Draft Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis for the Sumas Mountain Asbestos (Aka Swift Creek) Site
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Draft Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis Sumas Mountain Asbestos (aka Swift Creek) Site Whatcom County, Washington TDD: 12-02-0006 Prepared for: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 1200 Sixth Avenue, ECL-113 Seattle, Washington 98102 Prepared by: Ecology and Environment, Inc. 720 Third Avenue, Suite 1700 Seattle, Washington 98104 July 2013 This page intentionally left blank. 10:START-3\12-09-0003 ii Table of Contents Executive Summary.................................................................................xi 1 Introduction ..............................................................................1-1 2 Site Characterization................................................................2-1 2.1 Site Description and History ............................................................................ 2-1 2.1.1 Site Ownership History ........................................................................ 2-1 2.1.2 Site Operations and Waste Characteristics........................................... 2-1 2.2 Physical Characteristics of the Site .................................................................. 2-3 2.2.1 Topography and Hydrology ................................................................. 2-3 2.2.2 Geology and Hydrogeology ................................................................. 2-3 2.2.3 Soils...................................................................................................... 2-4 2.2.4 Meteorology ......................................................................................... 2-4 2.2.5 Sensitive Ecosystems ........................................................................... 2-5 2.3 Surrounding Land Uses.................................................................................... 2-5 2.4 Previous Investigations and Removal Actions................................................. 2-5 2.5 Source, Nature and Extent of Contamination................................................. 2-10 2.5.1 Soil, Sediment, and Dredge Material ................................................. 2-10 2.5.2 Airborne Exposure to Sediment/Dredge Material.............................. 2-11 2.5.3 Surface Water..................................................................................... 2-12 2.5.4 Groundwater....................................................................................... 2-12 2.6 Streamlined Risk Evaluation.......................................................................... 2-12 3 Removal Action Objectives .....................................................3-1 3.1 Statutory Considerations on Removal Actions ................................................ 3-1 3.2 Determination of Removal Action Scope and Objectives ............................... 3-1 3.2.1 Removal Action Scope......................................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 Removal Action Objectives ................................................................. 3-1 3.3 Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements .................................. 3-2 3.4 Determination of Removal Schedule ............................................................... 3-2 4 Removal Action Alternatives...................................................4-1 4.1 Identification of Removal Action Alternatives ................................................ 4-1 4.2 Description of Removal Action Alternatives ................................................... 4-1 4.2.1 Alternative A1: No Action ................................................................... 4-1 4.2.2 Alternative A2: Institutional Controls and Access Restrictions........... 4-2 4.2.3 Alternative A3: Annual Dredging and Hauling ................................... 4-2 4.2.4 Alternative A4: Sediment Basins, Setback Levees, and In- Stream Sediment Traps ........................................................................ 4-3 5 Analysis of Removal Action Alternatives...............................5-1 5.1 Individual Analysis of Alternatives.................................................................. 5-2 5.1.1 Alternative A1 – No Action .................................................................... 5-2 5.1.2 Alternative A2 – Institutional Controls and Access Restrictions......... 5-3 5.1.3 Alternative A3 – Annual Dredging and Hauling.................................. 5-5 10:START-3\12-09-0003 iii Table of Contents (cont.) Section Page 5.1.4 Alternative A4 – Sediment Basins, Setback Levees, and In- Stream Sediment Traps ........................................................................ 5-6 5.2 Comparative Analysis of Alternatives ............................................................. 5-8 6 Recommended Removal Action Alternative ..........................6-1 7 References................................................................................7-1 A Summary of EPA 2012 Sampling Events......................................... A-1 B Analytical Data Reports and Validation Memoranda for EPA 2012 Sampling Events ............................................................ B-1 C Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements................. C-1 D Conceptual Design Drawings from SCSMAP Phase 1 Implementation Plan ............................................................... D-1 E Removal Action Alternative Cost Estimate Details......................... E-1 10:START-3\12-09-0003 iv List of Tables Table Page 5-1 Cost Estimate, Alternative A2, Institutional Controls and Access Restrictions...... 5-11 5-2 Cost Estimate, Alternative A3, Annual Dredging and Hauling for 10 Years.......... 5-12 5-3 Cost Estimate, Alternative A4, Sediment Basins, Setback Levees, and In- Stream Sediment Traps............................................................................................ 5-13 10:START-3\12-09-0003 v This page intentionally left blank. 10:START-3\12-09-0003 vi List of Figures Figure Page 1-1 Site Location Map...................................................................................................... 1-2 2-1 Site Layout Map....................................................................................................... 2-19 2-2 Swift Creek Alluvial Fan and Sumas River Floodplain........................................... 2-20 4-1 Alternative A1, No Action......................................................................................... 4-5 4-2 Alternative A2, Institutional Controls and Access Restrictions ................................ 4-6 4-3 Alternative A3, Annual Dredging and Hauling ......................................................... 4-7 4-4 Alternative A4, Sediment Basins, Setback Levees, and In-Stream Sediment Traps .......................................................................................................................... 4-8 10:START-3\12-09-0003 vii This page intentionally left blank. 10:START-3\12-09-0003 viii List of Abbreviations Abbreviation Definition °F degrees Fahrenheit % percent ARAR applicable or relevant and appropriate requirement ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Ca:Mg Calcium to magnesium CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act CFR Code of Federal Regulations Converse Converse Davis Dixon Associates, Inc. COPC contaminants of potential concern CPF cancer potency factor Corps United States Army Corps of Engineers DI deionized E & E Ecology and Environment, Inc. EE/CA Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency ESU Evolutionarily Significant Unit f/cc fibers per cubic centimeter GWL Great Western Lumber Company IA integrated assessment IRIS Integrated Risk Information System KWL Kerr Wood Leidal Associates, Limited µm micrometers MCL maximum contaminant level MFL millions of fibers per liter mg/kg milligrams per kilogram mg/L milligrams per liter mi2 square miles NCP National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration PCME phase-contrast microscopy equivalent PEL permissible exposure limit 10:START-3\12-09-0003 ix List of Abbreviations and Acronyms (cont.) PLM polarized light microscopy PSE Pacific Surveying and Engineering, Inc. RAO removal action objective s/cc structures per cubic centimeter SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act SCSMAP Swift Creek Sediment Management Action Plan SCS Soil Conservation Service Site Sumas Mountain Asbestos (aka Swift Creek) Site SPLP Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure START Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team TAL Target Analyte List TBC to-be-considered TDD Technical Direction Document TEM transmission electron microscopy WDOE Washington State Department of Ecology WDFW Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife WDOH Washington State Department of Health WRCC Western Regional Climate Center yd3 cubic yards 10:START-3\12-09-0003 x Executive Summary This Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis (EE/CA) was prepared for the Sumas Mountain Asbestos (aka Swift Creek) Site (site) in Whatcom County, approximately 12 miles northeast of Bellingham, Washington. Swift Creek flows west from Sumas Mountain and enters the Sumas River near the towns of Everson and Nooksack, Washington. Swift Creek originates in a landslide area on Sumas Mountain, and the geological landslide material includes naturally occurring asbestos. Every year, an estimated 150,000 cubic yards (yd3) of sediment containing naturally occurring asbestos is transported