UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION III 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029
SUBJECT: 5-Year Review for Wade (ABM) Site
FROM: Jim Feeney, 3HS21 Region III
TO: Carol M. Bass
Attached please find a copy of the second Five-Year Reviw conducted for the Wade (ABM) Superfund Site. I hear you are the designated recipient of the final, signed Five-Year Reviews.
This report describes the activities conducted for the current Five-Year Review, states that the O&M program is being conducted appropriately, and includes a certification that the Site remains protective of human health and the environment.
Customer Service Hotline: 1-800-438-2474 FIVE-YEAR REVIEW REPORT
WADE (ABM) SUPERFUND SITE
CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA
Prepared by:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WADE (ABM) SUPERFUND SITE CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA FIVE-YEAR REVIEW REPORT
1.0 Introduction
EPA has conducted a five-year review of the remedial action at Wade ABM Superfund Site (“Site”) located in Chester, Pennsylvania (see the Site diagram in Figure 1). Section 121(c) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liabilities Act (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), and Section 300.430(f)(4)(ii) of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan mandate that a remedial action be reviewed no less often than every five years after initiation of the remedial action, at sites where hazardous substances, pollutants of contaminants remain above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. Five-year reviews are conducted in accordance with the guidance document, “Structure and Components of Five-Year Reviews, OSWER (Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response) Directive 9355.7-02, May 23, 1991.
Because the Record of Decision (ROD) for this Site was issued prior to the enactment of SARA, this review was not required by statute. EPA has, however, instituted a policy to conduct five-year reviews at pre-SARA sites which have contaminants remaining on-site. The objective of the five-year review is to evaluate whether the remedial action implemented at the Site remains protective of public health and the environment. Wade was deleted from the National Priorities List (NPL) on March 23, 1989.
2.0 Summary of the Remedial Action
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final Record of Decision (ROD) for the Wade ABM Superfund Site in August, 1984. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) concurred with the ROD and was given the status of lead-agency to remediate the Site.
Hydrogeological studies conducted during the Remedial Investigation showed that contaminated groundwater flowing from the Site discharges into the directly adjacent Delaware River. These studies further indicated that if the upper five feet of contaminated soil were removed from the Site, the continued leaching of the remaining soil contaminants to the groundwater and the subsequent flow of contaminated groundwater into the Delaware River would have a negligible impact on the river’s quality.
The ROD described the remedial actions to be implemented at the Site, including the demolition and removal of fire-damaged buildings, excavation of contaminated soil to a maximum depth of five feet, removal and disposal of that soil, backfilling, regrading and contouring the Site with imported fill and covering the entire Site with a vegetated topsoil cap. The selected remedial action also required the installation of a security fence and the Figure 1. Site Diagram implementation of a long term Operation and Maintenance (O&M) program consisting of annual groundwater monitoring and Site inspections along with maintenance to the fence and cap when necessary. As the lead agency, PADER conducted the remedial actions and also agreed to conduct the O&M on a yearly basis beginning in 1989.
EPA has received and reviewed the annual summaries of the work conducted by the state as well as the results from annual sampling events since the O&M program commenced.
3.0 Summary of the Operation and Maintenance Plan
According to the 1984 ROD and the O&M Plan, the Site is required to undergo the following O&M activities:
1. Site Inspection: Visual inspection of surface conditions and monitoring wells.
2. Installation of Upgradient Monitoring Wells: The ROD required additional upgradient monitoring well clusters in off-site locations for monitoring groundwater quality before it flows under the Site, however, the O&M Plan concluded that two of the existing wells would adequately provide this information.
3. Water Sampling: Annually to monitor groundwater quality.
4. Laboratory Analysis: Groundwater samples will be analyzed for contaminants, with a reevaluation of sampling protocol after five years.
5. Replacement of Monitoring Wells: As necessary. (In 1994, a total of eight additional monitoring wells were installed and some of the older wells were abandoned. The new wells were incorporated into the O&M Plan activities and the first sampling event for these wells was January 4, 1995.)
6. Well Maintenance and Rehabilitation: Every five years.
7. Topsoil Maintenance: Every two years.
8. Mowing of Grass: Yearly, during the growing season, as needed.
4.0 Scope of Work
The technical approach for conducting this five-year review was formulated based on information contained in OSWER Directives 9320.2-3A and 9355.7-02. The approach used included performance of the following three tasks:
1. Review of Background and Current O&M Information 2. Site Walkover 3. Preparation of the Summary Report Activities associated with tasks 1 and 2 are described below.
