[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64846-64852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26710]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 300
[FRL-7396-7]
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan;
National Priorities List
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of intent for partial deletion of the West Virginia
Ordnance Works Site from the National Priorities List.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III announces
its intent to delete six areas of the West Virginia Ordnance Works
(WVOW) National Priorities List (NPL) site from the NPL and requests
public comment on this action. The areas are the Operable Unit 11 (OU-
11) Sellite Plant, the OU-12 North and South Powerhouses and Vicinity,
the Environmental Mitigation Area 6 (ENV-6), the Expanded Site
Investigation 3 (ESI-3) Tract 21, the ESI-5 Refueling Depot, and the
ESI-9 Main and Outgoing Classification Yards. The NPL constitutes
Appendix B to the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR Part 300, which EPA promulgated pursuant
to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
This proposal for partial deletion pertains only to OU-11, OU-12,
ENV-6, ESI-3, ESI-5, and ESI-9. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), together with EPA, issued no further action Records of
Decision (RODs) for OU-11 and OU-12. Wetlands were restored at ENV-6 in
accordance with mitigation agreements, which were approved and signed
by USACE and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR).
USACE and EPA issued no further action Decision Documents for ESIs-3, -
5, and -9, which were concurred upon by the West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection (WVDEP). EPA bases its proposal to delete
these six areas at WVOW on the determination by EPA, USACE, and WVDEP
that all appropriate actions under CERCLA have been implemented to
protect human health and the environment at OUs-11 and -12, ENV-6, and
ESIs-3, -5, and -9.
This partial deletion pertains only to these areas of the WVOW site
and does not include any other ESI or any OU. All other ESIs and OUs
will remain on the NPL, and investigation and response activities will
continue at those ESIs and OUs.
DATES: EPA will accept comments concerning its proposal for partial
deletion for thirty (30) days after publication of this document in the
Federal Register and publication of a notice of availability of this
document in a newspaper of record.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to Mr. Jack Potosnak, PE, Remedial
Project Manager, U.S. EPA, Region III (3HS13), 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029, Telephone: (215) 814-3362.
Information Repositories: Comprehensive information on the WVOW
site, information specific to this proposed partial deletion, the
Administrative Record and the Deletion Docket for this partial deletion
are available for review at the following WVOW site document/
information repositories:
Mason County Public Library, 508 Viand Street, Point Pleasant, WV
25550, (304) 675-0894, Hours of Operation: Monday through Saturday 10
a.m.-5 p.m.
[[Page 64847]]
U.S. EPA Region III Library, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-
2029, (215) 814-5254, Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-
5p.m.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 8th Street,
Huntington, WV 25701, (800) 822-8413 or (304) 529-5388, Hours of
Operation: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Potosnak, PE, Remedial
Project Manager, U.S. EPA Region III (3HS13), 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029, (215) 814-3362.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion
I. Introduction
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III
announces its intent to delete a portion of the West Virginia Ordnance
Works site (WVOW site) located in Mason County, West Virginia, from the
National Priorities List (NPL), which constitutes Appendix B of the
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP),
40 CFR part 300, and requests comments on this proposal. This proposal
for partial deletion pertains to OU-11, OU-12, ENV-6, ESI-3, ESI-5, and
ESI-9.
The WVOW site is located on the east bank of the Ohio River,
approximately six miles north of Point Pleasant, Mason County, West
Virginia. Contamination of the WVOW site originated from the operation
of a trinitrotoluene (TNT) manufacturing facility during World War II.
Nitroaromatic (explosive) compounds are the primary contaminants of
concern at the WVOW site.
The WVOW site, as added to the NPL in 1983 encompassed an entire
area of approximately 8,323 acres. In 1994, after 11 years of
investigation and other activities at the WVOW site that helped to
determine where contamination at the site existed, EPA, USACE and WVDEP
worked together to clarify the boundary of the WVOW site by developing
a site boundary map delineating areas of known or suspected
contamination. This clarification of the site boundary was undertaken
in accordance with EPA's interpretation of ``facility,'' which was
defined by Congress in section 101(9)(B) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C.
9601(9)(B), as ``any site or area where a hazardous substance has been
deposited, stored, disposed of, or placed or otherwise come to be
located * * *'' EPA has routinely explained how site boundaries are
determined when notifying the public regarding additions to the NPL.
See, e.g., National Priorities List for Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste
Sites, 67 FR 56757, 56759, September 5, 2002. The current WVOW site
boundary, as delineated in the 1994 mapping, encompasses approximately
2,700 acres.
All six areas proposed for deletion from the NPL are located within
the current boundary for the WVOW site. The Clifton F. McClintic
Wildlife Management Area (MWMA) occupies 2,788 acres of the 1983 site,
and most of the MWMA is also within the current NPL boundary.
