removed. The pile appears to be double the previously estimated size. The pile appears to extend into the bank of the small drainage stream the runs south to the south fork of the Peachtree Creek. OSC contacted DeKalb County and advised them that the old building foundations and road beds remained and that the pile is possibly larger than originally anticipated. A map that identified the possible locations of the building foundations and road beds was sent to DeKalb County. No asbestos was detected in air samples from 11/2/2011
November 7, 2011 - Crews continued with the installation of silt fencing and a catchment basin. The old foundations and asphalt has slowed down operations significantly.
Perimeter and personnel air monitoring results were received for operations occurring on 11/3/2011. A personnel sample from one of the equipment operators working in the exclusion zone contained asbestos at 0.00197 fibers/cc. This level is far below the OSHA PEL for Asbestos (0.1 fibers/cc) and ABS site clean up level of 0.02 fibers/cc. No asbestos was detected in the perimeter air samples obtained on 11/3/2011. Crews were instructed to increase wetting and dust control operations.
DeKalb County and South Fork Conservancy Representatives met on on-site to review the project progress to-date and the issues uncovered. The old building foundations and road bed locations were reviewed. The extent of the pile and additional tree and vegetation removal was discussed. Additional trees and vegetation along the small drainage creek that runs south to the south fork of the Peachtree Creek may need to be removed.
November 8, 2011 - Crews finalized the installation of the erosion controls and completed all site preparations.
Perimeter and personnel asbestos air sampling continues. Based on an EPA-ERT review of Site operations, two ambient dust monitoring locations were established between the removal site and the business along Zonolite Road. Crews refined the dust control operations and obtained additional equipment. Two environmental specialists from Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Lead Based Paint and Asbestos Unit were given a tour of the site. No asbestos was detected in the perimeter and personnel air samples obtained on 11/4/2011.
November 9, 2011 - Removal operations began this morning. 12 dump trucks were loaded and sent offsite with approximately 180 tons of material. Perimeter and personnel air sampling continues. Since active removal is now occurring two additional air sample locations have been established. These work area samples are located adjacent to the excavation area. A microscopist is on-site and analyzing the work area air samples by PCM every two hours. Fiber results were less than the detection limit (0.002 fibers/cc) in the six work area air samples analyzed on-site today.
Perimeter and personnel air monitoring results were received for operations occurring on 11/7/2011. A personnel sample from one of the equipment operators working in the exclusion zone contained asbestos at 0.001 fibers/cc. This level is far below the OSHA PEL for Asbestos (0.1 fibers/cc) and ABS site clean up level of 0.02 fibers/cc. No asbestos was detected in the perimeter air samples obtained on 11/7/2011.
Tom Regan from Local Channel 2 News reported from the site and interviewed the OSC.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Continue with soil removal. Increase truck staging and turn-around area so multiple trucks can be lined, loaded and sealed. Crews have ordered and set up scaffolding to more safely and efficiently line and seal the dump trucks.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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Schedule HAZWOPER trained tree removal company to remove large trees and vegetation growing in the pile.
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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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3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Dekalb County
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA - 5 (Various times, throughout the reporting period)
DeKalb County - 4 (Various times, throughout the reporting period)
South Fork Conservancy - 3 (Various times, throughout the reporting period)
Georgia Environmental Protection Division - 2
START - 1
URS - 2
W.R. Grace (Remedium Group) - 2
One Group Consulting - 3
Winter Environmental - 14
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5. Definition of Terms
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ABS - Activity Based Sampling - Collecting of air samples while engaging in dust generation activities that could disturb asbestos fibers and release them into the air.
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration - an agency of the United States Department of Labor whose mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and occupational fatality by issuing and enforcing standards for workplace safety and health.
PCM - Phase Contrast Microscopy - Sample analysis procedure, following NIOSH Analytical Method 7400, used to determine the presence of fibers in air samples. This procedure does not differentiate between non-hazardous fibers and asbestos fibers. Used to determine the effectiveness of engineering controls and work practices during the actual removal of the asbestos contaminated material.
PEL - Permissible Exposure Limit - Legal limit in the United States for worker exposure to a chemical substance or physical agent.
TEM - Transmission Electron Microscopy - Sample analysis procedure, following NIOSH Method 7402, used to determine the presence, type and concentration of asbestos in air samples.
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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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