Pollution/Situation Report Profile

31 Water Street Site
Amesbury, MA - EPA Region I
POLREP #2

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
31 Water Street Site - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region I

Subject:

POLREP #2
31 Water Street Site
01LW
Amesbury, MA
Latitude: 42.8561422 Longitude: -70.9273062

To:

From:

Ted Bazenas, OSC

Date:

12/2/2014

Reporting Period:

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	01LW	Contract Number:	EP-W-08-062
D.O. Number:	0042	Action Memo Date:	7/30/2014
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Time-Critical
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	9/22/2014	Start Date:	9/22/2014
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:	MAN000100746	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Time Critical Removal Action - see Closure Memorandum July 21/2014

1.1.2 Site Description

The Site is a 0.56-acre portion of 31 Water Street (which consists of an inactive, vacant parcel located along the banks of the Powow and Back Rivers). The majority of the central portion of the 31 Water Street parcel, further defined on the Amesbury Assessors’ Map 53, Lot 103, is level and contains areas with concrete foundation from the former on-site manufacturing building. The parcel is bordered to the north by Water Street, to the west by the City of Amesbury Public Works Department building, to the east by the Back River, and to the south by the Powow River. The steep slope along the eastern side leading to the Back River has been stabilized with crib work and has several pipes protruding out from the bank. The southernmost portion contains a steep slope to the Powow River. There is a paved, public walkway/bike path along the eastern and southern borders of the property that is used by the general public.

1.1.2.1 Location

The 31 Water Street Site property is located at 31 Water Street in Amesbury, Essex County,

Massachusetts. The geographic coordinates of the approximate midpoint along the center of 31

Water Street are 42° 51′ 22.1″ north and 70° 55′ 38.5″ west. The property is identified by the Amesbury Assessor's Office on Map 53, Lot 103 and is bordered to the north by Water Street, to the west by the City of Amesbury Public Works Department building, to the east by the Back River, and to the south by the Powow River.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The presence of Aroclor-1254 at levels up to 740 mg/Kg in soil samples collected by EPA and others indicates that an uncontrolled release of PCBs has occurred at some unknown time in the past at this Site, resulting in contamination to surface and subsurface soils adjacent to the Powow River and the Back River. The origin, amount and intended use (if any) of Aroclor-1254 at this Site has not been determined and is likely to remain unknown. PCBs are the primary contaminant of concern at the Site. Elevated levels of lead, arsenic, chromium and petroleum hydrocarbons have also been identified in the soils at the Site and will be addressed in the Removal Action.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

On May 19, 2014, the EPA OSC and contractor personnel mobilized to the property to initiate a Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI). After visual inspection of the Site and sample location selection by the OSC, a total of thirty-eight soil samples were collected from nine soil boring locations. In addition, six surface soil samples were collected from soils adjacent to waste pipes associated with the Site. The samples were analyzed at the EPA New England Regional Laboratory in Chelmsford, MA for PCBs and metals.

Analytical results indicated that one PCB (Aroclor-1254) was detected in several surface and subsurface soil samples at levels exceeding the MCP Imminent Hazard Level for PCBs of 10 mg/Kg and the EPA Regional Removal Management Levels (RMLs). Also, five metals (arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, and zinc) were detected at concentrations exceeding MCP S-1 standards in one or more of the samples. The lead and arsenic levels also exceeded the EPA RMLs.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

On September 22, 2014 the OSC met at the Site with the ERRS contractor Response Manager to conduct a site walk and prepare a site plan. A temporary work trailer was delivered to the Site. Access to the Site and the bike path were restricted by fencing.

The Site utilities, office trailer, storage box and work zones were set up.

During the week of October 6, 2014, excavation began at the northern portion of the property to remove PCB contaminated soils in preparation for relocation of utility poles by National Grid and Verizon, and the removal ( by the City of Amesbury) of an underground storage tank (UST) historically used by municipal departments, formerly containing gasoline. The excavation removed contaminated soil from the area and exposed the storage tank.  Approximately 50 cubic yards of low PCB soil (less than 500 ppm PCB) were stockpiled at the site. Excavation was discontinued after encountering the UST. Clean fill was placed around the UST. The bid process for sheet piling installation was initiated by the ERRS contractor.

Based on the proposals received from the various steel sheet piling contractors, installation costs for sheet pilings could exceed intial estimates.  The OSC requested additional technical support from the US Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate other options for water management and bank stabilization.

On October 14, 2014, the EPA START contractor collected additional soil characterization samples from 14 sample stations by geoprobe.

On October 17, 2014, two additional deep soil borings were collected by an ERRS subcontract to determine the geoechnical parameters of the sediments.  A USACE representative was on-site to oversee the drilling and sample collection. The results were received on November 12, 2014 and confirmed that the deep clay deposits in the sediments would require deep sheet pilings.

After several meetings with the City of Amesbury, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP), and the USACE, the OSC confirmed that proceeding with sheet piling was the most effective strategy to manage water and stabilize the river banks.

On November 14, 2014, the City of Amesbury, utilizing their own contractors, initiated the UST removal at the northern portion of the Site. The horizontal tank (approximately 12 feet by 5 feet in dimension) was removed from the Site. The contractor Licensed Site Professional (LSP) determined that the UST was not structurally sound and had leaked petroleum into the adjacent soils. Additional samples were collected by the municipal contractor and by EPA START contractors.

On November 17, 2014 the City reported the release to the Mass DEP and subsequently on November 24, 2014 received a Notice of Responsibility from the State. The LSP is developing a response plan on behalf of the City to be submitted to the Mass DEP, as per the state regulatory framework.

Following the receipt of revised engineering specifications from the USACE in mid December, the bid process for sheet piling will be restarted. After the contract award, additional funds for the project will be requested if necessary.

Installation of the sheet pilings is expected to begin in late February of 2015.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Please refer to POLREP #1 for information regarding previous response actions.

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

The City of Amesbury is the current property owner, having aquired the property as a result of non-payment of taxes from the previous owner. No viable PRPs have been identified to date.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

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

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

At this time, the Site has been well characterized in regards to PCB and metals contamination. The City of Amesbury is likely to conduct additional subsurface investigations to determine the extent of the petroleum release from the leaking UST.

The USACE is expected to provide additional engineering specifications for sheet piling by mid December, at which time the bid process will restart.

Installation of sheet piling is expected to begin in late February of 2015, followed closely by excavation of the contaminated river bank soils.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Disposal of stockpiled soil is expected to be completed before December 30, 2014. Demobilization of heavy equipment will follow disposal.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Stabilization of the riverbanks with sheet pilings.

2.2.2 Issues

Excavation will include areas in the intertidal zone of the Powow and Back Rivers, presenting challenges with water management and riverbank stability.

2.3 Logistics Section