U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Milwaukee Roundhouse - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VIII
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Subject:
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POLREP #5
Milwaukee Roundhouse
Z8DP
Deer Lodge, MT
Latitude: 46.3912568 Longitude: -112.7407551
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To:
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From:
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Joyce Ackerman, OSC
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Date:
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12/7/2011
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Reporting Period:
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
Z8DP |
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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: |
OPA |
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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: |
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Start Date: |
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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#: |
E11802 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
HR 08L0XDP 302D91C Z8DP |
1.1.1 Incident Category
OPA Preliminary Assessment and Response.
1.1.2 Site Description
This site was discovered while EPA was investigating the Milwaukee Railroad site in Deer Lodge, MT. While discussing the Milwaukee Railroad site with a representative from Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the OSC discovered that a buried Bunker C oil tank still existed on the site and was suspected to be leaking. The tank was used to fuel the oil-fired converted steam locomotives on the Milwaukee line in the early 1900s. Milwaukee Railroad went bankrupt in the mid 1980s, the property now belongs to Powell County.
1.1.2.1 Location
The site is located at N 46.3912568, W 112.7407551, or adjacent to the Clark Fork River at the north end of College Drive in Deer Lodge, MT.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
There is a buried concrete tank (120 feet by 70 feet by 8 feet deep) situated approximately 50 feet from Tin Cup Joe Creek, a perennial stream tributary to the Clark Fork River. The tank is obviously leaking and has impacted the surface and subsurface of the adjoining shoreline of Tin Cup Joe Creek. The confluence of Tin Cup Joe and the Clark Fork is approximately 0.11 mile downstream from the site.
As described below, during the excavation and removal of oil in the Bunker C oil tank, when the bottom of the concrete tank was excavated, more than 1000 gallons of diesel fuel welled up from the subsurface into the excavation. In addition, previous consultants' investigations suggest that there may be a diesel plume on groundwater near the old roundhouse building. Previous investigations suggest that groundwater moves north and northeast toward the nearby Clark Fork River.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Upon receiving notification that the Bunker C tank was still present and was likely leaking, OSC Myers mobilized the START contractor from the Milwaukee Railroad site across the river to conduct a quick site inspection. The OSC observed a series of old monitoring wells in the vicinity of the tank. Upon opening the wells, pure Bunker C product was observed in all three wells; the depth was not able to be quantified due to the low temperatures and resulting viscosity of the oil. Further, the OSC observed staining on the bank of Tin Cup Joe Creek. The stained area had the appearance of asphalt; however, a Powell County representative informed the OSC that, during the summer, while it looks like it would support weight, "you sink right in".
The tank reportedly caught fire in the mid 1980s - anecdotal reports vary from the 1930s to the 1980s - and the fire department smothered the fire by using a locally available bulldozer to push any available soil and debris into the top of the tank - it originally had a wooden top that was flush, or nearly so, with the ground surface. The tank then reportedly discharged some of its contents into the soil.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
As excavations continued, an unexpected additional source of petroleum has been encountered. It appears that fuel and waste oil from a contiguous area of the former roundhouse property is flowing into the excavation area on top of the groundwater. A skimmer was brought in to begin skimming the oil from the groundwater, plus a trailer-mounted vacuum. Excavation activities are being conducted to remove saturated soils underneath and near the Bunker C tank.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Intentionally left blank.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
All soils are being transported to Butte Silver Bow landfill for disposal. All oil recovered by the skimming operations will be recycled with a local oil recycler.
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Contaminated Soil |
Soil |
13,617 tons |
None |
Butte Silver Bow |
| Recovered Oil |
Oil |
3,592 gallons recovered to date |
None |
Will be recycled |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Excavation activities are expected to last for one more week.
Backfilling, transportation and disposal, and site clean-up are expected to continue through August 3rd, 2011.
Installation of a groundwater cutoff wall and recovery trench has been temporarily suspended until some groundwater sampling can be conducted. OSC Ackerman and the START contractor will conduct a Geoprobe investigation in the first half of August 2011, to determine the magnitude of any diesel plume on site and the likely direction(s) of groundwater travel toward the Clark Fork River and Tin Cup Joe Creek. Depending on the results of the Geoprobe investigation, a trench would then be located, designed, and constructed in September/October of 2011, with a pumping and storage system for recovered fuel.
2.2.2 Issues
None at this time.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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N/A
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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
N/A
2.6 Liaison Officer
N/A
2.7 Information Officer
N/A
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
N/A
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
N/A
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4. Personnel On Site
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1 EPA OSC
1 USCG Pacific Strike Team Member
1 URS Operating Services (START3)
15 Environmental Restoration (ERRS)
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5. Definition of Terms
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N/A
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Additional information can be found at http://www.epaosc.org/MilwaukeeRoundhouse.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
The next report will be filed when site conditions warrant.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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