4.1 Review of Background and Current O&M Information
For background information, EPA reviewed the Wade site file located at EPA Region III office in Philadelphia, PA. Categories of information available there include Site Identification, Remedial Enforcement Planning, Remedial Response Planning, Remedial Enforcement Implementation, and Remedial Implementation.
As the operation and maintenance phase of the Wade Site continues to be conducted by the state of Pennsylvania, EPA reviewed the collective progress reports submitted by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, (PADEP, formerly PADER) describing the maintenance activities performed since the last five-year review conducted in 1993. Summaries of the progress reports are included as Attachment 1.
In 1994, PADEP arranged for the monitoring well network to be upgraded. Some of the original wells were abandoned and a total of eight additional wells were installed, as detailed in the Operations and Maintenance Report for 1994. This Report is also contained in Attachment 1.
4.2 Site Walkover
On May 11, 1998, a site walkover was conducted by the EPA Remedial Project Manager assigned to this site. Inspection of the landfill cap showed good vegetative covering. No areas of erosion were evident and the security fence and monitoring wells were in good repair.
5.0 Conclusions/Recommendations
The remedy as selected in the 1984 ROD for this Site was determined to be protective of human health and the environment due to the clean soil cap and the negligible affect of the contaminants on water quality of the Delaware River. As demonstrated in the O&M reports, the on-site groundwater contamination has consistently continued to decrease with time, further reducing the already negligible impact to the Delaware River. The security fence and cap remain intact, thereby continuing to act as barriers minimizing the potential for direct exposure to the residual contaminants at the Site.
The greatest decrease in the underlying groundwater contamination occurred soon after the removal of the contaminated soils. Data taken from sampling conducted under the operation and maintenance program in 1991, shows the levels of contamination dropping several orders of magnitude from levels presented in the 1984 ROD (see Table 1).
The State of Pennsylvania continues to implement the Site operation and maintenance program in accordance with the original O&M plan as modified by the well network upgrade in 1994, with reports submitted to EPA. With the State conducting O&M, and the remedy continuing to be protective, EPA has no further recommendations at this time. 6.0 Statement on Protectiveness
I certify that the remedy selected for this Site continues to be protective of human health and the environment.
7.0 Next Five-Year Review
The next five-year review will be scheduled and conducted in 2004. It is anticipated that with further groundwater data available and the continuing decrease in contamination, EPA may recommend that five-year reviews be discontinued at that time. TABLE 1. COMPARISON OF ROD DATA WITH 1991 SAMPLING DATA FOR THE WADE(ABM) SUPERFUND SITE
Contaminant ROD Data(ppb) 1991 Data(ppb)
Methylene Chloride B4A - 11400 B4A - ns B3A - 114 B3A - 7
Acetone B4A - 135000 B4A - 130
1,1 Dichloroethane B4A - 3400 B4A - ND
Chloroform B4A - 27000 B4A - ND B8 - 146 B8 - ns B8A - 144 B8A - ns B4 - 55 B4 - ND B3 - 50 B3 - ND
1,2 Dichloroethane B3A - 6500 B3A - 2 B8A - 282 B8A - ns B4 - 88 B4 - ND B6 - 74 B6 - 49 B8 - 30 B8 - ns
1, 1, 1 Trichloroethane B4A - 21600 B4A - ND B8A - 425 B8A - ns B8 - 77 B8 - ns B4 - 72 B4 - ND B3 - 49 B3 - ND B1A - 10 B1A - ND
1,2 Dichloropropane B3A - 7050 B3A - 12 B4A - 1780 B4A - 65 B9 - 450 B9 - ns B9A - 237 B9A - ns B5A - 229 B5A - ns B2 - 56 B2 - ns B8A - 35 B8A - ns B8 - 19 B8 - ns
Trichloroethene B4AB - 5300 B4AB - 320 B4 - 24 B4 - ND B3 - 17 B3 - ND
Benzene B4A - 3100 B4A - ND B6 - <2 B6 - ND B6A - <2 B6A - ND
Tetrachloroethene B8A - 21 B8A - ns B9 - 12 B9 - ns
Toluene B4A -12400 B4A - ND B6 - <2 B6 - ND B6A - <2 B6A - ND
Chlorobenzene B2 - 2200 B2 - ns B6 - 56 B6 - ND
Ethyl Benzene B4A - 730 B4A - ND B6 - 14 B6 - ND
Key: ns - not sampled ND - Not Detected ATTACHMENT 1
Summary O & M Reports Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Lee Park, Suite 6010 555 North Lane Conshohocken, PA 19428 February 22, 1998
Southeast Regional Office 610-832-5949 Fax 610-832-6143
Mr. James Feeney Remedial Project Manager U.S. EPA Region III (3HW21) 841 Chestnut Building Philadelphia, PA 19107
Re: Wade Site O&M
Dear Mr. Feeney:
I have enclosed the annual Operations and Maintenance sampling data for the Wade ABM site. I have included my “hits tables”, my data summary (showing data from 1994 - 1997) and the first portion of the data package supplied by Quaterra, Inc. which conducted analysis of the groundwater samples. The full laboratory data package is available for review in the Department’s regional records.
