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Site Number: |
A949 |
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Contract Number: |
EP-S9-12-01 |
D.O. Number: |
0937 |
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Action Memo Date: |
7/30/2014 |
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
9/30/2013 |
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Start Date: |
10/1/2013 |
Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
6/30/2015 |
CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
The Samoa Pulp Mill Site is a 70 acre former industrial pulp manufacturing facility. The pulp mill was constructed in 1963 by Georgia Pacific. In the early 1970's Louisiana Pacific acquired and ran the facility until 1990. From 1990 until 2008 various smaller groups owned and operated the facility. The last operating owner of the facility was the Evergreen Pulp Company which ran the facility until 2008. Evergreen experienced financial difficulties and "walked away" from the mill site without properly closing operations. Sometime in 2009 a venture group called Freshwater Tissue Company purchased the facility site with intent of converting to a tissue mill. This quickly failed to reach fruition and Freshwater began scrapping the facility and consolidating hazardous waste. In August of 2013 Freshwater Tissue Company sold the facility to the Humboldt Bay Harbor District (aka - Port Authority). The facility is currently staffed with 2 part-time Humboldt Bay Harbor District employees.
1.1.2.1 Location
The Samoa Pulp Mill Site is located within Humboldt County in Samoa, CA. The Site is approximately 70 acres of industrial pulp processing operations and is situated on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay. The facility is on the shore line of Humboldt Bay and has an industrial wharf on the Bay. The Pacific Ocean is located within 800 yds to the west of the facility.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The primary concern is 11 ASTs containing 3-4 million gallons of highly caustic liquids (pH greater than 13). Five of these ASTs are not designed to store caustic liquids and periodic seismic activity (6.8 earthquake occurred off coast of Humboldt Co. 3/9/2014) has caused grave concern regarding their stability. Additionally, there are a half dozen ASTs containing 2000-3000 gallons of sulfuric acid (pH less than 1), 3,000 tons of corrosive sludges in uncontained areas, approximately 3000 gallons of turpentine, and several thousand containers of various types (i.e., compressed gas cylinders, paints/thinners, mercury containing gauges and equipment).
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Please refer to previous Polreps
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2.1.1 Narrative
ERRS continued to manage storm-water ( used as dust control), solidify corrosive sludge with imported
fly ash and sawdust, transport solidified sludge for disposal, demolish tanks,
and decontaminate steel for recycle. Demolition of tanks over 35 feet high were conducted per approved CalOSHA demolition plan, with subcontracted crane operators and under the supervision of a demolition expert.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
06-11Apr2015: OSC Calanog
ERRS crew loaded 24 trucks (approx. 500 tons) with treated sludges for transport and disposal. Continued to remove sludges from sludge bunkers. Sludge bunkers were then decontaminated and demolished. Crews continued to remove remaining pipeline racks adjacent the south tanks, removed residual contamination and decontaminated them. During this time the 55 ton crane arrived and crews began removal of superstructure steel from on top of tanks #19 and #41. During the week crews managed accumulated rainwater and segregated contaminated water into frack tanks. The USCG PST prepared to pump off residual liquors and contaminated rainwater from tank #142.
13-18Apr2015: OSC Waldon
Tank 41 – Sludge Removal Complete,
Tank 14 – Demolished, steel recycled, Tanks 37 & 66 – Hydrocut access
complete. Hydrocut required due to LEL
exceeded within tanks.
Site visited by Enforcement &
Removal Operations Chief, Pete Guria and ERRS Contracting Officer, Amit Raikar,
14-15Apr.
20-25Apr2015: OSC Weden
Tanks 39, 42, and 63-66 – Sludge
removal complete, Tanks 19, 36, and 38 access holes cut into side of tank,
Tanks 19, and 140-142 roof removed and sides being removed.
Approximately 654 Tons of solidified
sludge were removed for disposal. To
date, approximately 2,072 Tons have been removed. Additionally, 45 Tons of scrap steel were
removed, bringing the total to approximately 390 Tons
Midday 22Apr, crane operations ceased
due to high winds.
27 Apr - 02 May 2015
Tanks demolition continued. Removal of sludge, treatment, transportation continued. On April 27th representatives from CalOSHA conducted a site visit. Out briefing included positive commendations to EPA's contractors for their attentiveness to Health and Safety measures. On May 1st news reporters from KIEM NBC were on-scene and did an update story.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
On-going
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
Recycled |
Caustic liquids |
liquids |
2.7m gallons |
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To date - 2.7 million gallons
Kapstone Paper Company, Longview, WA |
Sulfuric Acid - Re-usable |
liquids |
6k gallons |
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Purchased by Valley Acid, Stratford, CA (11/13) |
Sulfuric Acid - Waste |
liquids |
4k gallons |
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x |
x |
21st Century Environmental Management of CA, LP |
Hydrochloric Acid - Waste |
liquids |
2,100 gallons |
011138259 JJK |
x |
x |
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Corrosive sludges |
semi-solids |
9k tons |
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x |
Recology, Vacaville, CA
To date: ~3000 tons |
Turpentine |
liquids |
3k gallons |
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Lab Chemicals |
various |
~2k containers |
0000990296DAT |
x |
x |
21st Century Environmental Management of CA, LP |
"HHW" type |
various |
~2k containers |
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Hg |
liquids |
Unk at this time |
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Waste oils |
liquids |
~2k gallons |
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~200 gallons removed by Asbury Environmental for recycling |
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