The Burns Asbestos site is a former Air Force Aerospace Defense Command site located on Hines Logging Road and Radar Lane approximately 3.5 miles southwest of the cities of Burns and Hines, Harney County, Oregon (T23S, R30E, Section 20 of Willamette Meridian), at the top of Burns Butte, elevation of 5,100 feet above mean sea level, 43 degrees 33'44'’ north latitude and 119 degrees 9'3.5'’ west longitude (EPA Figure 1). The site is approximately 31.5 acres in size and is located approximately 4 miles from the nearest surface water body - intermittent creeks.
The primary concern at this Site is the threat of release of CERCLA hazardous substances and pollutant or contaminants, specifically friable asbestos and from deteriorating abandoned buildings and PCB-contaminated soils at or near the surface at the site. Currently, the site is in disrepair. The buildings are severely vandalized with numerous pieces of asbestos containing material strewn on the ground. In addition, several of buildings are in danger of imminent collapse potentially releasing friable asbestos.
On April 20, 2004, ODEQ officially requested support from EPA to conduct a removal action at the Burns Asbestos Site. The State specifically asked EPA to address the removal of asbestos at the site. The State did not have the resources to and did not plan to conduct further actions to address the hazardous substances identified on site. However, the State has agreed to pay for the disposal of non-hazardous construction debris and scrap metal associated with the EPA fund-lead removal action.
***Friday, 6/11/2004: (1-OSC, 2-START, 2-ERRS, 3- Alpine Abatement) EPA, START, ERRS mobilized to the site. START set up air sampling equipment for asbestos. ERRS subcontractor Alpine Abatement Associates conducted abatement work on buildings 105 and 111. ERRS mobilized equipment to the site including excavators and water truck. START conducted photodocumentation of all buildings on site to meet requirements of the Oregon State Historical Preservation Office. OSC and START documented mountain bluebird, european starling, and house finch nests in building 111. The birds were nesting in holes (made by vandalism) in the walls and sheetrock. OSC notified DOI trustee and USFWS. USFW Mike Szumski worked on locating a wildlife rehabilitator and will advise the OSC.
***Saturday, June 12, 2004 (1-OSC, 3-ERRS, 2-START) EPA and START conducted bird survey of all buildings on site. Survey resulted in 1-mountain bluebird nest, 1 european starling nest, 7 house finch/Brewer's sparrow nests, 2 robin nests. Most of the nests had nestlings. ERRS placed safety fence at the south and southeast access points of the site to restrict ATVs. START colleted ambient air samples. USFWS Szumski found bird rehabilitator in Sisters, Oregon. OSC and START to extract birds on Sunday morning and the OSC will deliver birds to rehabilitator. START finished collecting photodocumentation for the SHPO. OSC marked suspected PCB soil areas with caution tape until START is able to sample and confirm concentrations.
***Sunday, 06/13/04 (1-OSC, 1-START, 3-ERRS) The bird rehabilitator decided that she could not handle the numbers of nestlings. USFWS Szumski stated he would try to find another rehabilitator on Monday. ERRS set up spill containment for the diesel tank (to fuel vehicles and equipment). ERRS worked on site prep and site control. ERRS worked on documentation. OSC and START entered each building in Level C and document, with high visibility paint, the building numbers and the asbestos pipe insulation.
***Monday, 06/14/04, (1-OSC, 2- USCG Strike Team, 2-START, 7-ERRS, 2-Alpine Abatement)
Conducted Saftey meeting and site walk with all personnel. Reviewed types of asbestos and locations of PCB-contaminated soils. ERRS crews in Level C removing sage/rabbit brush around buildings and placing Cement Asbestos Board (CAB) debris and general debris into building 100 and 105. OSC and START documented that the mountain bluebird nestlings fledged from building 111. USFWS Szumski found another bird rehabilitator - Lynn Thompkins out of Pendleton, Oregon. EPA OSC and START collected nests with eggs/nestlings from all the buildings on site. OSC drove nestlings to ODFW office in Canyon City, Oregon. ODFW transported them to the bird rehabilitator. ERRS demolished building 100 and half of building 105.
***Tuesday, 6/15/04 (1-OSC, 2-START, 2-USCG, 9-ERRS, 2-Alpine Abatement, 1-Advantage IH, 1-ODEQ) ERRS lined rolloff boxes and loaded building 100 with asbestos debris. ERRS completed demolition of building 105 and loaded half of the building debris into lined rolloff boxes. FAA on site with key to access gate to FAA property. OSC sent fact sheet to local newspaper and radio station. Results of air sampling were read by Advantage and initial results were below clearance limits. ERRS begins to demolish building 111. During demolition, Alpine Abatement noticed several asbestos coated elbows in the attic area and abated them prior to continuing demolition activities.
- EPA will demolish wooden stick structures with Cement Asbestos Board siding as well as Asbestos Floor Tile.
- EPA will demolish the metal-framed quonset hut buildings and remove Asbestos Floor Tile.
- EPA will demolish the radome building to provide access to excavate PCB-contaminated soils.
- ODEQ will demolish other buildings on site under separate contract with EPA's ERRS contractor
ERRS to finish demolishing building 111
Cascade and Alpine will abate buildings 152, 158, 160, and 164.
ERRS to finish demolishing building 111
Cascade and Alpine will abate buildings 152, 158, 160, and 164.
Several bird nests were found inside of on-site buildings, including Robin, Brewer's Sparrow, and House Finch. EPA extracted the nestlings and eggs and transferred them, with assistance from ODFW, to a bird rehabilitator in Pendleton
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