Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Powhatan Mining Company
Woodlawn, MD - EPA Region III
POLREP #28

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On-Scene Coordinator - Jack Kelly	7/16/2011
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #28
Start Date: 8/16/2010

Site Description
The Powhatan Mining Company site is the location of a former asbestos processing facility. The mill operated from approximately 1920 to 1980 primarily processing anthophyllite asbestos.  Asbestos ore for the mill was mined in Maryland until about the 1940s and later brought in from several States including California, Georgia and Alabama. The site is bordered on all sides by residential properties and the residential yards to the southwest lie within feet of the former processing facility and in the path of site runoff.  In 2006, the property to the east of the former mill was  subdivided into residential lots for new home construction. From 2006 to 2008, the residential lots were  cleared and graded and retention ponds were installed. Development ceased after only two homes were constructed.

The former processing facility is a multi-story building with a loading area on the northeast end (cement block portion) and a processing area at the southwest end (rusted metal portion).  The asbestos fiber extraction process took place inside the building complex.  Asbestos ore was reportedly received and first dried in the cement block portion of the complex.  Further processing of the rock ore is believed to have occurred in the metal portion of the facility, a multi-level, timber-framed structure with stone foundation and corrugated metal siding.  In the milling operation believed used at this facility, the asbestos ore was first crushed to a normal, even size and then dried.  Fiber extraction then occured through a series of crushing operations, each followed by vacuum aspiration of the ore running on a vibrating screen.  On the screen, the fibers were released from the ore and collected into a vacuum system.  Fibers recovered from consecutive vibrating screens were brought to cyclone separators, and the air filtered to remove the finer, suspended fibers.

The property was brought to EPA's attention by the Maryland Dept of the Environment.  After an initial assessment, a non-emergency Removal Action primarily intended to secure building openings was initiated by the OSC in a Special Bulletin dated August 11, 2009.  More recent sampling data and conditions warranted a time-critical action. A time-critical Action Memorandum for the site, concurred on by HQ, was signed on June 8, 2010. In addition, a memorandum authorizing demolition and compensation to the property owner was approved by the Region and HQ on this date.

EPA will be conducting removal activities at the site in order to deconstruct the facility and remove/cover soil which may pose a threat to public health and/or the environment.  During activities which will cause significant disturbance of interior dust or outdoor soils, air samples periodically will be collected from personal sampling devices on cleanup personnel to determine if proper levels of protection are being used at the site.  Additional air samples will be collected along the perimeter of the site to confirm that engineering controls are protective of the surrounding community.

Current Activities
07/05 - New garage essentially complete except for some minor repair checks. OSC Kelly was not on site last week. OSC Wenning informed Kelly that all 22 listed items of concern identified by the owner about the garage were addressed by the ERRS RM and Rasche Bros. Most were minor and implementd, some were not appropriate for EPA to implement. (The ERRS RM and OSC Kelly agreed on these.)  Repairs/corrections were performed and the owner was informed what we would not implement. (The list of items appears in the site file and the OSC noted in his log book which items he concluded did not warrant correction.)  The OSC agreed to painting of the smaller garage room.

07/06 - ERRS excavating and stockpiling soil for disposal. START collected four composite soil samples in area where ERRS will backfill so resident/future owner knows soil concentrations.  Awaiting backfill sample results for metals and asbestos given location (MD quarry) of source.
- TRasche here for last minute work.  Finished today.
- Finance audit of the site confirmed for week of August 22.
- The owner has had several trees delivered for planting.  I asked him to sketch out where he intends to plant them (I will discuss with MDE per their expected Environmental Covenant terms).

07/07 - Weston engineer Mackie here. We discussed grading, driveway placement, water flow to bio retention filter.  Bob thinks we will not need a pipe running from curb to filter system.  He will get back to us.
- The OSC asked START for the results from the ~25 soil samples collected from the back of the property near the fenceline weeks ago.
-  TCLP and asbestos results for the stockpiled soil arrived.  No TCLP exceedances and asbestos was 1.2% (although we know the soil values are highly variable).

07/08 -  A resident contacted State Representatives and County officials by email concerned about rodents, insects, the duration of the project, respiratory ailments. The OSC emailed back offering to meet and coorrdinated with County officials.
- JCarroll of MDE Land Recycling Program stopped by.  The OSC gave him a tour and update.
- OSC arranging to re-initiate perimeter air sampling next week as a prudent measure although levels of concern are not expected based on proposed activities.
- confirmed site coverage by fellow OSCs at the site for when OSC Kelly is at asbestos confernce and on vacation.

07/09 - ERRS continues excavation and stockpiling.  The OSC hand-mailed a status email to one of the residents targeted for yard cleanup.

07/11 - ERRS beginning to backfill area of old facility footprint nearest the back fence. Orange fencing placed over area before backfilling. START taking asbestos perimeter samples. Art O'Connell of MDE Haz Site Cleanup Program stopped by for status and tour.

07/12 - OSC not present due to sampling in Philadelphia.

07/13 - Per further discusssion with engineer BMackie, the driveway curb needs to be extended ~ 5 feet for proper storm water flow. More fill dirt dropped off.  Uncovered a few large slabs of concrete rather deep below grade (below old facility concrete floor). These do not have asbestos fibers and will go for recycling.
- The owner expressed concerns to the OSC about the tightness of garage doors, air seeping in, why couldn't Rasche Bros leave more insulation and wood for him?........the OSC merely listened and departed.

07/14 - ERRS working on extension of curb. Surveying and grading first.
Uncovered cements slabs were picked up by transporter for recycling. The OSC sent fact sheet items to CRC TTaylor and added photos to the OSC website for Fact Sheet #4.

07/15 - BMackie here to go over curb area. Concluded that adding a pre-fab trench drain across the driveway (12') leading to bio filter system is the best way to go.
- START collected samples from fill material for asbestos/metals analyses (expected clean but doing as precautionary measure).  The OSC forwarded a TDD amendment to regional office but may not be needed.
- ERRS filled 30 cu yd container with bagged ACM stored here near the trailer. Transporter picked up for disposal at Cumberland County LF.
- ERRS working on soil profiles to begin transport and disposal.

07/16 - OSC completed powerpoint presentation for site.
- Sent status email to one resident whose yard is targeted for cleanup and hand delivered status letters to two others residences.

Planned Removal Actions
- Extend curb and put in trench drain.
- Get materials for and build micro bio retention filter
- Transport and dispose of stockpiled soil.
- Grade and lay down fill over former processing facility footprint.
- Transport owner's personal items in five conex boxes to new garage.

Next Steps
See above

Disposition Of Wastes
Friable and Non-Friable asbestos-containing waste (ACM) has been disposed of. This includes porous, contaminated personal items and demolition waste. Beginning in late July, asbestos-contaminated soil will be disposed of.

Approximately twenty 30 cu yd containers of concrete were sent off for recycling to Machado Construction primarily from May 13 to June 6 after demolition.

The demolition subcontractor arranged for the recycling of approximately ten containers of scrap steel.

Personal "white good" items that were cleaned of asbestos but identified as not needed by the owner were sent off to the local county landfill for disposal.

Waste Stream	Quantity	Manifest #	Disposal Facility
Asbestos from interior cleaning	9.33 tons	057176	Old Dominion Landfill, Richmond, VA 10/16/10
Asbestos from interior cleaning	7.50 tons	057177	Old Dominion Landfill, Richmond, VA 11/11/10
Asbestos from interior cleaning	3.49 tons	057178	Old Dominion Landfill, Richmond, VA 12/17/10
Asbestos " "	1.92 tons	057183	Old Dominion Landfill, Richmond, VA 02/24/11