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ALRECO Metals

All POL/SITREP's for this site ALRECO Metals
Benton Harbor, MI - EPA Region V
POLREP #6
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 #6
Progress
ALRECO Metals
C52N
Benton Harbor, MI
Latitude: 42.1389684 Longitude: -86.4362357


To:
From: Elizabeth Nightingale, OSC
Date: 12/22/2014
Reporting Period: 12/15/14- 12/22/14

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

No clean up work will be conducted on site between December 24th and January 5th. Security will be present on site. EPA will conduct periodic monitoring at the site over the shut down period. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
From December 15 - 22, 2014, work focused on the following activities:

Operations
- Completed bucket tests of samples combined from select staged containers (non-empty drums, buckets & totes). No adverse reactions were observed. Shipped combined samples for analysis;

- Continued consolidation of dross/smelting waste from across the site, and decontamination of foundations/pits/bins. 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. Work focused on sorting non conforming debris from Pile 5. Piles 1, 2 & 4 are ready to ship for disposal. Pile 3 also contains non-conforming debris which needs to be further sorted prior to sampling & characterization for disposal;

- Completed repackaging known baghouse dust waste in compromised supersacks into shippable supersacks, and staged sacks for disposal. To date, 49 bags have been repackaged, 13 were already in shippable condition and did not needed to be repackaged; 

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

- Began transportation & disposal of dross/smelting waste from waste pile 1 to the disposal facility. An initial shipment of waste was successfully completed on 12/18/14. Waste is being shipped daily on weekdays unless there is a significant chance of rain predicted at the disposal facility. (This waste cannot be disposed of during rain events due to its potentially water reactive nature). Waste shipped off site is cataloged in the progress metrics table below. To date, 14 loads of this waste weighing approximately 374 tons have been shipped for disposal.

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 reporting period, one brief exceedance of the perimeter action level for particulates was 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. Personal ammonia and hydrogen sulfide taht alarm when action levels are exceeded also being utilized in the work zone.

During the reporting period, only occasional brief exceedances of the perimeter multigas action levels were recorded. No exceedances of work zone action levels were detected. 



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 (tons) Quantity Estimated or Final? Manifest # Disposal
RCRA empty containers & debris Solid 5.00 estimated A5-156-01 Republic Forest Lawn
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 32.46 final 2954167 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 33.16 final 2954168 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 29.74 final 2954169 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 29.88 final 2954170 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 30.11 final 2954171 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 25.31 final 2954172 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 24.00 estimated 2954173 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 24.00 estimated 2954174 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 23.00 estimated 2954175 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 26.50 estimated 2954176 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 24.00 estimated 2954177 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 24.00 estimated 2954178 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 24.00 estimated 2954179 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)
Aluminum Production Waste (Piles) Solid 24.00 estimated 2954180 WM-Oak Ridge RDF (AL monofill)



  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
Tomorrow and subsequently when site work resumes on January 5, work will continue to consolidate dross from across the site; continue shipping waste from piles 1, 2 and 4 for disposal; continue to sort non-conforming debris from piles 3 and 5 and shape piles; and continue foundation decontamination work. 

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
  12/15/14:
EPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 6

12/16/14:
EPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 6

12/17/14
EPA - 2
START - 1
ERRS - 6

12/18/14
EPA - 7
START - 1
ERRS - 6

12/19/14
EPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 6

12/22/14
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. The next report will be issued January 9th, 2015.

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