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Accelerated Remediation at a Region 1 Residential Clean-up Site Using PHILIS On-site Analytical Laboratories
Oral Presentation
Prepared by J. Capri1, M. Nalipinski2, T. Smith3
1 - CSS-Dynamac Corporation, 2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ, 08837
2 - U.S. Environmental protection Agency/ Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA, 02109
3 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, Washington, DC, 20460
Contact Information: Kaelin.Lawrence@epa.gov; 732-321-6625
ABSTRACT
In the spring of 2011, heavy rains flooded Stevens Brook, in St. Albans, VT. Residents at the Colony Square Apartments in St. Albans noticed coal tar waste in a sump in their basement. Residential properties north of the Colony Square Apartment were a former EPA removal site where more than 4,000 tons of PAH-contaminated soils were excavated and disposed of off-site in 2005. The City of St. Albans municipal employees noticed coal tar wastes in several area manholes, while residents in the area noted an oily odor causing the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) to temporarily stabilize the situation. After Hurricane Irene and associated heavy rains exacerbated the situation in the fall of 2011, VT DEC requested assistance from Region 1 EPA to determine whether coal tar waste contamination exists at the Colony Square apartments and on residential properties abutting Stevens Brook.
On May 7th, 2012 the Region 1 conducted surface and subsurface soil, sump water, sediment, soil gas, and indoor air sampling of select residential properties along Stevens Brook to determine the extent of coal tar waste contamination. Rapid, on site analytical results were provided by the EPA’s Office of Emergency Management’s CBRN Consequence Management and Advisory Team (CMAT) using their mobile laboratory assets called PHILIS. PHILIS, which stands for Portable High-throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System, is a mobile laboratory platform accredited through the NELAC program and holds membership in EPA’s Environmental Response Laboratory Network (ERLN). The contaminants of concern included benzene, naphthalene and SVOCs, particularly PAHs. In the course of approximately 4 days, over 250 samples were collected and analyzed on-site for contamination. The PHILIS provided same-day confirmatory data, allowing the OSC to make on-site decision without the need for a secondary confirmation via outside fixed lab. Region 1 OSC Mike Nalipinski was able to confer with the VT DEC representatives on a daily basis using the most recent PAH analytical data which was summarized and depicted on site maps allowing for better interpretation and clearer presentations. The OSC prepared a Time Critical Removal Action Memo (RAM) recommending soil excavation at the Colony Apartments and the installation of a system to mitigate in-door air contamination posed by the coal tar wastes. The PHILIS on-site analysis helped Region 1OSC Mike Nalipinski to:
• Direct on-going soil coring activities – maximize usage of contractor on-site assets
• Capture the boundaries of the vertical and horizontal extent of soil contamination in a single mobilization
• Determine the source and extent of the in-door air contamination in the apartment complex
• Provide rapid, on-site confirmatory data for daily decisions, briefings to local authorities (VT DEC)
• Reduce number and longevity of site visits normally required to support a Time Critical RAM
• Direct excavation activities based on data from a single site mobilization – “one and done” concept
The on-site abilities provided by PHILIS allowed the OSC to complete all the site soil assessments, excavation, removal and site restoration activities within 90 days of the initial site visit. Estimations of actual analytical cost/sample from the St. Albans site effort were determined to be below most commercial lab costs, ranging from $250-325/sample which included fuel, mob/demob costs, travel, pre deim, sample analysis, QA review and report writing. The greatest time and cost savings are to the OSC by allowing the most effective use of their site assets in an accelerated time frame. The mobilization to the Region 1’s St. Albans site has provided CMAT with useful experience and “lessons learned” which will be used to further reduce costs for future PHILIS mobilizations. This on-site analytical support via PHILIS can be provided to regional OSCs across the country.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by J. Capri1, M. Nalipinski2, T. Smith3
1 - CSS-Dynamac Corporation, 2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ, 08837
2 - U.S. Environmental protection Agency/ Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA, 02109
3 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, Washington, DC, 20460
Contact Information: Kaelin.Lawrence@epa.gov; 732-321-6625
ABSTRACT
In the spring of 2011, heavy rains flooded Stevens Brook, in St. Albans, VT. Residents at the Colony Square Apartments in St. Albans noticed coal tar waste in a sump in their basement. Residential properties north of the Colony Square Apartment were a former EPA removal site where more than 4,000 tons of PAH-contaminated soils were excavated and disposed of off-site in 2005. The City of St. Albans municipal employees noticed coal tar wastes in several area manholes, while residents in the area noted an oily odor causing the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) to temporarily stabilize the situation. After Hurricane Irene and associated heavy rains exacerbated the situation in the fall of 2011, VT DEC requested assistance from Region 1 EPA to determine whether coal tar waste contamination exists at the Colony Square apartments and on residential properties abutting Stevens Brook.
On May 7th, 2012 the Region 1 conducted surface and subsurface soil, sump water, sediment, soil gas, and indoor air sampling of select residential properties along Stevens Brook to determine the extent of coal tar waste contamination. Rapid, on site analytical results were provided by the EPA’s Office of Emergency Management’s CBRN Consequence Management and Advisory Team (CMAT) using their mobile laboratory assets called PHILIS. PHILIS, which stands for Portable High-throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System, is a mobile laboratory platform accredited through the NELAC program and holds membership in EPA’s Environmental Response Laboratory Network (ERLN). The contaminants of concern included benzene, naphthalene and SVOCs, particularly PAHs. In the course of approximately 4 days, over 250 samples were collected and analyzed on-site for contamination. The PHILIS provided same-day confirmatory data, allowing the OSC to make on-site decision without the need for a secondary confirmation via outside fixed lab. Region 1 OSC Mike Nalipinski was able to confer with the VT DEC representatives on a daily basis using the most recent PAH analytical data which was summarized and depicted on site maps allowing for better interpretation and clearer presentations. The OSC prepared a Time Critical Removal Action Memo (RAM) recommending soil excavation at the Colony Apartments and the installation of a system to mitigate in-door air contamination posed by the coal tar wastes. The PHILIS on-site analysis helped Region 1OSC Mike Nalipinski to:
• Direct on-going soil coring activities – maximize usage of contractor on-site assets
• Capture the boundaries of the vertical and horizontal extent of soil contamination in a single mobilization
• Determine the source and extent of the in-door air contamination in the apartment complex
• Provide rapid, on-site confirmatory data for daily decisions, briefings to local authorities (VT DEC)
• Reduce number and longevity of site visits normally required to support a Time Critical RAM
• Direct excavation activities based on data from a single site mobilization – “one and done” concept
The on-site abilities provided by PHILIS allowed the OSC to complete all the site soil assessments, excavation, removal and site restoration activities within 90 days of the initial site visit. Estimations of actual analytical cost/sample from the St. Albans site effort were determined to be below most commercial lab costs, ranging from $250-325/sample which included fuel, mob/demob costs, travel, pre deim, sample analysis, QA review and report writing. The greatest time and cost savings are to the OSC by allowing the most effective use of their site assets in an accelerated time frame. The mobilization to the Region 1’s St. Albans site has provided CMAT with useful experience and “lessons learned” which will be used to further reduce costs for future PHILIS mobilizations. This on-site analytical support via PHILIS can be provided to regional OSCs across the country.