In addition to well sampling, the site was mowed on three occasions (June, August, and November). Brush was removed from the edge of the fence by the mowing contractor.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed information, please feel free to contact me at (610) 832-6206.
Sincerely,
Dustin A. Armstrong Project Officer Environmental Cleanup
Enclosure cc: Mr. Zang Mr. Danyliw Ms. Tremont File Re 30 (jd)9853
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer http: www.dep.state.pa.us Printed on Recycled Paper Wade Operations and Maintenance Sampling Volatile Organic Compounds
LEVEL (ug/L) Compound detected MW-1 S MW-1 D MW-2 MW-3S MW-3D 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 VOC’s Chloroethane 1,1 Dichloroethene 1,1-Dichloroethane 1 1 1 Benzene 15000 4600 1300 630 4 2 6 6 Trichloroethene Chlorobenzene 3 1,2-Dichloropropane 11 1,2-Dichloroethene (total) Toluene 91 1 Ethylbenzene 82 7 Xylene (total) 72 21 Vinyl Chloride Chloroform 1,2-Dichloroethane 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 4-Methyl-2-pentanone Methylene Chloride 5 5 9 54 7 5 5 Acetone 6 6 6 7 Carbon Disulfide 2622 Chloromethane Total Volatiles 1 1 11 0 0 0 11 11 15028 4600 1354 642 0 18 29 4 2 21 8
Page 1 Wade Operations and Maintenance Sampling Volatile Organic Compounds
Compound detected MW-4S MW-4D MW-5S MW-5D MW-6S 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 VOC’s Chloroethane 23 38 22 6 41 1,1 Dichloroethene 1 1,1-Dichloroethane 1 3 1 19 20 21 17 1 2 5 9 Benzene 11 3 5 100 77 27 35 34 29 21 20 15 3 2 1 2 Trichloroethene 3 1 9 3 3 2 Chlorobenzene 2 12 7 7 130 120 110 150 2 3 2 1 1,2-Dichloropropane 41 27 19 7 1 2 1,2-Dichloroethene (total) 25 5 4 1 6 Toluene 46 1 1 Ethylbenzene 37 12 3 2 2 Xylene (total) 34 10 Vinyl Chloride 12 4 2 7 Chloroform 1 1,2-Dichloroethane 4212 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 4 4-Methyl-2-pentanone 10 9 Methylene Chloride 5 5 5 5 1 5 4 Acetone 5 5 4 12 Carbon Disulfide Chloromethane 6 Total Volatiles 14 0 20 6 112 84 38 42 429 255 219 196 17 7 11 8 27 9 72 31
Page 2 Wade Operations and Maintenance Sampling Volatile Organic Compounds
Compound detected MW-6D MW-7S MW-7D MW-8 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 VOC’s Chloroethane 17 18 13 31 41 45 17 1,1 Dichloroethene 1 1,1-Dichloroethane 42 6 7 5 Benzene 15 29 28 20 Trichloroethene 2 7 5 4 4 3 Chlorobenzene 3 2 1 5 4 5 4 1,2-Dichloropropane 3 2 2 15 14 15 13 1,2-Dichloroethene (total) 9 8 8 6 Toluene 1 Ethylbenzene Xylene (total) 3 Vinyl Chloride Chloroform 1,2-Dichloroethane 20 13 13 36 39 37 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 4-Methyl-2-pentanone 4 Methylene Chloride 4 5 4 5 Acetone 10 3 6 Carbon Disulfide 2 Chloromethane Total Volatiles 2617220 1718300 7873856953708937
Page 3 Wade ABM O and M Sampling Results Semi-Volatiles
