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 #3
POLREP #3
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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Craig Myers, OSC
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Date:
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7/9/2011
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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
1.1.2 Site Description
This site was discovered while EPA was investigating the Milwaukee Railroad site in Deer Lodge, MT. The Brownfields/Assessment Unit has been involved with this site for several years, but never contacted the Emergency Response Unit. 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 - volume updated to reflect actual size) situated approximately 100 feet from Tin Cup Joe Creek, a perennial stream tributary to the Clark Fork River. The tank is obviously leaking - see the next section for details - 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 one half mile down stream from the site. The presence of the Bunker C oil on the banks of Tin Cup Joe Creek is a discharge under 40 CFR 110.3(b).
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Upon receiving notification that the tank was still present and was likely leaking, the OSC 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 supposedly discharged some of it's 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 from the last report, 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 ground water. A skimmer was brought in to begin skimming the oil from the groundwater mentioned in previous reports, with 1,800 gallons of oily water mixture being collected to date. Excavation activities will be halted once the saturated soils directly beneath the former tank and any remaining heavily bunker C contaminated soils are removed. Skimming operations will continue until a collection system is installed and the excavation backfilled.
Approximately 85% of the tank has been removed as of this report. There is one section that is being left in place as a retaining wall due to close quarters on site. A properly sloped excavation is not possible in this portion of the site due to site accessibility for loading and transporting the material. This will result in small portion of waste being left behind at depth, however, it is a small amount relative to the amount already removed, and it is also in the area being impacted by the petroleum on the ground water. Removal of this material will only result in recontamination of any backfill placed in the excavation and does not make sense.
Excavated soil is being characterized for lead contamination and total petroleum hydrocarbons for disposal at the Butte Silver Bow landfill in Butte, MT, 40 road miles South East of the site.
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. Disposition of the water treatment system carbon is yet to be determined.
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Contaminated Soil |
Soil |
9,500 tons |
None |
Butte Silver Bow |
| Recovered Oil |
Oil |
1,000 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.
Transportation and disposal activities are expected to continue through July 22nd.
Installation of the collection system is expected to begin on July 13th, and be complete by July 22nd. The oil scavenging pumps required may not be available in the immediate time-frame of 2 weeks. If this is the case, crews will remobilize when all supplies required for completion of the collection system are available, most likely early this fall.
Backfill and reclamation activities are expected to begin as soon as practicable, and should be completed by mid-July.
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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