U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Island Point Oil Site - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region I
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Subject:
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POLREP #2
Progress
Island Point Oil Site
Z1CX
Lewiston, ME
Latitude: 44.0981700 Longitude: -70.2202360
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To:
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From:
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Dan Wainberg, OSC
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Date:
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1/11/2013
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Reporting Period:
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8/1/2012 to 12/31/13
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
Z1CX |
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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: |
6/1/2012 |
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Start Date: |
6/1/2012 |
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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#: |
E12104 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
1.1.2 Site Description
The Island Point Oil Site (the Site) is adjacent to the Androscoggin
River in Lewiston, Maine and comprises a mix of publicly and privately
owned properties on the Island Point Peninsula. The Site includes an approximate one acre parking lot adjacent to Veteran's Memorial Park (owned by the City of Lewiston), an approximate 300 foot portion of Mill Street (privately owned), and the Lewiston Stream Substation property (owned by Central Maine Power). The Columbia Mill was formerly located where the parking lot is now situated, the Libby Mill was formerly located just north of the parking lot and the Lewiston Stream Substation property, and the Lewiston Stream Substation property currently houses an active substation. Site history and previous environmental assessments indicate several former UST locations on the subject properties, which were utilized by the former mills and the substation primarily to store No. 6 oil.
1.1.2.1 Location
The properties of concern are located on the Island Point Peninsula north of Main Street. The geographic coordinates of the approximate center of the areas of concern on the Site are:
Latitude: 44.098170°
Longitude: -70.220236°
The Site is bordered to the:
- North by privately owned properties including an active hydroelectric station;
- East by a parking lot and commercial building;
- South by Main Street and public works water pump station; and
- West by the Androscoggin River and portions of Veteran's Park.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
In spring of 2012, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection
(MEDEP) requested that EPA Region 1 Emergency Planning & Response
Branch (EPRB) provide assistance evaluating the extent of subsurface oil contamination at the Site. In the summer of 2011, the MEDEP initially responded to a report of an oil sheen on the Androscoggin River just downstream from Great Falls. MEDEP observed an oil discharge that appeared to be emanating from a retaining wall that separated the parking lot (adjacent to Veteran's Park) from the river. After the initial discovery, MEDEP contractors deployed boom around the discharge location.
With boom in place, MEDEP conducted boring and test-pit investigations over the summer and fall of 2011 in cooperation with the City of Lewiston and Central Maine Power (CMP). Investigation efforts focused on the parking lot and on the CMP property in an effort to locate and characterize subsurface oil contamination. Test-pits were excavated on the east side of the parking lot where 10,000 and 12,000 gallon underground storage tanks (USTs) were previously located. Test-pits were also excavated on the CMP property in the vicinity of a 147,000 gallon cement UST that was abandoned in place sometime in the 1970's. Soil borings were advanced primarily in the parking lot area in the vicinity of the oil discharge location down gradient from and in between the river and the former UST locations. During test-pit excavations, approximately 280 tons of oil-saturated soil and 381 gallons of an oil-water mix was removed from the area around the former USTs on the east side of the parking lot. Black oil was observed emanating from a pipe that protruded from a retaining wall separating the former Columbia Mill property from the former Libbey Mill property. The cap from this previously sealed pipe was removed and approximately 15 to 20 gallons of black oil was recovered and transported for off-site disposal.
Two bedrock monitoring wells were installed in an effort to determine whether No. 6 oil had migrated into the bedrock. Oil was observed during installation of the bedrock well located near the 147,000 gallon UST, but not in the bedrock well located just east of the parking lot. MEDEP installed a series of monitoring wells in the fall and inspected them in December of 2011. Inspection results did not indicate the presence of oil in the monitoring wells.
An additional potential source of discharging oil is a feeder pipe that allegedly runs under Mill Street (between the CMP property and the parking lot. The feeder pipe is reported to have supplied the mill complex with No. 6 oil delivered via rail car from just south of Main Street. The feeder pipe and the conditions under Mill Street between the CMP property and the parking lot could not be investigated in 2011 due to safety concerns presented by the underground high voltage lines coming from the substation and lack of access permission from the Mill Street owner.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
Since POLREP #1, the following activities have been conducted:
CMP and their contractors conducted subsurface investigations on the Lewiston Stream Substation property in the vicinity the 147,000 gallon cement UST. Investigations included: additional test-pitting, and over-burden and bedrock well installation.
MEDEP and their contractors conducted subsurface investigations on Mill Street, under the parking lot adjacent to Veteran's Park, and the slope between the parking lot and Mill Street. Investigations included: additional test-pitting, over-burden and bedrock well installation, and test borings to try and detect the presence of oil at various depths.
MEDEP and their contractors investigated the feeder pipe that was alleged to be under Mill St. The initial plan was to expose an end of the pipe and conduct a camera inspection to minimize intrusive work because of safety concerns relative to nearby high voltage underground transmission lines. The camera inspection did show the presence of oil in the pipe, but could not be advanced very far into the pipe do to the presence of oil. As a result it was not determined whether the pipe was leaking. Additionally when the feeder pipe was exposed, it was discovered to have asbestos containing material (ACM) on it. The feeder pipe investigation was stopped do to health and safety concerns and an asbestos abatement was conducted to allow the investigation to proceed in compliance with health and safety regulations.
MEDEP contractors maintained and changed out sorbent booms as
necessary.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
In 2011, beginning in July, MEDEP implemented temporary mitigation measures by
deploying boom at the oil discharge point and conducted subsurface
investigations in cooperation with the City of Lewiston and CMP. During test-pit excavations, approximately 280 tons of oil-saturated
soil and 381 gallons of an oil-water mix was removed from the area
around the former USTs on the east side of the parking lot and disposed off-site. Black oil
was observed emanating from a pipe that protruded from a retaining wall
separating the former Columbia Mill property from the former Libbey Mill
property. The cap from this previously sealed pipe was removed and
approximately 15 to 20 gallons of black oil was recovered and
transported for off-site disposal.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
MEDEP and their contractors are currently compiling data and information from the subsurface investigations conducted throughout the fall. A report with the findings is expected by mid-winter.
EPA and MEDEP will review CMP's findings from the investigation work on their property and determine the next steps for the Lewiston Stream Substation property.
Once all data is compiled and reviewed EPA and MEDEP will determine if the extent of the subsurface contamination is delineated enough to develop a viable and cost effective remedy. If a remedy is viable, it will be designed and planned over the winter for implementation once weather permits this spring or summer.
OSC Michael Barry will take over as the EPA OSC for this site effective 1/14/13.
2.2.2 Issues
Safety concerns presented by the underground high-voltage transmissions lines coming from the active substation may hamper investigation efforts.
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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
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
N/A
2.5.3 Information Officer
N/A
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3. Participating Entities
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MEDEP, City of Lewiston, and CMP representatives are working cooperatively to address oil contamination at the Site.
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA, MEDEP, City of Lewiston, and CMP representatives are on site periodically.
MEDEP response contractor personnel are on site to conduct investigations and weekly to inspect boom and change out as necessary.
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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
See the documents and photo section of the Island Point Oil Site website for further information. Reports, maps, photos, and other information will be posted as it becomes available. The website URL is www.epaosc.org/islandpointoilsite
6.2 Reporting Schedule
POLREPs will be issued periodically based on site activities.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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