r
SUPERFUND
Records Of Decision
Update

From: Hazardous Site Control Division
To: EPA Regional Offices
May 21, 1987
Vol. 3, No. 3
Preview of FY'86 ROD Annual Report
The Annual Report of FY'86 RODs
is coming soon. The report consists
of the following sections:
An Introduction that highlights
FY'86 accomplishments, includ-
ing the increased focus on reme-
dies that incorporate treatment
as their principal element.
ROD Summaries for each site
that describe site conditions and
contaminants, performance stan-
dards, institutional controls, and
major keyword categories for the
ROD.
A Record of Decision Summary
Table that provides an overview
of site problems, selected reme-
dies, cleanup criteria, and esti-
mated costs provided in the
RODs signed during FY'86.
An Index of Approved Remedial
Actions selected in FY'82-FY'85,
as well as any subsequent ac-
tions to be taken at the site.
• A ROD Keyword List that pro-
vides major keyword categories
and their subcategories for all
RODs approved in FY'82-FY'86.
The report is currently undergoing
revisions based on regional com-
ments and will be issued in final
form In June. (Watch the ROD Up-
date for notice of its availability.)
Below are highlights of the Intro-
duction.
NUMBER OF SIGNED RODs PER FISCAL YEAR
Q
O
0C
Q
HI
2
13
O
£E
Ul
00
S
3
Z
-I
<
<5
too
80
60
40
20
FY'82	FY'83	FY'84
FISCAL YEAR
FY' 85
FY'86
* Includes Action Memos, Enforcement Decision Documents, and Negotiation Deciiion Documents

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ROD SUMMARIES
KELLOGG-DEERING WELL
FIELD
REGION I
CONNECTICUT
(Approved 9/25/86)
Description:
•	This 10-acre well field supple-
ments surface water sources to
supply water to approximately
45,000 people. TCE was dis-
covered in the ground water in
1975, with subsequent investiga-
tions indicating the presence of
several chemical substances,
most notably PCE and 1,2-DCE.
In May 1981, an aerator was in-
stalled on one of the four produc-
tion wells, and in 1985, an air
stripper was installed on a sec-
ond well. The stripper is rated as
being 99 percent efficient, but it
is not yet in operation because of
holding tank problems. The tank
is scheduled to be repaired by fall
of 1986.
Decision:
•	Repair cracks in existing holding
tank.
•	Bring existing packed-column air
stripping facility into operation.
•	Existing facility has a 99 percent
removal efficiency, which will ob-
tain proposed MCL and 10 ~6
levels.
•	Discharge stripped water to exist-
ing water treatment plant and dis-
tribution system.
Contacts:
•	Region: Ivan Rios
FTS 835-3681
•	Headquarters: Bob Quinn
FTS 382-2350
LANG PROPERTY
REGION II
NEW JERSEY
(Approved 9/29/86)
Description:
•	Unauthorized disposal of hazard-
ous waste of unknown origin
and composition occurred over a
2-acre area on this 40-acre site.
The site is within New Jersey's
Pinelands National Reserve. In
June 1985, approximately 1,500
drums were discovered at the
site. Prompted by state legal ac-
tion, the owner removed these
drums via a local contractor. Prior
to the removal of the drums, their
contents were apparently spilled
onto the ground. This dumping
resulted in surficial and subsur-
face soil contamination, surface
water and sediment contamina-
tion, and shallow ground water
contamination. Contaminants in-
clude a wide range of volatile and
semivolatile organics, pesticides,
PCBs, and metals.
Decision:
•	Excavate approximately 6,500 cu-
bic yards of soils and waste ma-
terial and dispose at an approved
offsite landfill.
•	Extract and treat contaminated
ground water onsite using air
stripping, coagulation, floccula-
tion, sedimentation, and carbon
adsorption; reinject treated
water.
•	Enclose site with a perimeter
fence; remove onsite debris and
vegetation; fill and grade the ex-
cavation.
•	Perform environmental monitor-
ing.
Contacts:
•	Region: Penny Katz
FTS 264-8678
•	Headquarters: John Smith
FTS 382-7996
LANSDOWNE RADIATION
REGION III
PENNSYLVANIA
(Approved 9/22/86)
Description:
•	This site consists of two at-
tached residences in a residential
area approximately 2 miles from
Philadelphia. A physics professor
used part of the building as a
work area to produce and repair
radium implant needles from
1922 until approximately 1942. In
1963, the Pennsylvania State De-
partment of Health detected high
levels of radiation in the building
and assisted in a decontami-
nation project along with the U.S.
Public Health Service and the
U.S. Air Force. In response to
EPA's request for information on
radioactive sites that may be elig-
ible for Superfund money, the
building was investigated again
in early 1984. High levels of radon
and gamma radiation were de-
tected, and the families in both
residences were temporarily re-
located in September 1984. A pre-
vious ROD was prepared to ac-
complish the purchase of the
property so that further remedial
actions could be taken.
Decision:
•	Dismantle the building; pack it in
sealed containers; dispose at an
approved offsite disposal facility.
•	Excavate contaminated soil and
remove to established permis?'
ble levels.
•	Remove the sewer leading f
the contaminated house; repl
approximately 200 feet of se
line.
•	Maintain the property.
Contacts:
•	Region: Vic Janoswik
FTS 597-8996
•	Headquarters: Lisa Feldt
FTS 475-8246
GALLAWAY PONDS
REGION IV
TENNESSEE
(Approved 9/26/86)
Description:
•	Disposal of hazardous materials
occurred during the 1970s and
early 1980s at this site, which has
been mined extensively for sand
and gravel. Mining activities have
resulted in numerous water-filled
pits (ponds 1, 2, and 5) that have
been used to illegally dispose of
hazardous waste and debris. A fo-
cused Rl was completed at the
site in April 1986, and a focused
FS was completed in June 1986.
Contaminants found at elevated
levels in the onsite pits include
chlordane, toxaphene, cadmium,
and arsenic. Chlordane, arsenic,
and cadmium have also been de-
tected in surface soils at the site.
The ground water beneath the
site currently appears to be fro*
of site-related contaminants,
tential receptors include gre^n
company employees who may
come into contact with site soils;
casual intruders; local residents
who may swim in the pits; local
residents who consume fish from
nearby streams that receive site
runoff; offsite biota; and persons
using driveways constructed with
sand and gravel from the pits.
Decision:
•	Excavate contaminated sedi-
ments from ponds 1 and 2 and
consolidate into pond 5.
•	Close pond 5 under Subtitle C of
RCRA.
•	Dilute water in pits with city
water to meet ambient water
quality criteria and discharge to
unnamed tributary.
•	Implement institutional controls,
which may include fencing or.M
strictions on mining, and as^H
that future land use is compatiM
with remedy.
•	Conduct periodic ground water
monitoring and inspection of site
cap.