LEVEL (ug/L) Compound detected MW-1 S MW-1 D MW-2 MW-3S MW-3D 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 SVOC’s Flourene Acenaphthene 2-Methylnaphthalene Di-n-Butylphthalate 1 1 Fluoranthene 2 2 Pyrene 4 0.9 bis(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthala 15 3 160 1 2 2 2 1 2 17 1 2 Phenol 12 11 20 0.5 Naphthalene 3 421 0.6 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichlorobenzene Isophorone Diethylphthalate Phenanthrene 1 1 Anthracene Chrysene Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(b)flouranthene Benzo(a)pyrene Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene Benzo(g,h,i)perylene 4-Chloraniline Pentachlorophenol 0.6 0.5 Benzo(k)flouranthene Dibenzo(a,h)anthrcene N-Nitrodiphenylamine(1) Total SVOC’s 15 10 3.6 0 161 1 1.4 2 15 15 22 3 2 1 2 18 1 1.1 2
Page 1 Wade ABM O and M Sampling Results Semi-Volatiles
Compound detected MW-4S MW-4D MW-5S MW-5D MW-6S 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 SVOC’s Flourene 4 Acenaphthene 2 2-Methylnaphthalene 11 1 Di-n-Butylphthalate Fluoranthene 62 Pyrene 74 bis(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthala 4 1 3 1 1 3 2 1 0.7 130 3 2 Phenol 1 4 5 1 3 2 3 Naphthalene 21 2 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 111 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 3 1 2 19 24 19 28 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 4 1 2 14 16 11 20 Isophorone 55 2 Diethylphthalate Phenanthrene 10 Anthracene 2 Chrysene 2 Benzo(a)anthracene 2 Benzo(b)flouranthene 0.7 2 Benzo(a)pyrene 0.8 2 Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene 0.9 2 Benzo(g,h,i)perylene 0.9 3 4-Chloraniline 318 Pentachlorophenol Benzo(k)flouranthene 0.8 Dibenzo(a,h)anthrcene 0.8 N-Nitrodiphenylamine(1) Total SVOC’s 4 0 6.9 3 5 13 6 6 46 50 34.7 57 0 0 0 0 177 8 6 2
Page 2 Wade ABM O and M Sampling Results Semi-Volatiles
Compound detected MW-6D MW-7S MW-7D MW-8 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997 SVOC’s Flourene 3 7 3 4 2 1 0.6 1 Acenaphthene 16 35 15 23 14 10 4 8 2-Methylnaphthalene 4 Di-n-Butylphthalate 1 1 1 Fluoranthene 3 18 2 7 2 1 Pyrene 0.7 4 30 4 14 4 2 0.6 bis(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthala 0.8 4 20 0.7 2 2 2 7 2 9 1 Phenol 1 0.5 1 5 Naphthalene 2 2 3 1 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichlorobenzene Isophorone Diethylphthalate 1 Phenanthrene 27 6 16 4 4 2 3 Anthracene 4 0.7 2 Chrysene 2 0.5 Benzo(a)anthracene 0.5 Benzo(b)flouranthene 1 Benzo(a)pyrene Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene Benzo(g,h,i)perylene 6 2 4-Chloraniline Pentachlorophenol Benzo(k)flouranthene Dibenzo(a,h)anthrcene N-Nitrodiphenylamine(1) 0.8 Total SVOC’s 1 0 2.5 4 51 132 31.9 70 3 2 7 0 31 22 24 13
Page 3 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Lee Park, Suite 6010 555 North Lane Conshohocken, PA 19428 April 17, 1997
Southeast Regional Office 610-832-6212 Fax 610-832-6143
Mr. James Feeney Remedial Project Manager U.S. EPA Region III (3HW21) 841 Chestnut Building Philadelphia, PA 19107
Re: Wade Site O&M Report 1996
Dear Mr. Feeney:
I have enclosed the annual Operations and Maintenance report for the Wade ABM site. I have included sampling results, from our groundwater monitoring for your reference. Laboratory data packages are available for review in the Department’s regional records.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed report, please feel free to contact me at 610 832-6206.