OU-11: Sellite Plant
In April 1990, a surface and subsurface investigation was
undertaken at the Sellite Manufacturing Area. The results of this
investigation indicated that neither nitroaromatic compounds nor
organic compounds were detected. However, during a July 1990 sampling
event, 2,4-dinitrotoluene was detected in a well but at a level below
risk-based concentrations. A focused remedial investigation (RI) was
conducted at OU-11 from January to March 1994 to verify and expand upon
the April 1990 investigation.
One groundwater contaminant (bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate [DEHP])
found at OU-11 was present at a concentration exceeding the maximum
contaminant level (MCL); however, according to the risk assessment, the
risk to human health associated with DEHP was within an acceptable
limit. In addition, lead was found in groundwater at OU-11 at a
concentration exceeding EPA's action level; however, contamination was
detected in only three out of seven monitoring wells and the lead level
was above the action level for only one unfiltered sample. Filtration
of this same sample resulted in a lead level below the action level.
According to the risk assessment, the mean lead level was less than the
mean background level of lead at the WVOW site and the mean lead level
was found to correspond to an acceptably low probability that blood
lead levels of any receptor would exceed a level of concern. For these
reasons, neither DEHP nor lead were found to be contaminants of concern
at OU-11.
After the RI, a risk assessment was performed. For groundwater, the
site-related risk and hazards were found to be within the acceptable
limits. For surface soil, aluminum, arsenic, beryllium and manganese
were determined to be present due to background rather than site-
related activities.
In 1999, as a removal action, EPA disposed of 10 drums of hazardous
and non-hazardous waste and excavated and disposed of 25 tons of non-
hazardous waste soil. The drums of waste material disposed of as
hazardous waste contained material contaminated with caustics or
corrosives or with lead, likely from waste paints or coatings.
In May 2000, USACE and EPA issued a ROD for OU-11, which was
concurred upon by WVDEP, finding that no remedial action was required
at OU-11; however, the ROD stipulated that annual groundwater
monitoring would be conducted over a period of 5 years to evaluate the
trend of the concentrations of DEHP and lead to ensure that they remain
within an acceptable range. The results of the monitoring thus far
indicate that MCLs are no longer being exceeded.
OU-12: North and South Powerhouses and Vicinity
In 1994 and 1995, USACE undertook a removal to demolish both
powerhouse buildings. An RI was conducted in 1995 at OU-12 to identify
and evaluate the source, nature, and extent of environmental
contamination in subsurface soil, groundwater, surface water, and
sediment. Additional sampling of surface soil was conducted in December
1997 and November 2000.
Based on analyses of the samples and a risk assessment, it was
determined that cancer and non-cancer risks were within acceptable
levels for all receptors. Iron found in subsurface soil was found
unlikely to induce adverse effects in receptors exposed to subsurface
soil. The highest iron ingestion rate for any OU-12 receptor was
projected to be approximately 10 times less than the dose that is known
to cause signs of mild toxicity in children who have ingested large
quantities of supplemental iron tablets and 100 times less than a
lethal dose. Moreover, the risk assessment deduced that the forms of
iron in subsurface soil would likely be less toxic than iron found in
nutritional supplements.
USACE and EPA issued a ROD in June 2002, which was concurred upon
by the WVDEP, documenting the conclusion that no contaminants present
in the soil, sediment, surface water or groundwater at OU-12 pose a
threat to human health. The ROD also concluded that no remedial action
was required at OU-12.
ENV-6: Wetlands Mitigation Area
Investigation in this area did not reveal any contamination in
connection
[[Page 64848]]
with activities undertaken at WVOW. ENV-6 designates an area where
wetlands were restored to mitigate for the loss of wetlands elsewhere
within the WVOW site during remedial activities. In 2000, the wetlands
restoration was completed, and no further work is required at ENV-6.
ESI-3: Tract 21
Extensive sampling and risk assessments were undertaken at ESI-3
and, except for an outdoor asbestos removal, no CERCLA response action
was necessary. Based on these investigations, on September 28, 2000,
USACE, EPA and WVDEP executed a Decision Document for ESI-3 stating
that no further action is necessary to protect human health and the
environment except for removal of asbestos-containing materials. The
removal was completed in April 2001.
ESI-5: Refueling Depot
Based on the results of a geophysical survey, trenching, and soil
and groundwater investigation, it was determined that ESI-5 does not
pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. This
determination is based upon the following findings: (a) Chemicals in
site soils were detected at background concentrations and/or at
concentrations which do not present a risk to human health or
ecological receptors; (b) ecological receptors are unlikely to contact
subsurface soil; (c) site-related contaminants in the groundwater
samples were detected at concentrations which do not present a risk to
human health.
EPA, WVDEP and USACE executed a Decision Document on September 28,
2000 finding that no remedial action is required at ESI-5 because
contaminant concentrations detected in the soil and groundwater do not
present a significant risk to human health or ecological receptors.