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Contacts:
•	Region: Beverly Houston
FTS 257-2643
•	Headquarters: Lisa Feldt
FTS 475-8246
LASALLE ELECTRICAL
UTILITIES
REGION V
ILLINOIS
(Approved 8/29/86)
Description:
•	PCBs were used in the produc-
tion of capacitors at this site from
the late 1940s until October 1978.
It is alleged that PCB-contami-
nated waste oils were regularly
applied as a dust suppressant as
late as 1969. Sampling conducted
by the State in December 1980 in-
dicated extensive PCB contami-
nation at the site. Subsequently,
PCB contamination was found on
adjacent properties. Several EPA
immediate removal actions have
taken place at the site. In July
1983, the site was fenced, and a
cap was constructed over the
heavily contaminated areas. In
June 1984, an additional section
of the site was capped. In April
1985, PCB waste material at the
site was packaged, sampled, and
staged for eventual disposal. The
Rl concluded that PCB contami-
nation greater than 5 ppm is pres-
ent in the yards of at least 27
property owners.
Decision:
•	Excavate and incinerate contami-
nated offsite soils.
•	Perform industrial cleaning of all
structures where excavation oc-
curs.
Contacts:
•	Region: Dan Caplice
FTS 886-0397
•	Headquarters: Randy Kaltreider
FTS 382-2448
IRON MOUNTAIN MINE
REGION IX
CALIFORNIA
(Approved 10/3/86)
This ROD is the first of two RODs
envisioned for this site. The second
ROD will add components as
necessary based, in part, on the
results of initial activities.
Description:
• The site is located on 4,400 acres
of land and was periodically
mined for iron, silver, gold, cop-
per, zinc, and pyrite from the
1860sto1962. Acid minedrainage
is collected in a downgradient
reservoir and is subsequently
metered into another reservoir
prior to being discharged to the
Sacramento River. Releases are
controlled to meet established
levels for copper, zinc, and cad-
mium in the river. However,
during periods of high runoff, un-
controlled releases from the
reservoir occur. Numerous fish
kills have been reported in the
Sacramento River, and domestic
water use has been temporarily
discontinued at times. The Rl,
issued in August 1985, indicated
that contaminated ground water
did not appear to be a problem at
the site. However, the environ-
mental and human health im-
pacts caused by surface water
contamination were determined
to be significant.
Decision:
•	Cap selected cracked and caved
areas to reduce infiltration into
the fractured ore body.
•	Divert clean surface water from
the site.
•	Enlarge holding reservoir in order
to provide better flow equaliza-
tion.
•	Implement perimeter control so
that the threat from direct con-
tact is reduced.
•	Perform hydrogeologic study and
field-scale pilot tests in which
material such as low-density con-
crete is placed in selected mine
openings in order to deprive reac-
tion surfaces of oxygen and,
thus, reduce the formation of
acid mine drainage.
•	Fund balancing considerations
were incorporated into the selec-
tion of the overall remedy when
the point of compliance was
chosen downstream of the site
boundaries.
Contacts:
•	Region: Tom Mix
FTS 454-8150
•	Headquarters: Steve Hooper
FTS 475-6689
ONSITE INSIGHTS
DIOXIN DECHLORINATION
WESTERN PROCESSING
KENT, WASHINGTON
REGION X
Background
Several thousand gallons of an oily
liquid contaminated with 120 parts
per billion of 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD were
discovered in a storage tank at the
Western Processing site in
Washington. While searching for
alternatives to dispose of the
dioxin-contamlnated waste, investi-
gators learned of the KPEG pro-
cess. The newly patented process
had been used only once before for
dioxin dechlorination: In July 1986,
10,000 gallons of contaminated
waste were treated in a special
mobile unit at a Superfund site in
Butte, Montana. After a public hear-
ing on the process, the Western
Processing site was granted an
emergency permit. The KPEG treat-
ment unit was moved to the site in
mid-August 1986 and was used to
treat the wastes in six batches.
Operation
The KPEG process uses potassium
hydroxide and polyethylene glycol,
along with dimethyl sulfoxide as a
catalyst, to dechlorinate dioxin. The
mobile unit used for the treatment
at Western Processing contained a
3,000-gallon reactor tank into which
a 1,300-gallon charge of conta-
minated oil was added. The re-
agents were then added, and the
reaction was carried out in batches
with mixing for 2 hours or more at
150°C. In previous tests, it had been
found that the reaction time
decreased as the batch temperature
rose. Each batch at the Western
Processing site required between 3
and 6 hours of reaction time. After
treatment, each batch was analyzed
for dioxin residues. All but two
batches had dioxin levels that were
less than detection limits (200 to
300 parts per trillion). The two
batches that still contained detec-
table dioxin were re-treated to
achieve a nondetectable level. The
waste liquid was treated to
nondetectable levels of dioxin to
allow it to be incinerated at a unit
that does not usually handle dioxin.
Incineration of the waste liquid was
completed in 1986.

