EPA has been performing an emergency removal action at this site which has primarily involved the stabilization, repackaging, transportation, and removal of hazardous magnesium materials and other solid wastes from the facility. EPA completed repackaging abandoned magnesium materials that have been stored in drums that have succumbed to varying degrees of corrosion. The repackaged materials have now been removed from the site. Areas of the site including open pad areas, low areas and drainage ways have been cleared of residual wastes that had spilled when the facility was operating. Low-level radioactive solids, and miscellaneous waste material have been packaged and shipped off site for disposal. Lime was removed from eight large vertical vats located on the west and south side of building 2. The lime was neutralized and shipped off site for disposal. Materials have been separated from a large debris pile on the south side of the property that contained broken concrete embedded with rebar, and large pieces of scrap metal, mixed with dirt and other fines. The metal has been shipped off site for recycling. The fines pile has been sampled and is in the process of being shipped off site for appropriate disposal. PADEP is overseeing site activities for the state and providing support. EPA Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team (START) contractor TechLaw is providing technical and administrative support to the EPA. Site security operations are now relinquished to Lawrence County and Taylor Township officials. EPA will continue cleanup and assessment operations on an intermittent basis.
Personnel On-Scene:
04/14/09 EPA-1 START-1, ERRS-7, PADEP-2
04/15/09 EPA-1, START-1, ERRS-7,
04/16/09 EPA-3 START-1, ERRS-7, PADEP-1 Other-1
04/17/09 EPA-1, START-1, ERRS-7,
04/18/09 EPA-1, ERRS-7
Weather:
04/14/09 Low of 43° F, high of 52° F, mostly cloudy, 0.11” precipitation, wind 9-13 mph.
04/15/09 Low of 41° F, high of 50° F, mostly cloudy, 0..27” precipitation, wind 3-12 mph
04/16/09 Low of 31° F, high of 61° F, partly cloudy, 0.00” precipitation, wind 0-10 mph.
04/17/09 Low of 31° F, high of 66° F, partly cloudy, 0.00” precipitation, wind 0-9 mph.
04/18/09 Low of 32° F, high of 72° F, partly cloudy, 0.00” precipitation, wind 1-16 mph.
04/09/09
Unvalidated laboratory data was received covering XRF cup samples sent for analysis on 3/30/09. Data indicated elevated concentrations of arsenic and lead are present in the surface soils at the Site in areas surrounding the hot spot locations. The OSC determined that excavation and disposal of the contaminated soils was warranted.
04/13/09
ERRS mobilized to the West Pittsburg area. START provided the OSC with maps showing contaminated 20 x 20 foot grids based on unvalidated data received. The data indicated a poor correlation coefficient between lab and XRF data for arsenic and a good correlation with lead. The OSC determined that the XRF would not be used because arsenic was the primary contaminant in Site soils.
04/14/09
Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor Guardian Environmental Services, Inc. held its morning safety meeting and discussed the days planned activities.
ERRS began preparing the area located on the south side of building 9, where the top six inches of soil will be removed. Surface samples of this area indicate elevated amounts of arsenic and lead are present in the soil. ERRS relocated large pieces of machinery and other miscellaneous items out of the dig area. Work was also conducted shifting the fines pile to clear room for the trucks to get in and out to haul the pile away.
START provided the OSC with technical and administrative assistance, conducted contractor monitoring, and written and photographic documentation. Updated maps were provided based on additional unvalidated data received from CLP. The OSC determined that additional laboratory data was needed for the perimeter grids to determine extent of contamination. START submitted a laboratory request for 34 additional samples to be analyzed for lead and arsenic.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) representatives Mary Hoffman and Kevin Jordan mobilized to site to assist with oversight.
04/15/09
Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor Guardian Environmental Services, Inc. held its morning safety meeting and discussed the days planned activities.
ERRS began loading the fines pile located on the south side of building 9 into trucks for off-site disposal. They also began moving the large concrete pile that was staged approximately 100 feet south of the electrical sub-station to the SE corner of the pavement area located on the south side of building 9. This was done in anticipation that the area where the concrete was sitting may have to be excavated. By COB, 12 truckloads of soil were sent to BFI-Carbon Limestone Landfill, Lowellville, OH.
START provided the OSC with technical and administrative assistance, conducted contractor monitoring, and written and photographic documentation. START also assisted the OSC with a security walkthrough of the site. Thirty-four (34) samples representing perimeter grids were selected from the XRF samples collected during the 3/2/09 sampling event and were shipped to ChemTech laboratory for arsenic and lead analysis.
04/16/09
ERRS completed loading the fines pile located on the south side of building 9 into trucks for offsite disposal. They also continued moving the large concrete pile that was staged approximately 100 feet south of the power station to the SE corner of the pavement area located on the south side of building 9. Three truckloads of soil were sent to BFI landfill this date.
START provided the OSC with technical and administrative assistance, conducted contractor monitoring, and written and photographic documentation.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) representative Mary Hoffman mobilized to site to assist with oversight.
04/17/09
ERRS continued moving the large concrete pile that was staged approximately 100 feet south of the power station to the SE corner of the pavement area located on the south side of building 9.
START provided the OSC with technical and administrative assistance, conducted contractor monitoring, and written and photographic documentation.
04/18/09
ERRS continued moving the large concrete pile that was staged approximately 100 feet south of the power station to the SE corner of the pavement area located on the south side of building 9.
Off Site disposal options are being investigated for the concrete debris pile. If an off-site disposal option is found to be feasible, the disposal work will commence. The area of soil found to have elevated levels of arsenic and lead will be excavated to a depth of six inches. The excavated soil will then be stockpiled and shipped offsite for proper disposal.
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