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Portage Creek Area

All POL/SITREP's for this site Portage Creek Area
Kalamazoo, MI - EPA Region V
POLREP #7
Progress
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Portage Creek Area - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V

Subject: POLREP #7
Progress
Portage Creek Area
059B05
Kalamazoo, MI
Latitude: 42.2839750 Longitude: -85.5791570


To: Mark Mills, Michigan DNR
Daria Devantier, MDEQ
Debbie Jung, City of Kalamazoo
Lisa Williams, U.S. FWS
Todd Goeks, NOAA
Valincia Darby, Department of Interior

From: Craig Thomas, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 4/13/2012
Reporting Period: 3/30/2012 - 4/13/2012

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: 059B05    Contract Number: EP-S5-08-02
D.O. Number: 0087    Action Memo Date: 7/5/2011
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: NPL    Operable Unit: 05
Mobilization Date: 9/26/2011    Start Date: 8/30/2011
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: MID006007306    RCRIS ID: NA
ERNS No.: NA    State Notification: Yes
FPN#: NA    Reimbursable Account #: NA


1.1.1 Incident Category
Fund-lead removal action

1.1.2 Site Description
See POLREP #1

1.1.2.1 Location
See POLREP #1

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
See POLREP #1

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See POLREP #1

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
All remaining TSCA soils in SA7 (>50ppm PCB) were excavated, solidified with cal cement, and removed for disposal by April 3.  Post-excavation confirmatory sampling at the bottom of the excavation on March 30 verified that cleanup objectives were met. Backfilling of the excavation with clean sand and topsoil commenced on April 9 and was completed by April 13.  The staging/transfer pad and timber mats which were used to construct the temporary access road are currently being cleaned and removed from the area, which will be graded and seeded once all roadways and fencing have been removed.  Restoration of this area will be completed once the City of Kalamazoo approves plans developed pursuant to the Restoration Plan.

Construction activity was completed on the John Street staging/solidification pad (staging pad) on April 9.  Rock was placed atop the plastic 'geo-grid' and lightly compacted into place.  Access roads were constructed onto the pad to facilitate delivery, drop-off and load out of contaminated sediments for disposal.

Preparations began for mobilization of crews, equipment and materials into the SA6 dredging area at Stockbridge Avenue.  An access road was constructed into the work area and materials such as mixing boxes, sheet piling, hoses, water tanks and heavy equipment are being ordered.  It is anticipated that dredging operations will begin in the Portage Creek bed within SA6 in early May.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
From March 30 to April 13, U.S. EPA, START and ERRS contractors conducted the following activities:

Site Activities
- Excavate, solidify and load out 672.5 tons (approx 650 yds) of TSCA contaminated soils for disposal at a licensed PCB waste landfill in Belleville, Michigan;
- Conduct confirmatory sampling in SA7 following excavation of contaminated soils.  Five composite samples were taken at the bottom of the excavation with results ranging from non-detectable to 1.26 ppm.  All results were below the cleanup objective of 10.0 ppm;
- Backfill excavation footprint in SA7 with clean sand and topsoil to grade;
- Began removing timber mats and staging/load out pad located at 423 Reed St in SA7;
- Complete construction of drainage base and access road onto John Street staging pad;
- Collect 18 surface soil samples in Upjohn Park from areas with exposed soil and send to laboratory for analysis (results expected by end of April);
- Construct entrance into SA6 off Stockbridge Avenue to provide access for heavy equipment, trucks and materials for dredging operations; and
- Conduct perimeter and personnel air monitoring for dust.  All results were below the action level established for the site of 2.5 mg/m3 sustained for 1 minute.

Project Management Activities
- Conduct weekly update meetings with Kalamazoo City on site progress;
- Meet with Kalamazoo City ReDevelopment Coordinator on site to discuss restoration plans for SA7;
- Conduct diagnostic testing of the electrical system on U.S. EPA's mobile water treatment system in preparation for mobilization to Site for treatment of run-off from staging pad; and
- Plan for mobilization into SA6 to conduct dredging in creek channel.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The major PRP for this portion of the Allied Paper Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund site was dissolved through bankruptcy proceedings in April 2010.  Other PRPs are being evaluated.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics 
Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
TSCA contaminated soil sediment/soil 672.46 tons 009133098JJK -009133110JJK disposal Wayne Disposal, Belleville, MI

  2.2 Planning Section
   

A summary of removal activities that will take place in the upcoming week(s) include:


Site Activities
- Remove, decontaminate and transport timber mats and all other site controls in SA7;
- Remove rock, re-grade and seed entrance to SA7 located at 423 Reed Street;
- Demobilize all heavy equipment and materials from SA7;
- Continue perimeter and personnel air monitoring near site activities;
- Mobilize equipment, controls (i.e., pumps, frac tanks, solidification boxes), and materials (i.e., sheetpiling) which will support dredging operations in SA6; and
- Construct working surface along creek banks to support dredging equipment in SA6.
- Conduct pre-excavation site survey with structural engineer for SA1, SA3, SA5 and SA6.

Project Management Activities
- Data validation, QA review of sampling results from surface sampling in Upjohn Park;
- Continue sourcing materials, sub-contractors and equipment for dredging operations in SA6;
- Mobilize U.S. EPA's mobile water treatment system to John Street staging area; and
- Continue weekly progress meetings with City of Kalamazoo.


2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
See POLREP #2

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
See above

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
See above

2.2.2 Issues
None


  2.3 Logistics Section
   

The current resources present on site during this reporting period include:

- Office and security trailers

- Portable restrooms and hand-washing stations
- Portable generators
- Submersible pumps
- Equipment storage container
- ERRS work crews
- START sampling contractor
- Heavy equipment
- Water truck
- Pressure wash trailer


  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer

Craig Thomas and Paul Ruesch, U.S. EPA FOSCs, are serving as safety officer(s).
The HASP is reviewed and signed by all site personnel. All new personnel arriving on site are provided a site orientation and safety briefing. Safety meetings are held each morning with all workers to ensure safe daily operations.

2.6 Liaison Officer
Craig Thomas and Paul Ruesch, U.S. EPA FOSCs, are serving as liaison(s) with local officials and any other interested parties.

2.7 Information Officer
See Section 2.6

2.7.1 Public Information Officer
See Section 2.6

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
Don DeBlasio - U.S. EPA


3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
N/A

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

City of Kalamazoo:

            Department of Public Services

Parks and Recreation Department

Economic Development Department

Community Planning & Development

Public Safety Department

Fire Department

Police Department

            ReDevelopment Department
Bronson Methodist Hospital

Kalamazoo Nature Center


4. Personnel On Site
 

U.S. EPA - 2
ERRS contractor (Environmental Quality Management, Inc) - 9
START contractor (Weston/Dyanamac) - 1


5. Definition of Terms
  ERRS - Emergency and Rapid Response Services
FOSC - Federal On Scene Coordinator
HASP - Health and Safety Plan
mg/kg - milligrams per kilogram
mg/m3 - milligrams per cubic meter
MDEQ - Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
NA - Not Applicable
NPL - National Priorities List
PCB - polychlorinated biphenyl
ppm - parts per million
PRPs - Potentially Responsible Parties
START - Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
U.S. EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency



6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

See the project website at http://www.epaosc.org/portagecreekarea.


6.2 Reporting Schedule
The next POLREP will be generated in approximately 2 weeks.

7. Situational Reference Materials
 

See the project website at http://www.epaosc.org/portagecreekarea

Additional information on the overall Kalamazoo River Project can be found at http://www.epa.gov/Region5/cleanup/kalproject/index.htm.



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