Pollution/Situation Report Profile

35th Avenue Site
Birmingham, AL - EPA Region IV
POLREP #8
Progress

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
35th Avenue Site - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV

Subject:

POLREP #8
Progress
35th Avenue Site
B4M3RV00
Birmingham, AL
Latitude: 33.5627531 Longitude: -86.7989565

To:

From:

Richard Jardine, On-Scene Coordinator

Date:

4/25/2014

Reporting Period:

3/29/2014 to 4/25/2014

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	B4M3RV00	Contract Number:	EP-S4-07-02
D.O. Number:	00034	Action Memo Date:	9/25/2013
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Time-Critical
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	2/17/2014	Start Date:	2/18/2014
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:	ALN000410750	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:	SEP 2013
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

EPA has identified approximately 50 properties in the Birmingham communities of Fairmont, Harriman Park, and Collegeville that exhibit levels of soil contamination that exceed, either threefold or a magnitude of measure, Region 4 residential removal management levels for lead, arsenic, and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition to contamination deposited by airborne means over the previous 100 years, these properties likely received fill material from one or more of the local industrial businesses. For further discussion of background information, please refer to previous POLREPs for this Site.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

The following activities were accomplished during this reporting period:

ERRS continues to maintain the Command Post area located at the old Carver High School, 3400 33rd Terrace North, Birmingham, AL. Some of the Command Post activity is to maintain and improve engineering controls to manage storm water runoff due to the routine heavy and persistent storms that have been so dominant in the Southeast throughout this project. Other ERRS activity at this location is the constant management of contaminated soil excavated from the properties as well as clean fill and topsoil. For safety, CMC has reengineered the egress from the contaminated stockpile area. The new egress allows truck drivers far more visibility as they enter 34th Street North.

Other ERRS activity was to remove trees, stumps, other vegetative waste, fencing, and debris from properties in preparation of excavation efforts. CMC conducted preparation work on parcels CV0242 and CV0240, CV0244, CV0232, CV0060, and FM 0075. CMC completed excavation and backfill on CV0240, CV0242, CV0246, and HP0228. CMC completed backfill on the remaining out parcel at HP0192. CMC also laid sod on parcels HP0204, CV0186, CV0035, CV0038, and CV0629.

EPA continues to meet with property owners on an ad hoc basis at the Command Post to answer questions regarding the pending excavation efforts and respond to their concerns. During this reporting period, EPA also conducted scheduled interviews with property owners in anticipation of beginning removal activity on their parcel, several media interviews, and a public gathering at the Harriman Park Community Center.

START continues to monitor site conditions including air monitoring and sampling as well as removal documentation and soil profiling as directed by the OSC. Air sampling has included periodic personnel air sampling on a representative ground technician and an excavator operator.

2.2 Planning Section

The following activities are planned at the Site during the next reporting period:

Continue work at properties cleared including CV0244, CV0060, CV0232, and FM0351;
Begin T&D for contaminated soil;
Prepare CV0226, CV0228, CV0230, and CV0885. Work at both CV0230 and CV0885 is dependent upon each respective owner to move property items as agreed during the preoperations interview.

Issues:

Frequent rains have hindered progress - additional work has been performed as necessary to prevent spread of contamination during removal operations.
EPAs decision to optimize operations while minimizing impact to community members has led to a strategy of including some properties in this phase of the removal action that were expected to be addressed in a subsequent phase of work. This strategy has included such tactics as removing a fence only once and excavation two properties sequentially. Although the cost is greater for this phase or the removal effort, specific activities will not have to be repeated (removing a fence twice) and subsequent phases of action will realize a cost saving.

2.3 Logistics Section