Sincerely,
Dustin A. Armstrong Project Officer Environmental Cleanup
Enclosure cc: Mr. Zang Mr. Danyliw Mr. Becker Ms. Tremont File Re 30 (RN)107-15
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer http://www.dep.state.pa.us WADE ABM SITE - OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 1996
Submitted by: PA DEP
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“Department”) conducted Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities at the Wade ABM Site (“Site”) in 1996. This report is intended to summarize O&M activities and deficiencies at the Site.
Purpose Under the 1986 Record of Decision for the Wade ABM Site, the Department is obligated to conduct the following O&M activities:
1. Sample on-site monitoring wells for TCL Volatile Organic Compounds and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds annually.
2. Conduct yearly inspection of the topsoil cap and security fence.
3. Perform required maintenance (based on yearly inspection) of the topsoil cap and/or security fence.
4. Perform mowing at the site to protect the topsoil cap from erosion.
The Department anticipates that the second Five - Year Review will be conducted by EPA in 1998 using the data gathered during the period 1993 - 1997. I have prepared and enclosed a spreadsheet showing sampling results from three sampling events (1994 - 1996) since new monitoring wells were installed.
Groundwater Monitoring Groundwater sampling was conducted on November 13. Samples were collected from each of the monitoring wells and were analyzed for VOCs and SVOCs by R.F. Weston Laboratories using CLP methods. One MS/MSD sample, one field blank, and one trip blank (for VOA) were collected. A duplicate sample was collected from MW-4D and was designated MW-9. Spreadsheets showing the results of the 1996 sample analysis are enclosed. I have also enclosed a sketch showing the locations of monitoring wells at the site.
Annual Inspection The annual site inspection was conducted on November 20, 1996. At the time of the inspection, grass on the site was approximately 1-2 ft high. The cap was in good condition with the exception of a small eroded area about 20 ft west of the MW-7 cluster. I made a few repairs to the fence along the boundary with the Bridge Commission property and at the corner of the fence bordering PECO property and the Delaware River bank. The front gate sustained further damage in 1996. The gate was secured during the annual inspection to prevent vehicular access. In a subsequent inspection conducted in January 1997, the gate was fully opened. This is a regular occurrence at the Site and it is a struggle for the Department to maintain the security gate. The Department is currently in the process of acquiring a contractor to make the necessary repairs to the gate.
Mowing The Department procured a new 3-year contract for mowing at the site with R. Navarro & Sons of Paoli. The contract provides for 3 cuts per Commonwealth fiscal year through June 30, 1998. The site was mowed on August 21, 1996. The contractor mowed the site and trimmed vegetation from the fence line to prevent further fence damage. Monitoring well areas were also hand trimmed. FIGURE 3 Monitoring well location sketch (not to scale) COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
Please note our new name Department of Environmental Protection DEP Lee Park, Suite 6010 555 North Lane Conshohocken, PA 19428 March 11, 1996
Southeast Regional Office
(610) 832-5950 FAX: (610) 832-6143
Mr. James Feeney US EPA (3HW21) 841 Chestnut Building Philadelphia, PA 19107
Re: Wade ABM Site 1995 O&M Sampling Data
Dear Mr. Feeney:
I am enclosing data from our annual groundwater sampling at the Wade site. The sampling was conducted on December 12 and 13, 1995. Samples were analyzed for VOCs, Semi-Volatile Compounds, and Pesticides/PCBs using EPA’s Contract Lab Procedures (CLP).
Results of the analyses are presented in a series of tables which are attached. Sampling locations are shown on the attached site sketch. I have also enclosed a copy of summary sheets from the Department’s contract laboratory, Quanterra. The full data package, which is too voluminous for enclosure, has been archived in the regional files, and is open for public review.
The Wade site was mowed on only one occasion during the 1995 growing season, due to a dispute with the Department’s mowing contractor. The existing mowing contract has been canceled. The Department is currently in the process of procuring a new 3 year mowing contract.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer If you have any questions regarding the enclosed results, please feel free to contact me at (610)832-6206.
