Reach D, Pollution Report 4

Tittabawassee River Dioxin-Reach D
Midland, MI - EPA Region V
POLREP #4 - 8/10/2007
On-Scene Coordinators - James Augustyn and Brian Schlieger

Site Description

On July 9, 2007, Dow's contractor began positioning equipment on a work barge to begin the preparation of driving temporary sheet piling in the river to delineate the area of highest dioxin contamination. Dow's contractor has completed construction on the HDPE sediment transport pipeline and has conducted hydrostatic testing of the line. The sediment transport line is approximately 9,000 feet long and will transport sediment slurry from the dredge area in the river to the Geo-Tube dewatering cell.

On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) Jim Augustyn and Brian Schlieger are providing oversight with assistance from U.S. EPA's START Contractor, Weston Solutions, Inc.

Current Activities

The following tasks have been completed by Dow's contractors during the period of August 04 to August 9th, 2007:

Saturday 8-04-07: Installation and driving of the temporary sheet piling turbidity barrier continued in the river and excavation and disposal of rip rap to Dow's Salzburg Landfill continued. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued. Dow's contractor continued collecting background turbidity data from turbidity monitors located upstream and downstream of the project area. Work activities at the containment site includes; installation of wood walkway and sampling platform, electrical, HDPE discharge pipe fabrication, site restoration, and dust and track-out control.
Monday 8-06-07: Installation and driving of the temporary sheet piling turbidity barrier continued in the river, along with the removal of temporary sheet piling at the upstream portion of the turbidity barrier to allow access for a construction barge. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued. Dow's contractor continued collecting background turbidity data from turbidity monitors located upstream and downstream of the project area. Dow contractors made temporary modifications to HDPE Sediment Transport dredge line at booster station #1 located on Eastern bank within turbidity barrier. Additional Reach D activities included the staging of sheet metal piling, pump setup, delivery of equipment and materials. Work activities at the containment cell continued with the addition of the installation of PVC odor control piping.
Tuesday 8-07-07: Installation and driving of the temporary sheet piling turbidity barrier continued in the river. Dow contractors removed sufficient amount of temporary sheet piling to allow access for construction barge inside the turbidity barrier. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued as well as turbidity data collection. Work activities at the containment site continued with the off loading of equipment and materials, electrical, pump storm water to plant sewers, geo-tube header pipe assembly, building pad site layout, and dust and track-out control.
Wednesday 8-08-07: Installation and driving of the temporary sheet piling turbidity barrier continued in the river. Dow contractors began removing historic sheet metal piling within the turbidity Northern section. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued as well as turbidity data collection. Work activities at the containment cell continued.
Thursday 8-09-07: Installation and driving of the temporary sheet piling turbidity barrier continued in the river. Dow contractors continued the removal of historic sheet metal piling from within the turbidity barrier. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued as well as turbidity data collection. Work activities at the containment cell continued.

Planned Removal Actions

Sheet piling will be driven down to established elevations to complete the installation of the turbidity barrier between the Dow bridges and downstream of the Dow's ‘railroad' bridge.
Removal of historic flume sheet piling will continue from within the turbidity barrier.
Permanent sheet piling will be driven along the RGIS System.
Permanent turbidity monitors will be placed in the river to monitory potential increases in turbidity that may result from excavation and dredging operations.
Construction on the containment cell will continue. Geo-Tubes and associated connections to the sediment transport line will be completed in preparation for dredging operations to start.

Next Steps

Once all remaining large debris and rip-rap is removed the installation of new permanent sheet piling for the RGIS system will begin. Dredging of contaminated sediment cannot begin until the permanent sheet piling is in place.

A third sheet piling crew will be mobilized to the site. Two other piling crews will continue to install temporary sheet piling along the entire length of the project area and will end adjacent to the Dow Dam.

Key Issues

On Thursday evening August 9th, USEPA participated in the Community Meeting cosponsored by MDEQ and Dow Chemical in Saginaw, MI.

Disposition of Wastes

Waste consisted of Reach D rip-rap from the RGIS system. A total of 143 loads, estimated at 12 cubic yards per load total volume 1,716 estimated cubic yards

7-31-07, 34 loads
8-01-07, 35 loads
8-02-07, 39 loads
8-03-07, 24 loads
8-04-07, 11 loads

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