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Beech Creek Superfund Site
Waynesboro, TN - EPA Region IV
POLREP #1
Initiation of Removal Action By the Potential Responsible Parties

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Beech Creek Superfund Site - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV

Subject:

POLREP #1
Initiation of Removal Action By the Potential Responsible Parties
Beech Creek Superfund Site
B4X7
Waynesboro, TN
Latitude: 35.3297000 Longitude: -87.7850000

To:

From:

Steve Spurlin, OSC

Date:

6/10/2014

Reporting Period:

June 2, 2014 to June 27, 2014

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	B4X7	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:	2/21/2014
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Time-Critical
Response Lead:	PRP	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	6/2/2014	Start Date:	6/2/2014
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:	TND000410901	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:	02/10/2014
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

This is a time critical removal action being conducted by a group of potential responsible parties (prps) pursuant to an U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) Order on Consent. The Order requires sampling to identify the extent of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in Beech Creek, and it's associated floodplain areas. Following completion of the sampling, removal of PCBs exceeding EPA's established cleanup level will be undertaken.

1.1.2 Site Description

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located near the intersection of US Highway 64 and Clifton Turnpike, west of Waynesboro in unincorporated Wayne County, Tennessee. The Site is comprised of the bed, banks and floodplain of Beech Creek, beginning at the fence near the north end of land Parcel No. 067037.00 and continuing north approximately 0.5 miles, into Parcel No. 046006.00), and the aerial extent of contamination emanating there from, which may vary according to local topography and hydrology. The Site is approximately centered at latitude 35.329752 and longitude -87.785042.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The landfill at the head waters of Beech Creek was initially an uncontrolled roadside dump in the late 1930s, which was then managed by the City of Waynesboro beginning probably in the 1950s. The city began to periodically push and level refuse down the steep ravine toward the headwaters of Beech Creek. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, documented industrial disposal contributed large quantities of spent electrical capacitors, liquid waste PCBs and other PCB-impregnated wastes. A report by TDEC in 1992 estimated that 36,000 pounds of PCBs were placed into the landfill between 1969 and 1972. Local industry also disposed of an estimated 10,000 gallons of TCE from 1970 to 1972, with some evidence of dumping directly to Beech Creek. Contamination of Beech Creek has been documented since at least the 1970s.

The results of the EPA Removal Site Investigation indicate that PCBs have been released into the environment at the Site. These PCBs are migrating and, unless mitigated, will continue to migrate, downstream to affect residential property. Because of the durability of PCBs in the environment, current contamination is likely due to historical releases directly to the creek from the landfill area.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

In October and November 2010, the Tennessee Department of Environmental Control (“TDEC”) conducted sampling of groundwater, drinking water wells, sediment and surface water in and around Beech Creek.. TDEC detected levels of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (“PCBs”) in the sediment in Beech Creek at 140 milligrams-per-kilogram (mg/kg) at a point 200 yards north of the fence along the southern border of the Site and 130 mg/kg at 3.3 miles downstream, north of the Site. As a result, TDEC in May 2011, requested that the EPA follow up with additional sampling of Beech Creek.

At TDEC’s request, the EPA performed a Removal Site Evaluation of the Site in August 2011. The EPA took seven (7) sediment samples in the creek bed and on the banks of Beech Creek beginning about 100 feet north of the fence along the southern border of the Site and continuing about 0.25 miles northward. All samples exceeded the EPA Residential Removal Management Level (“RML”) for PCBs of 22 mg/kg, with concentrations ranging from 50 mg/kg to a high of 940 mg/kg. Additional sampling further downstream north of the Site detected PCBs in creek sediments above the 0.22 mg/kg EPA Regional Screening Level (RSL).

In 2012, TDEC and the EPA took additional samples in the creek bed, banks and flood plain of Beech Creek within the Site and continuing north to the confluence of Beech Creek with the Tennessee River. Analytical data from 2012 confirmed levels of PCB contamination above the RML in thirteen (13) of the twenty-one (21) samples within the Site. Samples from locations just north of the fence to 0.5 mile downstream indicated concentrations ranging from 0.17 mg/kg to a high of 160 mg/kg.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

Operations starting June 2, 2014 are focused on the sampling of the Beech Creek floodplain, creek bed, and creek banks areas.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Activities for period June 2, 2014 to June 7, 2014 include the following:

• June 2, 2014 On Site Meeting with OSC Steve Spurlin and Environ Project Manager A. Fowler and staff. Reviewed the HASP and other site plans. TDEC representative on-site.

•             Environ sampling activities were initiated for the soils in the Exposure Unit (EU) locations in the floodplain areas. Samples were collected from 37 EU's along the 0.6 mile portion of beech Creek that makes up the Site area of interest.

•             Environ collected boundary samples from 35 of the 37 EU's. The boundary samples were collected outside of the EU grid in an attempt to define the lateral edges of potential site contamination.

Activities for the period June 23, 2014 to June 27, 2014 include the following:

•             June 23, 2014 Site walk by EPA and Environ to identify creek sediment and creek bank sample locations. A TDEC representative arrived on site and was briefed of past and anticipated site activities.

•             Environ collected 38 creek sediment samples, 25 creek bank samples, 3 intermediate boundary samples, and 1 creek substrate sample.


2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

*Waste Stream*	*Medium*	*Quantity*	*Manifest #*	*Treatment*	*Disposal*

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

The contractor, Environ, has shipped all samples to the lab. Data is anticipated for the initial samples wihin the next two weeks.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section