Yours Sincerely,
Dustin A. Armstrong HSCP Project Officer cc: R. Zang (w/o enclosures) D. Brems (w/o data package) A. Tremont (w/o enclosures) File (w/o enclosures) COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
Lee Park, Suite 6010 555 North Lane Conshohocken, PA 19428 May 24, 1994
(610) 832-5949 FAX: (610) 832-6259
Mr. James Feeney Remedial Project Manager U.S. EPA Region III (3HW21) 841 Chestnut Building Philadelphia, PA 19107
Re: Wade Site O&M Report 1994.
Dear Mr. Feeney:
I have enclosed the annual Operations and Maintenance report for the Wade ABM site. Included in the report are sampling results, from our groundwater monitoring, and well logs from the installation of new monitoring wells at the site.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed report, please feel free to contact me at (610)832-6206.
Yours Sincerely,
Dustin A. Armstrong HSCP Project Officer
Enclosure
cc (w/o enclosure): R. Zang G. Danyliw R. Orwan D. Brems A. Tremont (w/ enclosure): File
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer WADE ARM SITE
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE REPORT
1994
Prepared By: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources
Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program INTRODUCTION
The Wade ABM site is located in the City of Chester beneath the Commodore Barry Bridge, along the bank of the Delaware River. Formerly a tire shredding and recycling operation, the property was used by its owner Mr. Melvin Wade for the illegal disposal/storage of hazardous waste. The site was discovered by PADER in 1977. Buildings and equipment on the site were destroyed in a 1978 fire. Releases of hazardous substances occurred before and during the fire. Three remedial actions were undertaken at the site to remove waste and cover the site with a clean soil cap. The site was listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1982. The site was delisted from the NPL in 1988. The Department agreed to take on Operation and Maintenance O&M responsibilities when the site was deleted from the NPL. These responsibilities include annual inspection and required maintenance of the security fence and the clean soil (vegetated) cap. The Department is also responsible for groundwater monitoring and maintenance/rehabilitation of the monitoring well network.
This report presents the results and findings of the Department with respect to the on-going O&M program at Wade. The report is broken into sections which mirror the O&M requirements and is intended for use by EPA to complete its Five-Year Review of the remedial decision and site O&M to be completed in 1998.
SITE SECURITY FENCE
Introduction During the general site inspection the Project Officer inspects the fence which is intended to prevent access to the site.
Observations It was noted during the inspection conducted on October 7, 1994 that the gate to the property remains damaged. The gate was positioned to prevent vehicular access but could not be completely shut to prevent all access. The fence is damaged (torn from support posts) along the border with the Bridge Commission property near the river shore. Access, however, remains difficult due to the Bridge Commission fence. Access is possible at the PECO/Delaware River corner of the site because of a breech in the fence. Areas requiring fence repair are shown in Figure 1.
Recommendations The Department should acquire a regional contractor to maintain the Wade site fence. A standby contractor who could be called upon to do such repairs at any of a number of sites in the region would be the most appropriate solution to this reoccurring problem. CAP INSPECTION
Introduction On October 7, 1994 as part of the annual operations and maintenance inspection, a cap inspection was conducted by the project officer. The inspection was conducted by walking across the site on four approximately evenly spaced lines. Items including tire tracks, stressed vegetation, low spots, and signs of erosion were noted in the field logbook.
Observations Several areas of concern were noted in the field logbook during the inspection. Vehicle tracks were noted in several areas of the cap. The more severe vehicle tracks were up to 12 inches deep and as long as 6 feet. A number of small areas of limited vegetation were noted near the PECO property line in the vicinity of the stone area. No signs of cap erosion were noted during the inspection. Figure 2 shows areas of concern resulting from the cap inspection.
Recommendations During the 1995 cap inspection areas of concern will be reevaluated to determine if cap maintenance is required.
SITE MOWING
Implementation The Department procured a new mowing contractor effective through December 31, 1996. Grass was cut at the site on 3 occasions during the 1994 Operations and Maintenance period. The Project Officer found that the contractor did not meet specifications with regard to removing grass from the stone berm area or preventative trimming along the fence line.
Recommendations During the next growing season the contractor will be required to remove grass from the stone berm area and to trim growth along the fence line. Regional contracting staff will be asked to provide support if necessary.
