Reach D, Pollution Report 5

Tittabawassee River Dioxin-Reach D
Midland, MI - EPA Region V
POLREP #5 - 8/16/2007
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 10 to August 16th, 2007:

Friday August 10, 2007 -Installation of the temporary sheet piling turbidity barrier continued in the river along with the removal and disposal of historic sheet metal piling (flume piling) from within the contained portion of the turbidity barrier. 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 included; the off loading of equipment and materials, electrical, pumping storm water to plant sewers, delivery of additional pump and set-up, geo-bag deployment and header pipe assembly, PVC odor control piping, HDPE fusion welding, and dust and track-out control.
Saturday August 11, 2007 - Dow Contractors began the installation of a new permanent sheet piling wall along the eastern bank within the enclosed portion of the temporary turbidity barrier and transported/staged sheet pilings at Reach D Project Area. Air monitoring and turbidity monitoring continued. Work activities at the containment site included; the off loading of equipment and materials, electrical, PVC odor control piping, HDPE fusion welding, storm water controls, survey and as-build work, and dust and track-out control.
Monday August 13, 2007 - Installation of new permanent sheet piling and the setting/driving of temporary sheet pilings between Dows upstream and downstream bridges. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued as well as turbidity data collection. Work activities at the containment site included; the off loading of equipment and materials electrical, HDPE fusion welding, storm water controls, construct service road near Sump A, work on 3" water service, top soil and restoration work, and dust and track-out control.
Tuesday August 14, 2007 - Installation of permanent sheet piling continued along with the extraction of historic ‘flume' sheet piling. Dow contractors began the fabrication of a sheet piling ‘wall' to be set and driven underneath Dow's downstream bridge. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued as well as turbidity data collection. Work activities at the containment site included; off loading equipment and materials electrical, HDPE fusion welding, storm water controls mechanical piping, set-up of decontamination sheds, top soil and restoration work, and dust and track-out control.
Wednesday August 15, 2007 - Installation of permanent sheet piling along the eastern bank within the enclosed portion of the temporary turbidity barrier continued along with the extraction of historic ‘flume' sheet piling and the fabrication of sheet piling ‘walls'. Dow contractor ‘set' and anchored a sheet piling ‘wall' underneath downstream bridge. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued along with the staging of 24-hour Summa canisters. Turbidity data collection continued. Work activities at the containment cell continued.
Thursday August 16, 2007 - Installation of permanent sheet piling and the removal of historic ‘flume' sheet piling continued along with the fabrication of sheet piling ‘walls'.. Air monitoring throughout the project area continued and 24-hour Summa Canisters were collected for analysis. Turbidity data was collected from both upstream and downstream temporary turbidity monitors. 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

Dow contractors will remove all historic 'flume' sheet piling and complete the installation of permanent sheet piling along the RGIS system. Dow's contractors will also install permanent upstream and downstream turbidity monitors.

Dredging of contaminated sediment cannot begin until the permanent sheet piling is installed and the permanent turbidity monitors have been staged.

Key Issues

The installation of two sections of gunderboom 'Turbidity Curtain' over a 30" and 36" underwater pipeline to complete temporary turbidity barrier

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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