U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
31 Water Street Site - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region I
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Subject:
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POLREP #4
Progress
31 Water Street Site
01LW
Amesbury, MA
Latitude: 42.8561422 Longitude: -70.9273062
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To:
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From:
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Mike Barry, OSC
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Date:
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6/5/2015
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Reporting Period:
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5/6-2015 - 6/5/2015
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
01LW |
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Contract Number: |
EP-W-08-062 |
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D.O. Number: |
0042 |
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Action Memo Date: |
5/26/2015 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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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: |
9/22/2014 |
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Start Date: |
9/22/2014 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
MAN000100746 |
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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
Time Critical Removal Action - see Closure Memorandum July 21/2014
1.1.2 Site Description
The Site is an approximate 30' by 400' strip on the outer edge of the parcel at 31 Water Street, along the banks of the Powow and Back Rivers. There is a paved, public walkway/bike path on this strip which forms the eastern and southern borders of the property, and is used by the general public. The lot is open, inactive, level and contains areas with concrete foundations 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. There are steep slopes both along eastern and southern sides leading to the Back and Powow Rivers. The riverbank slopes leading to the Back River and portions of the Powow River slope have been stabilized with crib work; several pipes also protrude from the Back River bank.
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, or in historical fill at this Site has not been determined and is likely to remain unknown. PCBs are the primary contaminant of concern at the Site. Elevated concentrations of lead, arsenic, chromium above the EPA Removal Management Levels have also been identified in the soils at the Site and will be addressed in the Removal Action. State standards for the existing and planned site use are also exceeded.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
In May, July and October 2014, the EPA performed three rounds of surface and subsurface sampling for the Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI). Over 50 locations were sampled from surface and subsurface locations and analyzed for PCBs and metals. For more details please see POLREPS 1-3.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
For prior activities, please see POLREPS 1 to 3.
In May 2015 the sheet pile wall was driven along the Back and Powow river banks and excavation of contaminated soil began.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Please refer to POLREPs #1 - 3 for information regarding previous response actions.
The sheet pile wall of approximately 360 feet was driven by the ERRS subcontractor along the Back and Powow rivers to stabilize the river banks and bound the excavation area. The sheet pile wall was cut to approximately 2' - 3' above the mean high tide elevation as per the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) design. USACE design services were per an Interagency Agreement. A USACE representative toured the site several times during sheet pile driving to provide quality control and was satisfied that the design was followed. Sheet pile work started on 5/5/2015 and was complete by 5/27/2015.
The ERRS crew was mobilized and excavation of contaminated soil and backfill with clean soil commenced.on 5/28/2015. To date:
- 9 of the 16 grids to be excavated have been dug and backfilling has been performed concurrently.
- Approximatley 250 tons of TSCA PCB soil have been excavated and T & D samples have been sent to the lab.
- Approximately 500+ tons of non-TSCA soil have been excavated and T & D samples have been sent to the lab.
-The dewatering system was set up and charged. It was determined that operations are able to be executed around the tidal cycles and dewatering isn't necessary; on 5/4 it was decided to de-mobilize the dewaterring system.
-Tree stumps/root balls have been pulled and staged as another waste stream concurrently with digging the grids. This has been easier than expected as the tree roots seem not to have penetrated below the crib wall top elevation.
-Crib wall timbers have largely remained undisturbed to date and will remain in place. Those timbers disurbed on the one deeper grid excavation have been staged as another waster stream and T & D samples have been taken to the lab.
A revised cost estimate to finish the site activities as of 5/8/2015 indicated that more funds will be needed to complete the project. Primary reasons are:
-Increased cost of the sheet pile work.
-More time required on-site and two mobilizations (Fall 2014 and Spring/Summer 2015) vs the initial estimate of one.
-Increased volume of contaminated soil and fill required.
An Action Memo Amendment to increase the project ceiling was drafted and signed on 5/26/2015.
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 |
| Non-TSCA, non-RCRA contaminated soil |
Soil |
165.5 tons |
Various |
No |
Waste Management of NH, Rochester, NH |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Continue, excavating PCB and lead contaminated soil along the riverbanks, underneath the former bike path.
Backfill excavations and area behind the sheet pile wall.
T & D staged TSCA and non-TSCA soil, crib wall and stumps/root ball waste streams as soon as analytical results and bids are available.
Cut sheet pile wall, backfill excavations and slope river banks /slope to specifications provided by the city, or their contractors, to facilitate the city's Lower Millyard project plans as far as possible.
Install erosion controls on the river bank and repair response related damages in a manner to faciliatate the city's Lower Millyard project plans as far as possible.
Final site grading and cover will be performed by the city at a later date.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
See above.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
2.2.2 Issues
Working with the city and their contracts to obtain plans/specifications for final sheet pile height, backfill elevation, riverbank slope and erosion controls such that the Lower Millyard project can be facilitated, yet retaining the removal action within CERCLA authority.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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None
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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
OSC
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
OSC
2.5.3 Information Officer
Emily Bender (off-site)
An updated fact sheet was written and distributed on May 22, 2015.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
USEPA is the lead agency for this removal action, but is closely coordinating with the City of Amesbury, and their contractors, in the cooperative Amesbury Lower Millyard redevelopment project, of which this action is a part of.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
MassDEP has provided coordination with the variety of cleanups on and adjacent to the site that are under oversight of the Massachuesetts Contency Plan and on final river bank design requirement.
US Army Corps of Engineers is providing technical assistance through an inter-agency agreement for the sheet pile wall design and oversight.
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4. Personnel On Site
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OSC (1)
Contractor personel:
ERRS - Guardian Environmental Services (4) - One is a TMC team subcontractor employee
ERRS Sheet Pile Subcontractor; Sea & Shore, Inc. (0) - demobilized on 5/27/2015
START - Westonsolutions (1)
Other vendors and temporary personnel as ordered by the ERRS RM and/or requested by the OSC.
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
http://www.epaosc.org/site/sitrep_edit.aspx?site_id=9528
6.2 Reporting Schedule
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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