GROUNDWATER MONITORING NETWORK
Introduction The Department upgraded the well network at the site in 1994. This upgrade was completed to replace part of the 1981 pieziometric well network. Drilling was conducted from December 12 -14, 1994. Several of the older wells had deteriorated or been vandalized to a point where the Department was no longer confident in groundwater data obtained from them. Drilling Program A total of 8 new monitoring wells were installed on the site. 4 of the new wells were installed into a shallow zone (15 ft). 3 of the wells were drilled to depths of about 30 ft. 1 well is installed to a depth of 40 ft. Wells were drilled using a hollow-stem auger and screened and cased with 4 inch PVC. Each well was equipped with a steel outer casing which was grouted in place and a locking cap. New wells were surrounded by steel balusters to prevent damage during mowing activities.
The new wells were developed using a down-hole pump until clear. Cuttings from well installation were staged on plastic for characterization and ultimate disposal.
Well Abandonment Of the former well network a total of 8 wells were abandoned under the guidelines of the Department’s Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey. This procedure involved grouting of the well and cutting the casing off below grade. Balusters associated with old wells were also removed where they were causing an obstruction to mowing.
Monitoring Well Network A number of wells from the old monitoring well network were left in place where possible. It was decided that some of the wells could continue to provide valuable data into the future. Well nests Bl, B3, and B6 were left in place. Under the new monitoring well network B1, B3, and B6 are referred to as MW-1, MW-3, and MW-7 respectively. MW-2 is a single deep well drilled to a depth of 40 ft. MW-4S and MW-4D are drilled to depths of 15 and 30 ft. respectively and will monitor groundwater under the central area of the site, which was not covered by the old network. MW-5S and MW-5D were drilled to depths of 15 and 30 ft and replace B4 and B4A from the old network. MW-6S and MW-6D are drilled to similar depths and replace the B5 pair. MW-8 is a single shallow well (15 ft) installed in an area not evaluated in the past. MW-8 was sited to evaluate the influence of the neighboring PECO property. A sketch showing the new monitoring well network is presented as Figure 3. Drilling logs prepared by the Department’s assigned site geologist are presented in Appendix A.
GROUNDWATER MONITORING
Implementation The Department conducted groundwater monitoring in two phases at the site. The first phase included sampling of older monitoring wells and was conducted on December 28, 1994. Samples were shipped via Fed Ex to Quanterra Laboratories in Pittsburgh for Contract Laboratory Procedure (CLP) volatile (VOC) and semi- volatile (SVOC) analyses. Sampling of the new wells was delayed to allow for post-development recovery. The 8 wells comprising the new portion of the network were sampled on January 4, 1995. Samples were hand-carried to Weston Laboratories in Lionville, PA for VOC and SVOC analysis by CLP methods. For easy reference, I have reduced the data into “hits” tables for VOCs (Table 1) and SVOCs (Table 2) respectively. Well numbers correspond to locations shown in Figure 3. Data summary sheets from Quanterra and Weston are presented in Appendix B. Full CLP data packages are available in the Department’s regional files for review.
Sampling results Field staff was unable to sample MW-3S due to a lack of water in the well. Results from the annual sampling event show that groundwater under the site remains contaminated by a number of organic compounds. The most significant level found in the sampling was for benzene in MW-2 which was installed in an area not previously monitored by the old network. This well is the deepest well on site and may be intercepting water and contaminant in the vicinity of the soil/bedrock interface. Bedrock was not encountered during drilling, however, it is believed that bedrock is between 40' and 50' below grade at the site. MW-5S exhibits levels of contaminants similar to those found in the old B4-A and should provide data which is representative of the shallow zone.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Department has complied with most of its O&M obligation during the 1994 calendar year. A fence repair contract must be enacted to repair the damaged security fence. The soil cap must be monitored to determine if reseeding or erosion control is needed. Site mowing has been handled with a contract through 1996. New monitoring wells were installed in 1994 upgrading the monitoring well network assuring that annual monitoring will provide reliable groundwater data through 1998, as required. The data generated in 1994 should provide EPA with the information needed for the next Five-Year Review. FIGURES FIGURE 1 Fence damage sketch (not to scale) FIGURE 2 Cap damage sketch (not to scale) FIGURE 3 Monitoring well location sketch (not to scale)