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W.R. Grace Zonolite-Weedsport

 
Site Contact:
Michael F. Solecki
On-Scene Coordinator

(solecki.michael@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Dunn Road
Weedsport, NY 13166
 response.epa.gov/wrgraceweedsport

The site is a former W. R. Grace exfoliation site. The contaminate of concern is vermiculite containing Libby amphibole. The potentially responsible party (PRP) W.R. Grace has volunteered to perform the soil removal and building abatement action under an Administrative Order issued by EPA. EPA will oversee the removal action and perform confirmatory sampling. The site is approximately 10 acres of which approximately 4 acres are contaminated. The pre-engineered steel building is approximately 1700 square feet and the contaminate is both in the dust and there is also actual vermiculite granules.


Completed section of Area D in the center looking east. Seed and straw have been added to complete site restoration activities. East side of Area D looking south with straw and seed added. Soil from the decon pad being dumped near the drainage swale along the east side of the Site Rocks from decontamination pad being removed which will be placed towards the east side of the Site near the drainage swale. Personnel spreading straw on previously seeded soil while water is being sprayed. Site photo from the south of the warehouse looking west. Site photo of the warehouse from the south looking west. Adding clean fill to the east side of Area D. Site photo of Area D from west side looking east. Site photo of Area D from the north looking west. Site photo of Area D from the north looking east. Trucks bringing in clean fill. Site photo from the east looking west. Adding hey to the surface of Area D. Northwest side of Area D looking west. Once removal is complete restoration activities will begin including backfilling deep areas and seeding. Southwest side of Area D looking west. About 95% of the soil has been excavated and removed with the remaining soil being removed in the distance. Load out of asbestos contaminated soil (left) with trucks lined up (center). Once soil was added, plastic was used to cover the pile for transportation. Excavation is complete along the east side of Area D. This area is now ready for restoration. Load-out of asbestos contaminated soil. Trucks were lined with plastic before soil was placed. Load-out of asbestos contaminated soil. Load-out of asbestos contaminated soil. During excavation, large concrete debris was found in the northeast area of Area D. Scraping the surface along the northeast side of Area D. Load out of asbestos contaminate soil. Stockpile of excavated soil from Area D. Excavation of northeast side of Area D extending east. Soil containing vermiculite material Scraping soil along the north perimeter extending east in Area D. Soil containing vermiculite material. Excavation along the northwest perimeter fence. Vermiculite material was found deeper at approximately 2 feet. Excavation along the northeast fence in Area D. Some vermiculite material can be seen in soil pile in front of the excavator. Closeup of soil containing Vermiculite material. Water was used for dust suppression to mitigate the dispersion of vermiculite during excavation. Excavating along the southwest side of Area D. Concrete structure located in Area D Soil excavated from Area D containing vermiculite material. Scraping along the northwest perimeter fence in Area D Personnel preparing the decontamination rinse pad on the west side of the Site. Silt fence installed on the northeast side of the Site near Area D. Fabric installed along the north perimeter fence. North perimeter of the Site cleared of vegetation in Area D. Abscope personnel removing vegetation along the north side of the Site in Area D Open excavation on the east side of the Site near AC-21. Excavation of material in the eastern area. Excavation in the eastern extension towards the wooded area. #4 stone close-up View east removing visible vermiculite soils at eastern end of the site down to groundwater elevation View of the deep dig area Collecting post-ex base composite samples from grid cell AC-17 at the east end of the area D dig. Tree removal at the eastern end of the building Close-up of vermiculite soils removal from the footing at the auger area eastern end of the building Looking west at AST soil removal area Closer look at Looking east as the bulldozer spreads stone for surface restoration. Removing soil with visible vermiculite from the area around the AST base Installing siltfence in the View of re-dig activity behind the building View from the planned dig area out to the clean limit uncovered through test pits Visible vermiculite in soil east of the planned dig area uncovered in test pit. Excavator loading from pile at eastern end of site. Stone is staged prior to spreading. Clearing trees back from the AST so that soil can be removed from around the base of the tank Carbon monoxide detector mounted on ridge beam foam seal along corregated roof line Air handling equipment Area view inside building office space to the left of photo Looking east area view accumulated wood debris awaiting disposal looking southeast at active dig Abatement contractor phased mobilization View east down south property line. CSX property is to the right of the photo Visible vermiculite (gray flakey material) in the sidewall of the southern property line dig Heavy truck traffic both stone deliveries and waste truck loading Dust control at southern property line dig Close-up of vermiculite in soil at south property line fence Area view of south side of property dig looking southeast Visible vermiculite in maple trees roots south side of property Routine road cleaning in front of the site entrance Removing surface soils containing visible vermiculite south of the haul road heading east. CSX tracks behind trees. Spot removal deeper dig where visible vermiculite was encountered in coarse sand layer Closer look at work around the gas line. Yellow flags indicate the approximate position of the buried utility. View southeast at main removal area on eastern end of site. Looking west at soil removal on the south side of the building View east of the main soil removal area proceeding to the east 2-foot cut behind the building looks to be ending in native clayey soils Wide view of AC-13 scrape area View east at excavation behind the bldg View northeast across the rail spur to the main work area at the eastern end of the site View east starting dig on south side of bldg Confirming vermiculite soils under AST View south of visible vermiculite removal eastern end of bldg Securing and covering pile for weekend visible vermiculite in surface layer being removed by excavator Small excavator starts second phase of soil removal where data shows more ACM remains View east as excavator removes surface soils between the drainage swale and the haul road heading east. Another view of second dig at west Second excavator arrives onsite Gravel restoration along haul road following surface scrape View looking west as surface restoration continues Surficial cut to advance the haul road to the east. Coarse gravel, cobbels and ashy mixed historical fill eastern end of haul road. Backfilling deep digs at eastern end of haul road. View east showing two consecutive deep digs. View northeast at approximately 1-foot cut. Rail spur to the left in the photo. View west lining deep dig spot after collecting a bottom sample Rail pocket clean-out southeast terminal end of spur Looking northwest at cleaned out rail pockets Local deep excavation to remove visible vermiculite and associated debris Coarse granular vermiculite visible here above the cobbel in the center of the photo View of rail spur after clean out Laborers hand digging vermiculite from tie pocketts Old burn pit containing bottles and coal ash Additional swale scrape to the east View east geoprobe sampling orange flags at sample points View east dust supression and soil scrape Vermiculite in bottom of sidewall Test pit showing historical rail yard type soils Loading from pile Historic structure discovered on west end scrape Gravel restoration on west end Dust control during loading Checking grades 10-8-12 View west spreading stone on west end Washing tires prior to leaving site View south as scrapping by track-hoe proceeds to the east. View south rolling out fabric over subgrade. Fabric covers western subgrade. Loading over drop cloth so as not to contaminate the neutral areas. Loading out contaminated soils View of stabilized construction entrance and truck wash Weather station Construction entrance sump in foreground Example of the Geo-cloth called Siltfence installation near the railroad tracks PAM station Compacting gravel base near site trailer Close-up of PAM station during baseline sampling event View southeast of the building during site prep and mobilization Site entrance view from the road during construction Installation of stone construction entrance
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