ESI-9: Main and Outgoing Classification Yards
Environmental studies were conducted at ESI-9 in 1996, which
included collection and analysis of surface and subsurface soil samples
and groundwater samples from the main classification yard (MCY),
surface water and sediment samples from water near the MCY, and
subsurface soil samples from the outgoing classification yard (OCY). A
human health risk evaluation was also conducted in 1996 based on
analytical results of the sampling.
No unacceptable human health or environmental risks were identified
for environmental media at the MCY or the OCY based on the risk
evaluation and a repeat analysis of the risk evaluation. It was
determined that the only contaminant detected in groundwater underlying
the OCY is likely attributable to the Red Water Reservoir, which is
located to the south of ESI-9 and is being addressed as OU-4.
On July 12, 2001, USACE, EPA and WVDEP issued a Decision Document
for ESI-9, which found that no further action was necessary.
Unacceptable human health risks identified for the MCY groundwater were
shown to be attributed to WVOW background conditions and not to WVOW
activities. Contaminants at ESI-9, present due to WVOW activities, do
not present a significant risk to human health and the environment.
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
This partial deletion of the WVOW site is proposed in accordance
with 40 CFR 300.425(e) and the Notice of Policy Change: Partial
Deletion of Sites Listed on the National Priorities List, 60 FR 55446
(Nov. 1, 1995).
The NCP establishes the criteria that EPA uses to delete sites from
the NPL. In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be deleted
from the NPL where no further response is appropriate to protect public
health or the environment. In making such a determination pursuant to
40 CFR 300.425(e), EPA will consider, in consultation with the State,
whether any of the following criteria have been met:
Section 300.425(e)(1)(i). Responsible parties or other persons have
implemented all appropriate response actions required; or
Section 300.425(e)(1)(ii). All appropriate responses under CERCLA have
been implemented, and no further response action by responsible parties
is appropriate; or
Section 300.425(e)(1)(iii). The remedial investigation has shown that
the release poses no significant threat to public health or the
environment and, therefore, taking of remedial measures is not
appropriate.
Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not preclude
eligibility for subsequent CERCLA actions at the area deleted if future
site conditions warrant such actions. Section 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP
provides that CERCLA actions may be taken at sites that have been
deleted from the NPL. A partial deletion of a site from the NPL does
not affect or impede EPA's ability to conduct CERCLA response
activities at areas not deleted and remaining on the NPL. In addition,
deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not affect the
liability of responsible parties or impede agency efforts to recover
costs associated with response efforts.
III. Deletion Procedures
Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not itself
create, alter, or revoke a person's rights or obligations. The NPL is
designed primarily for informational purposes and to assist agency
management. The following procedures were used for the proposed
deletion of OUs-11 and -12, ENV-6, and ESIs-3, -5, and -9 at the WVOW
site:
1. EPA has recommended the partial deletion and USACE has prepared
the relevant documents.
2. The State of West Virginia through the West Virginia Department
of Environmental Protection concur with this partial deletion.
3. Concurrent with this national Notice of Intent for Partial
Deletion, a notice has been published in a newspaper of record and has
been distributed to appropriate federal, state, and local officials,
and other interested parties. These notices announce a thirty (30) day
public comment period on the deletion package, which commences on the
date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register and
publication of a notice of availability of this notice in a newspaper
of record.
4. EPA and USACE have made all relevant documents available at the
information repositories listed previously.
This Federal Register document, and a concurrent notice in a
newspaper of record, announce the initiation of a thirty (30) day
public comment period and the availability of the Notice of Intent for
Partial Deletion. The public is asked to comment on EPA's proposal to
delete OUs-11 and -12, ENV-6, and ESIs-3, -5, and -9 of the WVOW site
from the NPL. All critical documents needed to evaluate EPA's decision
are included in the Deletion Docket and are available for review at the
information repositories.
Upon completion of the thirty (30) day comment period, EPA will
evaluate all comments received before issuing the final decision on the
partial deletion. EPA will prepare a Responsiveness Summary for
comments received during the public comment period and will address
concerns presented in the comments. The Responsiveness Summary will be
made available to the public at the information repositories listed
previously. Members of the public are encouraged to contact EPA Region
III to obtain a copy of the Responsiveness Summary. If, after review of
all public comments, EPA determines that the
[[Page 64849]]
partial deletion from the NPL is appropriate, EPA will publish a final
notice of partial deletion in the Federal Register. Deletion of the
areas does not actually occur until the final Notice of Partial
Deletion is published in the Federal Register.
IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion
The following provides EPA's rationale for deletion of OU-11, OU-
12, ENV-6, ESI-3, ESI-5, and ESI-9 from the NPL and EPA's finding that
the criteria in 40 CFR 300.425(e) are satisfied.
