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ALRECO Metals

All POL/SITREP's for this site ALRECO Metals
Benton Harbor, MI - EPA Region V
POLREP #5
Progress
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
ALRECO Metals - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V

Subject: POLREP #5
Progress
ALRECO Metals
C52N
Benton Harbor, MI
Latitude: 42.1389684 Longitude: -86.4362357


To:
From: Paul Ruesch, OSC and Elizabeth Nightingale, OSC
Date: 12/15/2014
Reporting Period: 12/8/14 - 12/12/14

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: C52N    Contract Number: EP-S5-09-05
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 8/8/2014
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 11/10/2014    Start Date: 11/10/2014
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: MIN000504648    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification: Yes
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Time Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description
See initial POLREP.

1.1.2.1 Location
See initial POLREP.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
See initial POLREP.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See initial POLREP.


2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative


2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
From December 8 - 12, 2014, work focused on the following activities:

Operations
- Completed sampling and field hazcatting of all staged containers with unknown contents (non-empty drums, buckets & totes);

- Continued consolidation of dross/smelting waste from across the site, and decontamination of foundations/pits/bins. Work focused on removing dross/smelting waste from pits and along railroad spurs on the east & west sides of the site. Sweeping was focused in the southern section of the site. Excavated waste was consolidated into waste piles #4 and #5. Foundation decontamination is estimated to be 90% complete.

- Continued sorting non-conforming debris from large dross/smelting waste piles and shaping piles. Piles 1, 2 & 4 are ready to ship for disposal. Piles 3 and 5 contain non-conforming debris which needs to be further sorted prior to sampling & characterization for disposal;

- Continued repackaging of baghouse dust waste in compromised supersacks into shippable supersacks, and staged sacks for disposal. To date, 43 bags have been repackaged, 13 were already in shippable condition and did not needed to be repackaged; and another 10 sacks still need to be repackaged;

- Continued temperature monitoring of waste piles & supersacks of baghouse dust;

- Evaluated bids & selected contractors for transportation & disposal of dross/smelting waste piles 1 & 2; and 

- Met with representatives from the proposed disposal facility on site on December 12 to evaluate the dross/smelting waste material for acceptablity in the landfill. In addition, transport, documentation and loading/unloading procedures were discussed to ensure safe & proper handling of the material.

Air Monitoring
- Continued implementation of the air monitoring plan to ensure public and worker safety.

- Continuously monitored data from particulate and chemical monitors for compliance with established standards. Real-time data are transmitted back to the site command post where they are monitored continuously. Any exceedances are addressed immediately.

- Maintained a website (VIPER) with current and past perimeter air monitoring data.  See Section 6.1 for instructions on accessing the website.

Particulate Air Monitoring:
Datarams (DR4) are deployed daily at four fixed locations in each direction along the site perimeter boundaries where off-site receptors are most at risk to exposure from fugitive emissions. The perimeter action level for PM-10 particulates has been set at a time weighted average (TWA) of 150 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), as established in 40 CFR Part 50, National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

One personal data ram (PDR) particulate air monitor is deployed daily in the work zone during the removal action. The particulate monitor will data-log instantaneous TWA particulate concentrations during active operations. Action level exceedances will be managed by setting the monitor to alarm at the established action level to notify on-site personnel. The particulate action level within the work zone has been established as 2.0 mg/m3 for the respirable fraction of total particulates. This is a site specific action level based on a calculation of airborne dust concentration.

During the week of December 8, 2014, occasional exceedances of the perimeter action levels for particulates were detected, but the TWA was not exceeded.

MultiGas Air Monitoring:
AreaRAE multi-gas monitors are being deployed at the container staging area and at 3 perimeter locations. The AreaRAE multi-gas monitors will be used to monitor ammonia in parts per million (ppm), hydrogen sulfide (ppm), VOCs (ppm), and percent lower explosive limit (LEL). 
The perimeter action levels are as follows: ·
Ammonia = 10 ppm
Hydrogen Sulfide = 10 ppm
PM10 particulates = 150 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3)
LEL = >5%
VOCs > 5 ppm

Work zone air monitoring results are being compared with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 10-hour recommended exposure limit (REL) or the OSHA 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) PEL, whichever is more restrictive.

A MultiRAE Plus 5-gas monitor (loaded with sensors for detection of oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, LEL, and VOCs) will also be used to periodically spot check AreaRAE data.

During the week of December 8, 2014, no exceedances of the perimeter or work zone multigas action levels were recorded.


2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
General notice letters were issued to current and former owners of the property. Investigation is ongoing.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
Scrap metal steel 40 yds (est) NA recycling
Padnos Recycling,
Benton Harbor, MI
RCRA empty
containers & debris
solid 30 yds (est)  A5-156-01  disposal Forest Lawn Landfill,
Three Oaks, MI
           


  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Please see initial POLREP for planned removal activities on-site.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Next week, work will continue to consolidate dross from across the site; prepare to ship dross/smelting waste for disposal; commence shipment waste piles 1 & 2 for disposal; sort non-conforming debris from large dross piles and shape piles; and repackage baghouse dust into intact bags. Samples collected from containers of unknowns will be shipped for analysis in preparation for disposal.

2.2.2 Issues


  2.3 Logistics Section
    ERRS is managing site logistics.

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
OSC is serving in this role.

2.5.2 Liaison Officer
OSC is serving in this role.

2.5.3 Information Officer
OSC is serving in this role.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
NA

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
MDEQ

4. Personnel On Site
  12/8/14:
EPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 6

12/9/14:
EPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 6
MDEQ- 1

12/10/14
EPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 6

12/11/14
EPA - 2
START - 1
ERRS - 6

12/12/14
EPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 6

5. Definition of Terms
 
ATSDR   Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
BZ  Breathing Zone
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CERCLIS   Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System
DNR   Department of Natural Resources
EPA   Environmental Protection Agency
ERNS   Emergency Response Notification System
ERRS   Emergency and Rapid Response Service
LEL  Lower Explosive Limit
MDEQ  Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
mg/m3  miligrams per cubic meter
NCP   National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan
NOAA   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
NPL   National Priorities List
NRC   National Response Center
OSC   On Scene Coordinator
PPE  Personal Protective Equipment
PPM  Parts per million
RCRIS   Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Information System
RP   Responsible Party
RRT   Regional Response Team
START   Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
ug/m3  micrograms per cubic meter
US FWS   United States Fish and Wildlife Service
USCG   United States Coast Guard
VOC  Volatile Organic Compound


6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
http://www.epaosc.net/alreco

Air monitoring data is posted real time at http://viper.ert.org. Users need to create a login upon their first visit to the website. Once logged in, select R05 ALRECO Metals Deployment to view site data.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
POLREPs will be issued weekly over the course of the removal action.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.