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Status
During treatment, two problems
caused delays until they were re-
solved: (1) The mixture foamed
while being agitated during the
reaction and (2) after the reaction
was completed, the mixture so-
lidified into a gel that created han-
dling problems. It has been sug-
gested that the high surfactant
content of the waste caused the
foaming and resulted in the need to
re-treat the two batches. Reduced
levels of agitation on selected
A LINE ON RODS w—m
CORRECTION
The test burn at the Peak Oil site in
Florida was completed in mid-April,
not initiated as stated in the April 13
issue of the ROD Update.
ROD WORKSHOP
The annual ROD Workshop will be
held three times this year, begin-
ning with a session in Washington,
batches minimized foaming and
resulted in successful dechlorina-
tion. These problems were not en-
countered during the Butte, Mon-
tana, project because the process
was used to treat kerosene that was
relatively free of contaminants.
The KPEG process is also being
studied for use in treating soils con-
taminated with certain classes of
chlorinated organics, including
PCBs, dioxins, and chlorobenzenes.
The declorination process for soils
involves excavating the conta-
D.C., on June 10-11. This first ses-
sion will be targeted for Regions I,
II, III, and IV. The workshop will be
repeated in Chicago on June 24-25
for Regions V, VI, and VII and again
in San Francisco on July 7-8 for
Regions VIII, IX, and X.
This year's workshop will focus on
preparing RODs under SARA.
Topics will include the remedy
minated soils; drying, sizing (in
some cases), and removing rocks
from the soils; contacting the soil
with the KPEG reagent in a pug mill
or cement mixer; removing tha
reagent solution; and performing i~
two- to three-cycle rinsing of the
treated soil with water in a counter-
current extractor.
Contacts:
•	Region: Ron Vernesoni
FTS 399-1816
•	Headquarters: John Cunningham
FTS 382-7998
selection process, changes in the
ROD Guidance and the' RI/FS
Guidance, ARARs, the ad-
ministrative record, and a variety of
technical topics. Remedial Project
Managers and Regional Counsel
staff responsible for writing FY'87
RODs will receive top priority for
these sessions. For registration
details, please refer to the ROD
Workshop brochure recently mailed
to your Region.
GROWTH IN THE USE OF TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES
1982 - 1986
UJ o
LU CO
1982 1983
TOTAL
NO. OF
RODS/YR
TOTAL NO.OF RODS
1982- 1986 - 207
KEY
| On Site Incineration
[ < I Of< Site Incineration
F - • 1 Stabilization/Neutralization
E3 Soil Washing/Flushing
	I Solidification
I I Volatilization/Soil Aeration
Biodegradation
m Land Application/Composting

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