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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
A949 |
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Contract Number: |
EP-S9-12-01 |
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D.O. Number: |
0937 |
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Action Memo Date: |
11/4/2013 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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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: |
9/30/2013 |
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Start Date: |
10/1/2013 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
11/11/2014 |
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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#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
The Samoa Pulp Mill Site is a 70 acre former industrial pulp manufacturing facility. The pulp mill was constructed in 1963 by Georgia Pacific. In the early 1970's Louisiana Pacific acquired and ran the facility until 1990. From 1990 until 2008 various smaller groups owned and operated the facility. The last operating owner of the facility was the Evergreen Pulp Company which ran the facility until 2008. Evergreen experienced financial difficulties and "walked away" from the mill site without properly closing operations. Sometime in 2009 a venture group called Freshwater Tissue Company purchased the facility site with intent of converting to a tissue mill. This quickly failed to reach fruition and Freshwater began scrapping the facility and consolidating hazardous waste. In August of 2013 Freshwater Tissue Company sold the facility to the Humboldt Bay Harbor District (aka - Port Authority). The facility is currently staffed with 2 part-time Humboldt Bay Harbor District employees.
1.1.2.1 Location
The Samoa Pulp Mill Site is located within Humboldt County in Samoa, CA. The Site is approximately 70 acres of industrial pulp processing operations and is situated on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay. The facility is on the shore line of Humboldt Bay and has an industrial wharf on the Bay. The Pacific Ocean is located within 800 yds to the west of the facility.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The primary concern is 11 ASTs containing 3-4 million gallons of highly caustic liquids (pH greater than 13). Five of these ASTs are not designed to store caustic liquids and periodic seismic activity (6.8 earthquake occurred off coast of Humboldt Co. 3/9/2014) has caused grave concern regarding their stability. Additionally, there are a half dozen ASTs containing 2000-3000 gallons of sulfuric acid (pH less than 1), 3,000 tons of corrosive sludges in uncontained areas, approximately 3000 gallons of turpentine, and several thousand containers of various types (i.e., compressed gas cylinders, paints/thinners, mercury containing gauges and equipment).
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Please refer to previous Polreps
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
During this reporting period, EPA, the USCG Pacific Strike Team, and EPA Contractors (Environmental Quality Management, Global Diving and Salvage, and Marine Pollution Control) have continued the transport of the pulping liquors to the Kapstone Paper Company in Longview, WA.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
4/7-4/14/2014 - 46 truckloads of pulping liquors (28 green, and 18 black) delivered to the Kapstone Paper Company in Longview, WA. The brings the total to date (including the 6 truckloads delivered to Kapstone for the batch test), to approximately 355,000 gallons of pulping liquors re-used.
4/9/2014 – Regional H&S Officer o/s to conduct Safety
Audit. Concurrently, ERRS made a confined space entry
to Frac tanks that had valves frozen shut with salt cake. H&S Officer seemed satisfied that all activity o/s was been done properly.
4/10/2014 – OSC provided update HBHD Commissioners
4/12/2014 - Approximately 130,000 gallons of green pulping liquor was pumped from Tank 8 to the Frac Tank farm and directly to 2 vacuum trucks.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
On-going
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
Recycled |
| Caustic liquids |
liquids |
2.7m gallons |
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To date - 355k gallons
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| Sulfuric Acid - Re-usable |
liquids |
6k gallons |
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Purchased by Valley Acid, Stratford, CA (11/13) |
| Sulfuric Acid - Waste |
liquids |
4k gallons |
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| Hydrochloric Acid - Waste |
liquids |
2,100 gallons |
011138259 JJK |
x |
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| Corrosive sludges |
semi-solids |
9k tons |
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| Turpentine |
liquids |
3k gallons |
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| Lab Chemicals |
various |
~2k containers |
0000990296DAT |
x |
x |
21st Century Environmental Management of CA, LP |
| "HHW" type |
various |
~2k containers |
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| Hg |
liquids |
Unk at this time |
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| Waste oils |
liquids |
~2k gallons |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
For the week of 4/14/2014 ERRS will continue to ramp up truckloads of pulping liquor transfer to a goal of 50 tank trucks/week.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
ERRS will investigate employing a closed loop system to circulate heated liquid through tanks to liquify "salt cake" build up.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Obligate additional funds for the TO within the existing ceiling.
Submit Ceiling Increase and Exemption to the $6M statutory limit for removal actions to HQ.
2.2.2 Issues
At present rate, available funding for site operations is projected to run out by 5/31/2014.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No information available at this time.
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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
EQM Pat Heyneman and USCG MST2 Barnum are the Site Safety Officers during this period
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
EPA OSC Weden is serving as the Liaison Officers during this period
2.5.3 Information Officer
David Yogi is EPA's Public Affairs point of contact.
Lt. Leigh Van Leer is the USCG's Public Affairs point of contact.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
US EPA
USCG Pacific Strike Team
Humboldt Bay Harbor District
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Humboldt County Department of Health
Samoa Fire Department
Humboldt Bay Fire District
Del Norte County Department of Environmental Health
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
California Department of Toxics and Substance Control
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
United States Coast Guard - Sector San Francisco
Washington Department of Ecology
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA OSC - 1
USCG PST - 8
Environmental Quality Mgmt - 5
Global Diving and Salvage - 2
Marine Pollution Control - 1
Humboldt Bay Harbor District - 2
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5. Definition of Terms
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Salt Cake: Precipitated sodium hydroxide
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
http://www.times-standard.com/news/ci_25447248/a-disaster-that-miraculously-did-not-happen:-first-hazardous-liquid-haul-leaves-samoa-pulp-mill
6.2 Reporting Schedule
During the pulping liquor phase of the removal PolReps will be done every Monday afternoon.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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