United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5502G)
EPA520-F-93-012
Summer 1993
& EPA Super-fund At Work
Hazardous Waste Cleanup Efforts Nationwide
Pioneer Sand Company
Site Profile
Site Description:
An inactive sand quarry near
Pensacola, Florida
Site Size: 11 acres
Primary Contaminants:
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
Light, Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid
(LNAPL), pentachlorophenols
(PCPs), and resin compounds
Potential Range of Health Risks:
Direct contact with contaminants can
cause skin irritation, respiratory
distress
Nearby Population Affected:
67,000 people within five miles
Ecological Concerns:
Five endangered species inhabit
the area
Year Listed on NPL: 1983
Year Deleted from NPL: 1993
EPA Region: 4
State: Florida
Congressional District: 1
Using Air To Solidify A Liquid Contaminant
&&•
Region 5, HlFafy (PI-12J)
Success In Brief
EPA Oversees Cleanup Of
Pioneer Sand Company Site
The cleanup of the Pioneer Sand Company site in Florida can be
attributed to innovation and cooperation. Together with the State of
Florida, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and waste
contributors worked to reduce the dangers posed by the site by:
• Removing 20 tons of highly contaminated soil in just three days;
• Stabilizing and immobilizing a liquid contaminant using an
innovative technology; and
• Treating over four million gallons of contaminated water and
7,550 cubic yards of sludge.
In addition, EPA maintained regular communications with area
residents to ensure their participation in the cleanup effort. The
Agency also recovered the costs associated with emergency cleanup
operations and site investigations, an estimated $600,000.
The Site Today
All cleanup activities at the Pioneer Sand Company site have been
completed. Highly contaminated soil was removed, and a protective
cover and alternate drainage sys-
tem were installed to permanently
isolate any remaining contami-
nants. Future use of the site has
been restricted by local officials.
The fenced site has been seeded
for grass and wildlife again fre-
quent the area. The parties respon-
sible for cleaning up the site are
presently monitoring conditions to
ensure the integrity of the cover
and protection of ground water.
These monitoring activities began
in July 1991 and will continue for at
least 20 years.
ney
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
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Superfund At Work
Pioneer Sand Company, Pensacola, FL
Summer 1993
The Pioneer Sand Company
site is an 11-acre facility located
five miles northwest of the city
of Pensacola, Florida, which
has a population of approxi-
mately 67,000 people.
The site
was an
active
sand mining
facility
for over peregrine
25 years, falcon
Begin-
ning in 1974, the
Pensacola Naval
Air Station and
Reichhold
Chemicals, Inc.
used the site as
a depository
for various
industrial
sludges and domestic and
industrial wastes.
A Site Snapshot
Approximately three of the 11
acres were contaminated due to
improper waste disposal.
Contaminants from wastes
found in soil and surface
water included heavy
metals (such as chromium
and lead), volatile organic
compounds (such as
toluene, ethylbenzene,
and xylene),
pentachlorophenols
(PCPs), and poly-
chlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs).
Direct contact with these
contaminants could have
caused skin irritation, respira-
tory damage from inhalation of
fumes, and increased risk of
cancer.
When the site was first investi-
gated, there was concern that the
underlying sand and gravel
aquifer was in danger of being
contaminated. The aquifer is
the only source of drinking
water for the area and if con-
Five endangered species
inhabit the area
taminated could pose a serious
threat to the surrounding
population.
Further investigations
revealed, however, that the
aquifer and 15 private wells
bordering the site were not
affected.
Nevertheless, five endan-
gered species — bald eagles,
peregrine falcons, red-
cockaded woodpeckers, eastern
indigo snakes and brown
pelicans — inhabit the sur-
rounding area and were threat-
ened by the contamination.
Pioneer Sand Company
Timeline
• Disposal operations shut down
Pioneer Sand's disposal permit revoked
• Owner cited for violations
• EPA begins site investigation
Superfund enacted
• FDER orders disposal activities to cease
• Pioneer Sand receives violations notice
1 Pioneer Sand issued non-hazardous
waste disposal permit
Site used as sand mining facility
Disposal of
industrial sludges
and wastes on site
1
1950
1973 1974
1978
1980 198
Page 2
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Superfund At Work
Pioneer Sand Company, Pensacola, FL
Summer 1993
EPA and Waste Contributors Clean Up
Pioneer Sand Company Site
Improper Disposal Creates
A Hazardous Waste Site
The Pioneer Sand Company
site was an active sand mining
facility from the mid-1950s until
1973. The company produced
sand used in the construction of
roads and buildings. In 1974,
after the site had become inactive,
the owner of the company was
granted a non-hazardous dis-
posal permit.