Background
The WVOW site is located on the east bank of the Ohio River,
approximately six miles north of Point Pleasant, Mason County, West
Virginia. The WVOW site, as added to the NPL in 1983, encompassed a
land mass of approximately 8,323 acres. As explained in section I,
earlier in this Notice, the NPL boundary was clarified in 1994, and the
WVOW site now encompasses approximately 2,700 acres. The Clinton F.
McClintic Wildlife Management Area (MWMA) occupies 2,788 acres of the
original site, and is mostly included in the current site boundary.
Contamination of the WVOW site originated from the operation of a
trinitrotoluene (TNT) manufacturing facility during World War II.
Nitroaromatic (explosive) compounds are the primary contaminants of
concern at the WVOW site. To expedite CERCLA response actions at this
large site, the WVOW site is divided into 13 Operable Units (OUs) and
10 Expanded Site Investigations (ESIs):
OU-1: TNT Manufacturing Area, Burning Grounds, and Waste Water Process
Lines
OU-2: Red Water Reservoir
OU-3: Yellow Water Reservoir
OU-4: Groundwater Extraction and Treatment for OUs 2 and 3
OU-5: Pond 13/Wet Well Area
ENV-6: Wetlands Mitigation Area
OU-7: Point Pleasant Landfill
OU-8: TNT Manufacturing Area Soils
OU-9: TNT Manufacturing Area Groundwater
OU-10: South Acids Area and Toluene Storage Areas
OU-11: Sellite Plant
OU-12: North and South Powerhouses
OU-13: Pantasote Plant
ESI-1: Magazine Area
ESI-2: Acid Dock
ESI-3: Tract 21
ESI-4: Red Water Sewer Outfall
ESI-5: Refueling Depot
ESI-6: Motorpool and Maintenance Area
ESI-7: Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall
ESI-8: Dump Site Adjacent to the TNT Manufacturing Area
ESI-9: Classification Yards
ESI-10: Various Areas of Concern
USACE has been investigating and conducting human health risk
evaluations and assessments for each OU and ESI separately. Once
investigations and assessments are complete, USACE and EPA together
have made CERCLA response action decisions, with the concurrence of
WVDEP.
The WVOW was established in 1942 as a government-owned, contractor-
operated plant for the manufacture of TNT from toluene, nitric acid,
and sulfuric acid. The WVOW plant was operated by the General Defense
Corporation of New York from October 1942 through August 1945. The
plant had the capacity to produce 720,000 pounds of TNT each day,
utilizing 12 manufacturing lines; however, it has been reported that
only lines 1 through 10 were operated, and the plant never reached full
capacity.
The facility was constructed on approximately 5,800 acres, of which
more than 2,000 acres were used as a safety zone between the plant and
other properties. The plant includes the 12 TNT manufacturing lines;
two acid manufacturing areas; two coal-fired power plants; a Sellite
manufacturing plant; pumping stations; a sewage treatment plant; 100
concrete TNT storage magazines; and various administrative, shop, and
housing facilities.
In 1945, the production of TNT ceased, and shutdown of the WVOW
plant was initiated. The production of TNT had resulted in soil
contamination from nitroaromatic compounds in the manufacturing areas,
process facilities, and wastewater disposal facilities. Partial
decontamination actions were performed, such as flashing the TNT lines
and draining and capping the Red and Yellow Water Reservoirs, and the
property was transferred from the U.S. War Department to the U.S. War
Assets Administration in late 1946.
Numerous site visits and investigations beginning in 1947 and
continuing through the 1950s determined that additional contamination
not previously identified was present at the site. In addition, several
tracts of land that had received decontamination certificates were
determined to be contaminated. Because the site could not be completely
decontaminated, a portion of the site was not released for private
ownership and was transferred to the State of West Virginia as a
wildlife management area in 1949.
In 1981, a red water seepage was discovered at Pond 13, later
designated as OU-5. Subsequent investigations led the State of West
Virginia to nominate the WVOW site for inclusion on the NPL; ultimately
the WVOW site was ranked as 84th. A memorandum of understanding was
signed in 1983 between EPA Headquarters and the Department of Defense
to establish responsibilities for remediating the site. For the
Department, the U.S. Army Toxic and Hazardous Materials Agency began
the first remedial investigation and feasibility study in 1984.
Initially, only two operable units were established, and Records of
Decision (RODs) and Interagency Agreements (IAGs) were signed to
address these areas. Later, more operable units were created until the
current total of thirteen was reached.
