1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
059B05 |
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Contract Number: |
EP-S5-08-02 |
D.O. Number: |
0087 |
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Action Memo Date: |
7/5/2011 |
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
NPL Status: |
NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
05 |
Mobilization Date: |
9/26/2011 |
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Start Date: |
8/30/2011 |
Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
MID006007306 |
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RCRIS ID: |
NA |
ERNS No.: |
NA |
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State Notification: |
Yes |
FPN#: |
NA |
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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
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
Dredging operations began in Axtell Creek on July 10 and are currently underway. Crews are removing contaminated sediments and solidifying them with either crushed corn cob or bottom ash. The solidified sediments are then transported to the staging pad for further de-watering and drying prior to shipment for disposal at designated landfills.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
From June 30 to July 20, EPA, START and ERRS contractors/sub-contractors conducted the following activities:
Site Activities - Axtell Creek
- Excavated and stabilized contaminated sediments from grids AXC-1 thru AXC-5;
- Completed initial post-excavation sampling in grids AXC-1 thru AXC-5 to confirm that cleanup goals were met. Only the initial sample results from grids AXC-2 and AXC-5 met the performance standard of 10 mg/kg PCBs. None of the initial confirmatory sample results from any of the grids met the performance standard goal of 1 mg/kg PCBs. Therefore all five grids require over-excavation from the original target dredge depths (see details in Planning Section). As of the time of this POLREP only grids AXC-1 and AXC-2 were overexcavated and the remaining grids are estimated (est) to be over excavated as follows:
GRID |
TOTAL EXCAVATION DEPTH (in) |
CONFIRMATION PCB RESULT (mg/kg) |
AXC-1 |
36 |
pending |
AXC-2 |
42 |
pending |
AXC-3 |
36 (est) |
pending |
AXC-4 |
42 (est) |
pending |
AXC-5 |
30 (est) |
pending |
- Began restoration and backfilling activities in grids AXC-1 and AXC-2.
Site Activities - Staging Pad
- Solidified and loaded out 448.57 tons of TSCA (> 50ppm PCBs) contaminated sediments for disposal at Wayne Disposal landfill in Belleville, MI.
- Treated 190,742 gallons of contaminated contact water in EPA's mobile wastewater treatment plant.
Site Activities - SA6
- Removed approximately 900 feet of 30" diameter creek by-pass discharge pipeline from east bank;
- Removed miscellaneous piping used for by-pass pumping system (i.e., intakes, laterals) from work area;
- Removed 2000 gallon clean water tank which supported decontamination operations;
- Placed stone, topsoil and grass seed for temporary re-vegetation in anticipation of full restoration planting along work platform on west bank;
- Restored railroad bank ballast with supervision from railroad flagman; and
- Removed stone from temporary haul road.
Site Activities - SA5D
- Clearing and grubbing along west bank between Lake Street and Axtell Creek;
- Installing curb cuts for access along Lake Street and Crosstown Parkway; and
- Began installing temporary fencing around work area on east bank of Portage Creek.
Site Activities - SA5C
- Clearing and grubbing between Crosstown Parkway and Vine Street.
Project Management Activities
- Continue weekly progress meetings with City of Kalamazoo;
- Completed restoration plans for SA5, SA6, and SA7 and provided to Trustees for input;
- Solicited bids for implementation of restoration plans; and
- Conducted data validation for post-removal confirmation sediment samples collected from Axtell Creek.
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 sediments |
solidified
sediment |
448.57 tons
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009133428JJK,
009133430JJK,
0099952864JJK-
0099952871JJK |
disposal |
Wayne Disposal,
Belleville, MI |
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2.2 Planning Section
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A summary of removal activities that will take place from July 23 through August 3 include:
Site Activities - Axtell Creek
- Complete overexcavation, backfilling and restoration of creek channel and banks.
Site Activities - Staging Pad
- Complete de-watering and solidification of excavated sediments for transport;
- Complete transport of solidified sedments for disposal; and
- Continue treatment of contaminated water in EPA's mobile waste water treatment plant.
Site Activities - SA5D
- Install creek bypass pumping system at Lake Street bridge;
- Install groundwater de-watering system between Lake Street and Axtell Creek; and
- Complete fencing off and installation of work platform /roadway on east bank;
Project Management Activities
- 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
Only two initial post-excavation confirmatory sample results in grids in Axtell Creek were under the performance standard of 10 mg/kg. All initial confirmatory sampling results at target dredging depths in the grids were above the performance standard goal of 1 mg/kg and required over-excavation as listed below (see table).
GRID |
TARGET DEPTH (in) |
INITIAL PCB RESULT (mg/kg) |
OVERDIG (in) |
TOTAL DEPTH (in) |
CONFIRMATION PCB RESULT (mg/kg) |
AXC-1 |
24 |
27.9 |
12 |
36 |
pending |
AXC-2 |
30 |
8.9 |
12 |
42 |
pending |
AXC-3 |
24 |
16.10 |
12 (est) |
36 |
pending |
AXC-4 |
30 |
18.7 |
12 (est) |
42 |
pending |
AXC-5 |
24 |
4.15 |
6 (est) |
30 |
pending |
Over-excavation has increased project costs in added expenses for personnel, equipment, transportation, disposal, sampling and backfill material.
Rain delays slowed site activites down on July 18th and severe flooding prevented excavation and backfilling activities altogether on July 19th. These delays again add increased project costs in added expenses for personnel and equipment. Further, a third 6-inch pump had to be rented to ensure that Axtell Creek did not flood outside its banks, again adding additional costs in fuel and equipment.
The flooding event from July 19th also damaged two site turbidity meters. The remaining functioning turbidity meter has been placed at the nearest downstream location and upstream turbidity is being measured by a hand-held device until new digital meters can be obtained.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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The current resources present on site during this reporting period include:
- Office trailers
- Portable restrooms and hand-washing stations
- Portable generators
- Submersible pumps
- Equipment storage container
- ERRS work crews and subcontractor work crews
- START sampling contractor
- Heavy equipment
- Water truck
- Street sweeper
- Mixing boxes
- Frac (water) tank
- Pressure wash trailer
- Bypass pumps and piping
- Sheet piling
- Mobile wastewater treatment plant
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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
Craig Thomas and Paul Ruesch serve as safety officer(s). The HASP is reviewed and signed by all site personnel. All new personnel are provided a site orientation and safety briefing. Safety meetings are held each morning with all workers.
2.6 Liaison Officer
Craig Thomas and Paul Ruesch serve as liaison(s) with local officials and 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
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
N/A
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
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
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4. Personnel On Site
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U.S. EPA - 2
ERRS contractor (Environmental Quality Management, Inc) - 14
CMC (excavation sub-contractor) - 1
START contractor (Dynamac/Weston) - 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL = 16
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5. Definition of Terms
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C&D - Construction and Demolition (waste)
ERRS - Emergency and Rapid Response Services
FOSC - Federal On Scene Coordinator
U.S. FWS - United States Fish and Wildlife Service
HASP - Health and Safety Plan
HDPE - High density polyethylene (plastic)
mg/kg - milligrams per kilogram
mg/m3 - milligrams per cubic meter
MDARD - Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
MDEQ - Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
NA - Not Applicable
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPL - National Priorities List
NRDA - Natural Resource Damage Assessment
ntu - nephelometric turbidity units
PCB - polychlorinated biphenyl
ppm - parts per million
PRPs - Potentially Responsible Parties
RTK GPS - Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System
SA - Slope Area
START - Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
U.S. EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency
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6. Additional sources of information
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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.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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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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