EPA is continuing emergency removal actions at this site during the repackaging, transportation, and removal of flammable magnesium materials. Magnesium generators, who previously supplied Remacor with recyclable magnesium and magnesium alloys, are removing their materials from the site. Winters Performance Products, Inc. has plans to be on site the last week of November or the first week of December to begin shipping their material. MJ Metals of Bridgeport, CT, is coordinating with the EPA to be on site for drum identification and count in November. AIM has resumed shipping their material to Magpro, Camden, TN and wants to have their material off site no later than the end of November.
EPA’s ERRS contractor Guardian Environmental Services, Inc. (GES) has moved its operation to burn pile 2 & 3. Before reacting the material in the reaction pit GES has to empty drums from the piles which may contain material that may not have been reacted. PADEP is providing technical and oversight support at the site. EPA START contractor TechLaw is providing technical and administrative support to EPA. EPA and PADEP officials continue to control access to the site in addition to coordinating the activities of the various generators.
Personnel On-Scene:
11/10/07 START-1, ERRS-8, Security-1 (24 hr)
11/12/07 EPA-1, START-2, ERRS-8, MJ Metals-6, Other-1, Security-1 (24 hr)
Weather:
11/10/07 Low of 35° F, high of 41° F. Overcast, 0.00 inches of precipitation, wind NNW 10 mph.
11/12/07 Low of 44° F, high of 50° F. Overcast, 0.00 inches of precipitation, wind SW 4-6 mph.
11/10/07
START attended the morning safety meeting held by EPA, ERRS contractor Guardian Environmental Services, Inc. ERRS cleaned areas where they have been moving burn piles and sifting. ERRS also continued to stir the material in the reaction pit, material was staged near the reaction pit and will be added to the pit on 11/12/07 once the reacted material is removed.
The Data Rams and the PDR are not being used because of inclement weather.
START continues to assist the EPA as needed, conduct written/photographic documentation, and monitor activities conducted on site.
11/12/07
START attended the morning safety meeting held by MJ Metals and their subcontractor MHF Logistics who were on site to begin their operation of identifying and replacing lids on their drums that were previously shipped to Remacor. Some of the drums will have to be over-packed due to the condition of the drums and the amount of water contained within the drums. MJ Metals will also be using super sacks that hold 8 drums per sack to package some of the drums. The drums that hold more than 10% liquids will have to be packaged a different way. A large majority of the drums have to be rounded out with a brass or non sparking hammer in order to make the vented lids fit.
EPA’s OSC Dennis Matlock mobilized to site to oversee operations and site entry. OSC Matlock demobilized.
START attended the morning safety meeting held by EPA’s ERRS contractor Guardian Environmental Services, Inc. ERRS completed burn piles 3 & 4 and is beginning to move the operation to burn piles 5 & 6. Smaller piles are being made due to the release of heat and reactivity of material. There have been more reactions in the piles as ERRS dumps the drums of unknown material. ERRS is able to contain any reactions that may occur by lessening the amounts of material being handled as needed.
The Data Rams and the PDR are not being used because of inclement weather.
START continues to assist the EPA as needed, conduct written/photographic documentation, and monitor activities conducted on site.
American Iron & Metal (AIM) plans to ship its last load (over-packs) off site on 11/16/07.
Intermet has submitted a tentative schedule to resume shipping by 12/01/07 and complete the task by 01/30/08.
Winter Performance Products, Inc’s tentative schedule is to begin shipment of its product off site the 3rd week in November.
SPX Contech also has a tentative schedule to begin shipment of its product off site the 3rd week of November.
MJ Metals (generator) has plans to be on site the week of 11/12/07 to repackage its material for transport off site.
EPA START contractor TechLaw, Inc. is presently preparing a comprehensive sampling plan and plans to begin sampling the last week two weeks of November.
EPA will continue to coordinate with magnesium waste generators for the safe and appropriate removal of the material from the site. EPA will continue to coordinate with all local, state, and federal agencies.
There are approximately 15 fire debris piles located on slab #3 that constitute the remains of a 68,000 square foot building that was destroyed during the Remacor fire on August 6, 2005. The piled fire debris contains construction material intermixed with charred, damaged and deteriorated drums containing reactive magnesium fines and oxides and other process alloys or materials. The nature of the reactive materials mixed with building debris requires careful handling and segregation while increasing the risk of a fire due to exposing once-buried materials to the elements. EPA is in the process of slowly segregating the first of these piles. The magnesium-based oxides and fines that are segregated from oversized building debris are being managed on site in order to make them safer to handle. The West Pittsburg Fire Chief has been informed that EPA has started handling of these piles.
|