Construction of the OU-1 remedy was completed in 1988 before the
site was transferred from the U.S. Army Toxic and Hazardous Materials
Agency to USACE, Baltimore District, in 1991. OU-1 remediation included
capping of the burning grounds and the 10 TNT manufacturing lines that
had been operated in the 1940s and excavation and flaming of process
waste water lines. Construction on OU-2, which included draining and
capping of the Red and Yellow Water Reservoirs, was completed in 1992
before the site administration was transferred to USACE, Huntington
District, where it remains. Portions of OU-2 were later divided into
OU-3, OU-4, and OU-5 to simplify management. The construction of the
OU-4 remedy was completed in 1997, and the two groundwater treatment
plants are currently operational. OU-6 was re-designated as ENV-6, and
construction of wetlands has been completed. OU-7 and OU-13, the Point
Pleasant landfill and the Pantasote plant, respectively, have been
designated by EPA as potentially responsible party sites, and EPA is
the lead agency for addressing these areas. Buildings were demolished
and debris removed at OU-11 and OU-12. Asbestos-containing material has
been removed from ESI-3, which was the only hazard posed on that area.
An underground storage tank (UST) was removed from ESI-6. Asbestos
materials and other debris were removed and capped at ESI-8.
OU-11: Sellite Plant
The former Sellite manufacturing area is centrally located in the
WVOW site and lies northwest of the former TNT manufacturing area. OU-
11 is situated
[[Page 64850]]
on the south side of County Road 12 (Wadsworth Road), approximately 1.5
miles southeast of State Route 62. Sellite (sodium sulfite) was
manufactured at the Sellite Manufacturing Plant from 1942 to 1945 by
the U.S. Army. Supporting facilities consisted of the soda ash storage
building and a sulfur storage facility. In addition, a box factory and
storage facility were located at OU-11.
During the manufacture of TNT at WVOW, Sellite was used for the
washing and purification of tri-oil as one of the final steps in
producing TNT. Sellite was manufactured by combining soda ash and
sulfur, which involved the use of a sulfur melting pit and a sulfur
furnace. The materials were combined in two batch tanks within the
Sellite plant, and the liquor produced was pumped to two Sellite
storage tanks located southeast of the plant.
During the initial operation of WVOW, Sellite solution was
transported from the storage tanks to the TNT Manufacturing Area by
truck. However, because of the inefficiencies of this operation, a 4-
inch-diameter steel line was installed in 1944 to supply Sellite to the
washer/flaker houses in the TNT Manufacturing Area, and the trucks were
taken out of service.
Since the suspension of TNT manufacturing at WVOW in August of
1945, and the declaration of the WVOW site as surplus in December of
1945, the former Sellite Manufacturing Area has had several uses. OU-11
was initially used by the Mason Furniture Company for the manufacture
of furniture from 1948 through the mid-1970s. The property was most
recently leased from the landowner by the West Virginia Mulch Company
for the manufacture of mulch. Site activities included the receipt of
raw materials, manufacture and storage of mulch, packaging of mulch,
and the loading of tractor trailers for transport of packaged mulch.
These operations ceased in 1996, and the property is currently vacant.
In 1999, EPA discovered drums of unknown materials on the property. EPA
removed 10 drums of hazardous and non-hazardous materials and 25 tons
of contaminated soil.
A focused remedial investigation (RI) was conducted at OU-11 from
January to March 1994 to verify and expand the database established in
the April 1990.
After the RI, a risk assessment was performed. For groundwater, the
site-related risk and hazard are within the acceptable limits of the
background risk and hazard. For surface soil, aluminum, arsenic,
beryllium and manganese were determined to be present due to background
rather than site-related activities. Total residential cancer risk and
noncancer hazard from exposure to groundwater and soil were found to be
within acceptable limits. On May 9, 2000, USACE and EPA issued a ROD,
concurred upon by WVDEP, finding that actual or threatened releases of
hazardous substances from OU-11 were not found to be an imminent and
substantial or future endangerment to public health and welfare or the
environment and that no remedial action was required at OU-11. In
addition, the ROD stipulated that annual groundwater monitoring would
be conducted over a period of 5 years to evaluate the trend of the
concentrations of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and lead to assure that
they remain within an acceptable range. The monitoring program is
nearly complete and all results indicate that maximum contaminant
levels are no longer being exceeded.
OU-12: North and South Powerhouses and Vicinity
OU-12 encompasses the former North and South Powerhouses. The North
Powerhouse (NPH) site is located northeast of and adjacent to the Mason
County Fairgrounds in the northeast part of the administrative/
maintenance area of the WVOW in the upland area above the Ohio River
floodplain. The South Powerhouse (SPH) site is located in the southwest
part of the former administrative/maintenance area of the WVOW. It is
southwest of and adjacent to the Mason County Fairgrounds. Both the NPH
and SPH sites are on property currently owned by Mason County, West
Virginia.
