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 the activity of repackaging abandoned magnesium materials that have been stored in drums that have succumbed to varying degrees of corrosion. The repackaged materials are being staged inside site buildings pending removal from the site. Areas of the site including open pad areas, low areas and drainage ways are being cleared of residual wastes that had spilled when the facility was operating. Recycling and disposal options continue to be investigated for the repackaged materials. PADEP is overseeing site activities for the state and providing support. EPA START contractor TechLaw is providing technical and administrative support to the EPA. EPA and PADEP officials continue to control access to the site as well as coordinate activities with the various generators and disposal contractors.
Personnel On-Scene:
09/15/08 EPA-1, START-1, ERRS-9, Other-1, Security-1 (24 hr)
09/16/08 EPA-3, START-1, ERRS-9, PADEP-1, Other-3, Security-1 (24 hr)
09/17/08 EPA-2, START-1, ERRS-9, PADEP-1, Other-2, Security-1 (24 hr)
09/18/08 EPA-1, START-1, ERRS-9, Security-1 (24 hr)
Weather:
09/15/08 Low of 50° F, high of 68° F, overcast, 0.00” precipitation, wind W 9-14 mph.
09/16/08 Low of 48° F, high of 70° F, partly cloudy/overcast, wind W 3-8 mph
09/17/08 Low of 52° F, high of 73° F, sunny, wind W 5-7 mph
09/18/08 Low of 41° F, high of 70° F, sunny, winds NNE 5-10 mph
09/15/08
Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor Guardian Environmental Services, Inc. held its morning safety meeting and discussed the days planned activities. ERRS transported magnesium drums from building 9 to building 2 and began clearing residual waste from drainage ways and sumps near the former Magnesium Wash building. High winds during the night caused some sections of roof covering in building 7 to come undone and/or collapse. ERRS cordoned off the area below and cleared the debris. High winds caused loss of internet connection throughout the day. Service is anticipated to be restored by late Tuesday or Wednesday.
USEPA OSC Dennis Matlock mobilized to site to oversee operations. OSC demobilized by C.O.B.
START mobilized to the site and provided the OSC with technical and administrative assistance, conducted contractor monitoring, drum inventory, disposal tracking and written and photographic documentation.
09/16/08
ERRS continued to transport magnesium drums from building 9 to building 2, and continued to clean out sump near the former Magnesium Wash building. The material removed from the sump was transferred into drums by ERRS. A sample of the sump material was collected by PADEP Hoffman who analyzed it with the IR. The results indicated that it made up of approximately 70% water. However, since the sample was saturated due to it originating from a sump, PADEP determined that it was a faulty reading. PADEP noted that the sample material reacted with water and reacted violently with HCl, indicating the presence of calcium chloride and magnesium. ERRS will be collecting a sample of the sump material for disposal purposes.
One truck containing 36 drums of magnesium was shipped offsite as a hazardous material to Magnesium Products of America located in Camden, Tennessee.
09/17/08
ERRS completed the cleanout of sump near the former Magnesium Wash building and the contents were drummed into 16 drums. The drums were transported to Building 9 where they will be staged pending disposal. ERRS completed the transportation of all magnesium drums from Building 9 to Building 2. ERRS RM noted that a total of 4,303 magnesium drums were staged in Building 2. ERRS did not expect many more magnesium drums to be generated. ERRS repackaged the sparking rods in Building 9 into drums for disposal purposes.
START used a thermal imaging device to check for heat-generating reactions in the drums in Building 2. START noted 1 drum which appeared to be hotter than the rest. However, the drum was not hot to the touch. START also noted 1 drum which had a slightly bulging lid, and a couple of drums which were venting. START pointed out the observations to the ERRS RM. ERRS will replace the bulging lid, and keep an eye on the other drums.
09/18/08
ERRS completed the drumming of all materials in Building 9. A hopper of magnesium material was discovered in Building 2. ERRS will transfer the material into drums. ERRS completed the scraping and cleaning out of the grates and drains located near the Magnesium Wash building. ERRS prepared the site for a demobe. ERRS will be onsite again on September 23, 2008.
START continued to perform oversight of all ERRS activities.
ERRS will arrange for transportation of the drummed magnesium material to an off-site disposal or recycling facility. ERRS will also continue to arrange for off-site treatment and disposal of hazardous waste materials in building 9. ERRS is planning procedures to remove material from the vertical hopper tanks located adjacent to building 2 and will continue to remove spilled material from drainage ways, low areas and grounds areas.
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