2.1.1 Narrative
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
On April 13, 2011, EPA, and ERRS initiated the Removal action by conducting a site walk to discuss upcoming removal activities.
April 25 to 29, 2011
Activities for the week included:
- Mobilizing the ERRS crew and equipment.
- Reviewing and signing the site health and safety plan (HASP).
- Installing high-visibility fencing to close off the perimeter of the Site.
- Establishing markers to delineate work zones.
- Clearing paths in the building and parking lot for safer walking and equipment access.
- Staging all empty drums and containers dumped throughout the property in one central location.
- Screening bags of powder in-situ with an Innox-X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer throughout the building to confirm chromium contamination.
- Consolidating all white powder material from the outside into one central location in the western parking lot.
- Preparing for the asbestos-containing material (ACM) removal activities.
Under the direction of the OSC, START personnel went through the building and in-situ analyzed by XRF bags of powder for chromium levels. The results were of varying levels ranging from non-detect to over 700 parts per million (ppm) for chromium. On site screening of the bags of powder continued for another week to better determine transport and disposal (T&D) options and sampling possibilities.
START photo documented the removal areas prior to the commencement of removal activities. START will also photodocument daily removal activities during the duration of the removal action. START at the direction of the OSC will perform air monitoring, every day at four locations around the perimeter of the Site, to ensure that asbestos particulates are not escaping into the environment as a result of the removal activities. START will follow this protocol during the entire duration of the removal action.
May 2 to 6, 2011
Activities for the week included:
- Removing pallets and other debris from inside the building and relocating the material to the parking lot, so the workers can access all asbestos inside the building.
- Staging all empty drums and containers and some containing liquid dumped throughout the property in one central location on site.
- Collecting samples of powder from bags inside the building to screen with an XRF Analyzer and determine where some of the highest levels of chromium are located.
- Consolidating all white powder material from the outside into one central location in the western parking lot.
- Performing ACM removal inside the building.
- Conducting air sampling for asbestos both around the perimeter of the site and on personnel.
All drums and containers from the entire site were staged in one central location. The emptied containers were turned upside down. Any drums with liquid were separated, so hazardous categorization (HazCat) can be performed. Any additional drums found in the building were added to this area throughout the Removal Action.
At the beginning of asbestos removal, three initial days of air sampling for asbestos at four locations was conducted along the perimeter of the Site and on two personnel performing the asbestos removal tasks, per the site HASP. After laboratory analysis had non-detect results for asbestos, personal sampling was conducted once a week.
May 9 to 13, 2011
Activities for the week included:
- Continuing to remove pallets and other debris from inside the building and relocate the material to the parking lot, so the workers can access all asbestos inside the building.
- Overpacking four leaking drums and placing them in the drum staging area.
- Collecting four samples of powder from bags inside the building for T & D analyses.
- Covering all the consolidated white powder material that is located outside with polyethylene (poly) until further notice.
- Performing ACM removal inside the building.
- Conducting air monitoring for particulates at four locations around the perimeter of the site while debris was being transported daily.
The powder that was outside when ERRS arrived was all consolidated to the western side of the property in the parking lot, where most of the powder originally was located. All of this powder comprised of two piles, approximately 1,350-cubic-yard (yd3) that were covered with poly. Approximately 1,200 additional yd3 of powder remained inside the building.
May 16 to 20, 2011
Activities for the week included:
- Continuing to remove pallets and other debris from inside the building and relocate the material to the parking lot.
- Performing ACM removal inside the building.
- Placing all double-bagged ACM into the lined roll-off container for off site disposal.
- Collecting additional powder samples and sending them to OEME for XRF analysis.
All friable ACM removed from the building was double-bagged and sealed. The bags of asbestos were placed in a double-lined 30 (yd3) roll-off container for disposal. The container remained on site daily until it was full.
On May 19, 2011, OSC Hatzopoulos held a meeting on site with US Agency for the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Perlman, MassDEP Fish, Greenfield Fire Department Jarvis, and Greenfield Health Department Zabko. A Site walk was conducted and the large quantity of powder was discussed during the meeting.
On May 20, 2001, 10 powder samples were collected and sent to NERL for metal analysis by XRF.
May 23 to 27, 2011
Activities for the week included:
- Continuing to remove pallets and other debris from inside the building and relocate the material to the parking lot.
- Performing ACM removal inside the building.
- Placing all double-bagged ACM into the lined roll-off container for off site disposal.
- Conducting air monitoring for particulates at four locations around the perimeter of the site while debris was being transported daily.
This week the weather changed drastically from the weeks past, and it was drier with much higher temperatures. To minimize any dust or particulates created from the work area, all of the debris was wetted down prior to leaving the building area and the roadway that the dump truck traveled was sprayed with water periodically.
On May 31, 2011 EPA requested ATSDR to review the public health implications of the white powder located on at the Site.
May 31 to June 3, 2011
Activities for the week included:
- Continuing to remove pallets and other debris from inside the building and relocate the material to the parking lot.
- Performing ACM removal inside the building.
- Placing all double-bagged ACM into the lined roll-off container for off site disposal.
- Conducting air monitoring for particulates at four locations around the perimeter of the site while debris was being transported daily.
On May 31, 2011, NERL confirmed the presence of chromium in 9 of the 10 samples. The highest level was 640 ppm.
On June 1, 2011 ATSDR in a letter to EPA concluded that the piles of powder represented a public health hazard and recommended that exposure to all piles be prevented.
On June 1, 2011, the Greenfield area was on tornado watch and a severe thunderstorm came through the area. There was no destruction to the Site, and the piles of powder remained covered with poly without damage.
June 6 to 10, 2011
Activities for the week included:
- Continuing to remove pallets and other debris from inside the building and relocate the material to the parking lot.
- Performing ACM removal inside the building.
- Placing all double-bagged ACM into the lined roll-off container for off site disposal.
- Conducting air monitoring for particulates at four locations around the perimeter of the site while debris was being transported daily.
- Conducting air sampling for asbestos at four locations around the perimeter of the Site.
Another three days of asbestos air sampling around the perimeter of the Site was conducted this week. ACM removal was taking place in areas of an open warehouse instead of in an area filled with debris.
By the end of this week, the majority of the western half of the building has been cleared of debris excluding the office area and areas covered with powder. The powder has not been disturbed until the off site disposal plan has been finalized.
In addition to a known pit within the building an additional pit was discovered during the removal action. Both pits are currently full of water. Asbestos debris, ACM and drums/containers are visible within. Samples will be collected next week and will be analyzed for content.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|