The two powerhouses were operational from 1942 through 1945 in
support of the manufacture of TNT. They were primarily used for the
production of low-pressure and high-pressure steam for industrial
purposes and heating at the WVOW but were also reportedly used as
standby sources of electrical power. Power-generating equipment was
removed after WVOW shut down in 1945, and the two areas have had no
known use since that time. Both powerhouse buildings were removed
during a removal action carried out by the USACE in 1994 and 1995. Each
powerhouse had an associated coal storage area and ash disposal area.
The ash disposal pits were used to dispose of ash from the coal-fired
boilers and were situated on the east side of each powerhouse. Part of
the ash pit for the SPH is currently a pond. It is the only pond
located at OU-12 and is designated as Pond 2.
An RI was conducted in 1995 at OU-12 to identify and evaluate the
source, nature, and extent of environmental contamination in subsurface
soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment. At the request of EPA
Region III, additional subsurface soil and sediment samples were
collected from the former ash pit in December 1997. Samples of the
various media were collected and analyzed in the vicinity of both the
NPH and SPH. Initially, surface soil samples were not collected because
the original surface soil was replaced with clean fill during removal
of the powerhouse buildings. However, surface soil samples were
collected in November 2000 in response to concerns raised by WVDEP.
During the RI, soil samples, groundwater and surface water samples,
and sediment samples were analyzed for likely contaminants and a risk
assessment was performed using the outcome of the sampling analysis.
Cancer risks were found to be within acceptable limits for all
receptors at OU-12. Exposure to groundwater, surface water, or sediment
does not pose any site-related risks. Elevated levels of iron were
found in OU-12 subsurface soils; however, the conclusion of the risk
assessment was that iron is not expected to induce adverse effects in
receptors exposed to subsurface soil. On June 14, 2002, USACE and EPA
issued a ROD for OU-12, which was concurred upon by WVDEP, making the
finding that no remedial action was necessary at OU-12.
ENV-6: Wetlands Mitigation Area
ENV-6 is located near the eastern boundary of the McClintic
Wildlife Management Area along Oldtown Creek, just south of County
Route 12. The area includes Ponds 21 through 23 and other areas (Pond 6
and a portion of Pond 17A) that are not areas of environmental concern.
During remedial activity for OU-1, Pond 16 was drained and could
not be refilled because the pond dam had been damaged, which resulted
in loss of wetlands in and around Pond 16. As a separate event, during
remedial activity for OU-2, Ponds 1 and 2 (which were the Red Water
Reservoir) were drained and capped, also resulting in loss of wetlands.
To compensate for these two separate losses of wetlands, USACE and the
State together decided that it would be more efficient, due to other
remedial activity ongoing at the WVOW site, to construct a dam at Ponds
21 through 23 rather than re-construct the Pond 16 dam. USACE performed
pre-construction testing of the areas proposed to be made into aquatic
habitat or wetlands to ensure that, when flooded, contaminants in the
soil (if
[[Page 64851]]
any) would not leach into the wetlands and contaminate the ponds. The
pre-construction sampling and analysis indicated that the soil was not
contaminated and could be flooded. USACE provided partial funding to
the State for a replacement dam and fish lost at Pond 16. Investigation
in this area did not reveal any concerns about contamination related to
WVOW activity.
ESI-3: Tract 21
ESI-3 is bounded on the north by Camp Conley Road, on the south by
Oldtown Creek, and on the east and west by privately-owned properties.
Historic records from the operation of WVOW indicate no activities
conducted at the Tract 21 area, which covers approximately 36 acres.
However, after the closure of WVOW, disposal of WVOW waste and possibly
civilian waste may have occurred on approximately 15 acres of Tract 21.
This area of probable disposal was designated as AOC-16. ESI-3 is now
privately-owned and includes an agricultural field, a wooded area, and
a small family cemetery.
Pre-remedial investigation activities were conducted at ESI-3 in
1995. Because the current use of the site is agricultural, activities
such as tilling have disrupted the surface soil. Thus, field
investigations consisted of sampling and analysis of soil beneath the
zone of agricultural disruption; the investigations also included
sampling of groundwater and seep water at Tract 21 and surface water
and sediment from Oldtown Creek, which borders Tract 21 to the south.
The samples were analyzed for the presence of possible contaminants.
The data from these field investigations and analyses were screened to
evaluate whether the site presented unacceptable risk to human health
and/or the environment. Subsequent human health risk evaluations were
performed to assess contaminant levels and pathways for potential risk
to human receptors, and an ecological risk assessment was performed to
evaluate contaminant levels and pathways for potential risk to
ecological receptors.
Based on the outcome of the evaluations and assessment, EPA, WVDEP,
and USACE issued a Decision Document on September 28, 2000, finding
that ESI-3 required an asbestos removal action where the disposal
activities likely occurred, but otherwise no further CERCLA response
action. The removal action for potentially friable asbestos-containing
material on the ground surface at ESI-3 was completed in April 2001.