The owner allowed other
companies to use the inactive
sand quarry as a waste disposal
facility. From 1974 to 1978,
Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. dis-
posed of phenols and resin com-
pounds. Beginning in 1977, the
Pensacola Naval Air Station also
deposited domestic and industrial
wastes on site.
In 1978, the Florida Depart-
ment of Environmental Regula-
tions (FDER) sent a warning
notice to Pioneer Sand citing
violations of the Florida Air and
Water Pollution Control Act.
Between 1977 and 1981, Pioneer
Industrial and domestic
waste products,
including phenols
and resin compounds,
were deposited
in the inactive sand quarry
Sand received several citations
from FDER for failure to conduct
required sampling of on-site
wastes and for accepting non-
approved wastes. Because of
these violations, FDER ordered
Pioneer Sand to stop all disposal
activities and revoked the
company's waste disposal permit.
Pioneer Sand
Pensacola, Florida
State and EPA
Begin Investigations
In 1981, at the state's
request, EPA performed
preliminary investigations to
determine the extent of the con-
tamination. Based on these stud-
ies, in September 1983, the site
was included on the National
Priorities List (NPL), EPA's roster
of uncontrolled or abandoned
hazardous waste sites eligible for
cleanup under the Superfund
program, enacted in 1980.
EPA then began negotiations
with the waste contributors,
Reichhold Chemicals (formerly
Newport Industries) and the U.S.
Navy, to gain their involvement
• Site listed on NPL
• Negotiations for site studies break down
1 EPA and FDER begin comprehensive investigations
m • EPA removes 20 tons of PCB-contaminated soil
f • Public meeting on cleanup alternatives
• Cleanup approach selected
/>
Negotiations with waste contributors begin
m • Reichold Chemicals agrees to conduct cleanup
/
Site deleted from NPL
Construction activities begin
Cleanup activities completed
Site monitoring begins
1983 1984
1986 1987 1988
1991
1993
Page 3
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Superfund At Work
Pioneer Sand Company, Pensacola, FL • Summer 1993
in the study of site contami-
nants and potential cleanup
alternatives. Despite extensive
negotiations, an agreement could
not be reached. In March 1984, to
EPA excavated
20 tons of
PCB-contaminated soil
in three days
avoid further delays, EPA and
FDER proceeded to study the
contaminants and then proposed
potential remedies.
EPA Selects
Long-Term Cleanup Plan
EPA's preferred cleanup plan
involved collecting any contami-
nants that could migrate off site
during cleanup, and treating
polluted soil and water on site.
EPA also proposed covering the
entire site with a protective cap
and seeding the cap for grass.
In July 1986, EPA presented
this plan at a public meeting and
addressed the community's
concerns and questions. Area
residents backed the selected
long-term remedy for the site.
In order to immediately stabi-
lize the site, EPA conducted an
emergency removal in August
1986, excavating 20 tons of PCB-
contaminated soil over a period of
three days. The soil was taken to
an approved hazardous waste
facility for disposal. EPA also
installed a security fence around
the site to prevent public exposure
to the remaining contaminants.
Waste Contributors
Agree to Clean Up Site
EPA and the waste contribu-
tors returned to the negotiating
table in early 1987 to discuss the
long-term cleanup initiatives. In
1988, Reichhold agreed to design
and conduct the work.
The U.S. Navy preferred not to
participate in cleanup activities
directly, but agreed to reimburse
Cleanup included
treatment of more than
four million gallons
of contaminated water
Reichhold for half of the costs.
Both Reichhold and the Navy
agreed to reimburse EPA for costs
associated with the earlier studies.
To date, EPA has received ap-
proximately $600,000.