ESI-5: Refueling Depot
ESI-5 is a 6.3-acre parcel located northeast of the Sellite
Manufacturing Area (OU-11) on the north side of County Road 12
(Wadsworth Road); most of ESI-5 is located within the MWMA. During the
operation of WVOW, the ESI-5 was used as a gasoline refueling station
and probably contained an underground storage tank for storing
gasoline.
In 1994, an initial investigation was conducted which included a
geophysical survey and subsurface soil sample collection. Surficial
soil samples were not collected at ESI-5 because petroleum products
evaporate over time and, thus, would not remain in surface soils more
than 50 years after any potential release. The purpose of the
geophysical survey was to locate and map underground storage tanks, if
any. In 1997, groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for
petroleum-related hazardous substances and other contaminants. In 1999,
a supplemental investigation was undertaken to further investigate
magnetic anomalies detected in the 1994 geophysical survey and to
otherwise confirm whether any underground storage tanks existed at ESI-
5. Certain locations within ESI-5 were trenched to physically search
for underground storage tanks, but none were found.
On September 28, 2000, USACE, EPA and WVDEP issued a Decision
Document which concluded that ESI-5 does not pose an unacceptable risk
to human health or the environment. This conclusion was based on the
following investigation findings: (a) Chemicals found in ESI-5 soils
were detected at background concentrations and/or at concentrations
which do not present a risk to human health or ecological receptors;
(b) ecological receptors are unlikely to contact subsurface soil; (c)
site-related contaminants found in groundwater were detected at
concentrations which do not present a risk to human health.
ESI-9: Main and Outgoing Classification Yards
From 1942 to 1945, when WVOW was in operation, the Main
Classification Yard (MCY) and the Outgoing Classification Yard (OCY)
consisted primarily of railroad sidings where incoming and outgoing
freight were inventoried. In the mid-1960s, the railroad tracks were
removed and construction of the Mason County Airport began. The airport
became operational in 1967.
The MCY is located at the current Mason County Airport, southwest
of the location of the former South Powerhouse (OU-12) and outside of
the MWMA. The Mason County Airport runway and terminal area are located
on the former MCY railbed.
Prior to the ESI-9 investigation, the following chemicals were of
potential concern, based on historic use of the MCY: inorganics,
volatile and semivolatile organic compounds, pesticides,
polychlorinated biphenyls, and asbestos. Petroleum products and other
associated chemicals used by Mason County Airport and chemicals
associated with agricultural activities conducted at ESI-9 after WVOW
operations ceased and construction of the airport also may have
contaminated the MCY.
The OCY is situated within the MWMA along Potters Creek Road
(County Road 11), north of the former Red Water Reservoir and adjacent
to the MWMA boundary. The OCY tracks ran parallel to Potters Creek
Road. During WVOW operations, the OCY was used to facilitate loading of
the finished product, TNT, to outgoing freight and had a capacity of 30
railcars per day. The only structure located in this area during WVOW
operations was the track scale. The track scale pit has been filled in,
and the tracks have been removed from the site. The Red Water Reservoir
groundwater extraction wells, a component of the OU-4 groundwater
extraction system, are currently located where the OCY used to be.
Prior to site investigation, the following chemicals were of potential
concern, based on historic use of the OCY: nitroaromatic compounds,
inorganics, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, pesticides,
PCBs, and asbestos.
In 1996, an investigation included collection of surface and
subsurface soil samples from the MCY, collocated surface water and
sediment samples from the MCY, groundwater samples from monitoring
wells in conjunction with the study of the MCY, and subsurface soil
samples from the OCY. After analysis of the sampling, a human health
risk evaluation was conducted.
On July 12, 2001, USACE, EPA and WVDEP issued a Decision Document
finding that: (a) no unacceptable risks were identified for MCY or OCY
environmental media based on the human health risk evaluation or repeat
evaluation; and (b) the only contaminant detected in groundwater
underlying the OCY is likely attributable to the Red Water Reservoir,
which is being addressed as OU-4.
Response Actions
At OU-11 and OU-12, building demolition and debris removal were
[[Page 64852]]
performed to eliminate hazards. Also, at OU-11, a removal action was
taken to remove unsecured drums and some contaminated soil. At ESI-3,
an asbestos removal was performed to remove asbestos-containing debris.
Community Involvement
Public participation activities have been satisfied as required in
CERCLA Section 113(k), 42 U.S.C. 9613(k), and Section 117, 42 U.S.C.
9617.
OU-11: Sellite Plant
A copy of the RI report and the Proposed Plan were placed in the
public repository at the Mason County Public Library in Point Pleasant,
West Virginia. Notice of the availability of the documents, the public
comment period, and the public meeting were published in The Point
Pleasant Register on April 8, 1999. USACE established a 30-day public
comment period beginning April 15, 1999 and ending May 15, 1999. A
public meeting was held on April 15, 1999 at the Army National Guard
Armory in Point Pleasant, West Virginia to answer any questions
concerning OU-11 and the selected remedy. Representatives of EPA,
WVDEP, and USACE were present at the public meeting. No members of the
public attended the meeting, nor were any comments received during the
public comment period.
OU-12: North and South Powerhouses and Vicinity
A copy of the RI report and the Proposed Plan were placed in the
public repository at the Mason County Public Library in Point Pleasant,
West Virginia. Notice of the availability of the documents, the public
comment period, and the public meeting were published in The Point
Pleasant Register on October 31, 2001. USACE established a public
comment period beginning November 6, 2001 and ending December 11, 2001.
A public meeting was held on November 7, 2001 at the Mason County
Public Library to answer any questions concerning OU-12 and the
selected remedy. Representatives of EPA, WVDEP, and USACE were present
at the public meeting. No comments were received during the public
comment period.
ENV-6: Wetlands Mitigation Area
Periodic updates on wetland construction at ENV-6 were given during
the WVOW site Restoration Advisory Board meetings. Because there was no
environmental investigation, no other public involvement was required.
The Restoration Advisory Board is a group consisting of USACE, State
and EPA remedial project managers and interested local participants who
meet as needed to discuss the ongoing environmental work and plans for
future work at the WVOW site.
ESI-3: Tract 21
The ESI-3 Decision Document was released to the public on November
8, 2000. This document, as well as other documents and information EPA
relied on or considered in concurring with USACE that no further action
was necessary at ESI-3, were made available to the public on or before
November 8, 2000 by placing the documents in the public repository at
the Mason County Public Library, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Notice
of the availability of the Decision Document and supporting documents
was published in The Point Pleasant Register on November 8, 2000. A
public comment period was held from November 8, 2000 through December
19, 2000. A public meeting was held on November 8, 2000, to announce
the release of the Decision Document and to summarize its conclusions.
Representatives from EPA, WVDEP, and USACE were present to address any
questions. No questions or comments on the Decision Document were
received from the public.
ESI-5: Refueling Depot
The ESI-5 Decision Document was released to the public on November
8, 2000. This document as well as other documents and information EPA
relied on or considered in concurring that no further action was
necessary at ESI-5 were made available to the public on or before
November 8, 2000 by placing the documents in the public repository at
the Mason County Public Library, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Notice
of the availability of the Decision Document and supporting documents
was published in The Point Pleasant Register on November 8, 2000. The
public comment period was held from November 8, 2000 through December
19, 2000. A public meeting was held on November 8, 2000, to announce
the release of the Decision Document and to summarize its conclusions.
Representatives from EPA, WVDEP, and USACE were present to address any
questions. No questions or comments on the Decision Document were
received from the public.
ESI-9: Main and Outgoing Classification Yards
A copy of the Decision Document was placed in the public repository
at the Mason County Public Library in Point Pleasant, West Virginia on
or before November 6, 2001. Notice of the availability of the
documents, the public comment period, and the public meeting were
published in The Point Pleasant Register on October 31, 2001. USACE
established a public comment period beginning November 6, 2001 and
ending December 11, 2001. A public meeting was held on November 7, 2001
to answer any questions concerning the Main and Outgoing Classification
Yards. Representatives of EPA, WVDEP, and USACE were available to the
public at that meeting held at the Mason County Public Library. No
comments were received during the public comment period.
Current Status
Removals at OU-11, OU-12 and ESI-3 and wetlands mitigation at ENV-6
have been successfully completed. No further response action is planned
or scheduled for OU-12, ENV-6, ESI-3, ESI-5, or ESI-9. Pursuant to the
NCP, a five-year review will not need to be performed at any of these
five areas. Five annual groundwater sampling events at OU-11 have been
completed; upon completion of the analysis of the last set of samples,
no further response action is planned or scheduled for OU-11.
While EPA does not believe that any future response actions will be
needed at these six areas, if future conditions warrant such action,
the proposed deletion areas of the WVOW site remain eligible for future
response actions. Furthermore, this partial deletion does not alter the
status of any other OUs or ESIs at the WVOW site that are not proposed
for deletion and remain on the NPL.
EPA, together with USACE and with concurrence from the State of
West Virginia, has determined that all appropriate CERCLA response
actions have been completed at OU-11, OU-12, ENV-6, ESI-3, ESI-5, and
ESI-9 and protection of human health and the environment has been
achieved in these areas. Therefore, EPA makes this proposal to delete
OU-11, OU-12, ENV-6, ESI-3, ESI-5, and ESI-9 of the WVOW site from the
NPL.
Dated: September 30, 2002.
Thomas Voltaggio,
Acting Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region III.
[FR Doc. 02-26710 Filed 10-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P