Final Cleanup Measures
In January 1991, the cleanup
team began stabilizing and treat-
ing the remaining on-site con-
tamination. The team collected
and treated over four million
gallons of contaminated water
from the site.
The team also mixed 7550
cubic yards of contaminated
sludge with cement and sand to
ensure that the chemicals would
not migrate off site. The resulting
mass provided a solid support for
continued on page 5
Heavy Duty Equipment: As part of the Pioneer Sand Company site cleanup,
EPA conducted an emergency removal in which 20 tons of PCB-contaminated soil
was removed in three days.
Page 4
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Superfund At Work
Pioneer Sand Company, Pensacola, FL • Summer 1993
Innovative Technology Stabilizes Hidden Contaminants
While designing the cleanup
approach, workers discovered
approximately 50,000-60,000
gallons of Light, Non-Aqueous
Phase Liquid (LNAPL) 30 feet
below the landfill surface.
LNAPLs are undissolved
chemicals, typically petroleum
products like gasoline and
other fuels. These liquids float
to the surface rather than mix
with the ground water. A good
analogy would be oil and
vinegar salad dressing.
The challenge for the
cleanup team was to prevent
the LNAPL from migrating off
site into surrounding areas. The
cleanup team used an innova-
tive technology which injected
air into and through the LNAPL
to partially solidify the chemicals.
Fifteen percent of the liquid
components of the LNAPL was
immediately evaporated, and the
remaining 85% became a tar-like
substance. Overall, the viscosity
of the LNAPL increased, prevent-
ing chemicals from
migrating off site or
mixing with the ground
water.
As an additional
safeguard, a drainage
system was constructed
around the landfill to
collect the LNAPL in the
event that the air injec-
tions did not stabilize all
of the liquid mass.
Other precautions
were taken, including
installation of gas ventila-
tion systems to collect
any contaminated runoff or
vapors. These systems remain
in place to prevent any future
contaminant migration.
Contaminants That Don't Mix
Light, Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL)
floats on top rather than dissolves in water,
similar to salad dressing.
LNAPL
«—
water
vinegar
EPA and Waste Contributors Qean Up Site
continued from page 4
the protective cover. This action
was completed in just six weeks.
During the design of the cover,
engineers decided to use a syn-
thetic cap rather than clay, as it
would be more protective and
cost less to install and maintain.
The cover and surrounding areas
have since been seeded for grass.
EPA and FDER
Monitor Cleanup
In March 1991, and again in
May, EPA and FDER inspected
the site to monitor progress. By
July the work had
been completed.
Continuous monitor-
ing will take place
over the next 20 years,
during which time
Reichhold must
ensure that contami-
nants will not migrate
off the site. While no
longer considered a
hazard, future use of
the site will be limited
to ensure that the
protective cover will
not be damaged.
Two members of the Pioneer Sand Company site
cleanup team test a contaminant sample.
Page 5
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Superfund At Work
Pioneer Sand Company, Pensacola, FL • Summer 1993
Cleanup Team Works Closely
With Community
An essential component of the
Superfund program is commu-
nity participation in EPA site
activities. EPA held public meet-
ings throughout the cleanup to
explain plans for the site and to
answer questions regarding the
work.
Community members cooper-
ated with both EPA and
Reiehhold. One area resident
allowed the cleanup team to use
his driveway to access the site so
that an additional road would not
have to be constructed.
The site manager also moved
into a mobile home during the
cleanup to keep a watchful eye on
the site's progress. His proximity
made it easier for citizens to ask
questions and express concerns.
Local residents felt that the
manager's presence in the com-
munity demonstrated a genuine
concern for the restoration of the
environment.
U.S. EPA
PIONEER SAND
SUPERFUND SITE
Success at
Pioneer
Sand
Cleanup is complete at the
Pioneer Sand Company site.
EPA reduced the immediate
threat to the environment and
successfully negotiated with
waste contributors to conduct
the remaining cleanup actions.
In addition, the Agency
recovered an estimated
$600,000 in past costs from the
responsible parties.
Reiehhoid Chemicals is
currently monitoring the
ground water to ensure the
stability and integrity of the
site cover.
EPA deleted the site from
the National Priorities List
in 1993.
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Superfund At Work updates,
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telephone (703) 487-4650.
SEPA
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5502G
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