On-Site Incineration at the
Rose Township Dump Superfund Site
Holly, Michigan

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Incineration at the Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Holly, Michigan

Site Name:

Rose Township Dump
Superfund Site

Contaminants:

PCBs, metals, and volatile and
semivolatile organic compounds

• Most common contaminants
(and maximum
concentrations) were toluene
(4,700 mg/kg), ethylbenzene
(430 mg/kg), chlorobenzene
(570 mg/kg), xylene (1,400
mg/kg), naphthalene (31
mg/kg), pentachlorophenol
(32 mg/kg), acetone (76
mg/kg), and total phthalates
(91 mg/kg)

Period of Operation:

September 1992 - October
1993

Location:

Holly, Michigan

Cleanup Type:

Remedial Action

Vendor:

OHM Remediation Services
Corp.

16406 U.S. Route 224 East
Findlay, OH 45840

Technology:

On-Site Infrared Incineration

•	Excavated material screened
and blended with fuel oil prior
to incineration

•	PCBs and VOCs volatilized
and partially destroyed in
primary combustion chamber

•	Kiln ash quenched by water-
cooled screw

•	Exhaust gas from kiln directed
to air pollution control system,
consisting of secondary
combustion chamber (SCC)

•	Wastewater treated on-site
and discharged under NPDES
permit

Cleanup Authority:

CERCLA and State: Michigan

•	ROD signed 9/30/87

•	EPA-lead

SIC Code:

N/A

Point of Contact:

Kevin Adler

US EPA Region V

77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL

Phone: 312-886-7078

State Contact:

Brady Boyce
Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality
301 S. Capitol Street
Lansing, Ml 48933
Phone: 517-373-4824

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Incineration at the Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Holly, Michigan

(Continued)

Waste Source:

Waste disposal areas in landfills
and surface impoundments —
wastes included spent solvents,
paint sludges, lead battery
sludges, waste oils	

Type/Quantity of Media
Treated:

Soil

• 34,000 tons of surface and
subsurface soil

Regulatory Requirements/Cleanup Goals:

•	Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE) of 99.9999% for principal organic hazardous materials as
required by Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations in 40 CFR part 264,
subpart O; DRE of 99.9999% for PCBs as required by Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
regulations in 40 CFR part 761	

Results:

•	EPA determined that demonstration of a 99.9999% DRE for PCBs was not necessary during the trial
burn because (1) substantial hazards were associated with transporting and storing concentrated PCB
oils, and (2) the unit had demonstrated the ability to adequately destroy PCBs in order to obtain its
TSCA permit	

Description:

From 1966 to 1968 approximately 5,000 drums containing spent solvents, paint sludges, lead battery
sludges, and waste oils were buried in a 12-acre area at the Rose Township Dump site. Bulk wastes
were also discharged to the surface or into shallow lagoons or pits in the area. On September 30, 1987,
EPA signed a Record of Decision (ROD) specifying on-site incineration as the selected remedy for
contaminated soil at the site. A consent decree was signed by 12 potentially responsible parties (PRPs)
and EPA in 1988 to remediate the site.

The incinerator used to process soils at the site was the OHM Mobile Infrared Thermal Destruction Unit
(TDU). The PCBs and VOCs were volatilized and partially destroyed in the primary combustion
chamber. Off-gases from the preliminary combustion chamber were routed to a secondary combustion
chamber (SCC) for further destruction of any remaining VOCs and PCBs. Kiln ash was quenched by a
water-cooled screw. During the on-site incineration remedial action, 34,000 tons of contaminated soil
were incinerated. Treatment performance and emissions data collected during this application indicated
that all performance standards and emissions requirements were achieved.

The total cost for remediation using the incineration system was approximately $12 million.

Purpose/Significance of Application:

Operating in winter led to weather-related difficulties resulting in
suspension of the operation until spring.

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Executive Summary

This report presents cost and performance data
for the application of on-site incineration at the
Rose Township Dump Superfund Site (Rose
Township Site) in Holly, Michigan. An infrared
incinerator was operated from September 1992
through October 1993 as part of a remedial
action. The contaminants of concern at the Rose
Township site were PCBs, metals, and volatile
and semivolatile organic compounds.

From 1966 to 1968 approximately 5,000 drums
containing spent solvents, paint sludges, lead
battery sludges, and waste oils were buried in a
12-acre area at the Rose Township Dump site.
Bulk wastes were also discharged to the surface
or into shallow lagoons or pits in the area.

During the Remedial Investigation (Rl), PCBs
were detected in the soil at concentrations up to
980 mg/kg. The majority of PCB contamination
was contained in an area approximately 200 feet
by 750 feet. Excavation of material to depths of
22 feet was required to meet the cleanup goals.
Lead was detected at concentrations up to 3,200
mg/kg. A variety of volatile and semivolatile
organic compounds also were detected in soils
during the Rl. The most common contaminants
(and maximum concentrations) were toluene
(4,700 mg/kg), ethylbenzene (430 mg/kg),
chlorobenzene (570 mg/kg), xylene (1,400
mg/kg), naphthalene (31 mg/kg),
pentachlorophenol (32 mg/kg), acetone (76
mg/kg), and total phthalates (91 mg/kg).

On September 30, 1987, EPA signed a Record of
Decision (ROD) specifying on-site incineration as
the selected remedy for contaminated soil at the
Rose Township Site. Performance standards for
the incineration process included a destruction
and removal efficiency (DRE) of 99.9999% for
PCBs. A consent decree was signed by 12
potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and EPA in
1988 to remediate the site.

achieve the desired BTU value. Wet soil was
dried in a drying building by heaters and
blowers prior to screening. Oversize rocks,
tree stumps, and personal protective
equipment were shredded and incinerated.
Intact drums unearthed during the excavation
of soil were disposed of off the site.

The incinerator used to process soils at the
Rose Township site was the OHM Mobile
Infrared Thermal Destruction Unit (TDU).
Off-gases from the preliminary combustion
chamber were routed to a secondary
combustion chamber (SCC) for further
destruction of any remaining VOCs and
PCBs. Kiln ash was quenched by a
water-cooled screw.

Exhaust gas from the kiln was directed to an
air pollution control system (APCS). The
APCS consisted of a water spray to reduce
the temperature of the SCC exit gas, a low-
energy venturi scrubber and a packed bed
adsorber to control particulates and acid gas,
and a high-energy venturi scrubber and mist
eliminator to control metals emissions and
remove additional particulates. All of the
wastewater generated by the system was
treated on site and discharged under a
NPDES permit.

During the on-site incineration remedial
action, 34,000 tons of contaminated soil were
incinerated. Treatment performance and
emissions data collected during this
application indicated that all performance
standards and emissions requirements were
achieved.

The total cost for remediation using the
incineration system was approximately $12
million.

Remedial actions were managed by Perini
Environmental, a remedial contractor hired by the
PRPs, and were performed under the oversight
of EPA Region 5.

Contaminated soil was excavated using
backhoes and longarms. Prior to incineration,
excavated material was screened to less than
one inch in diameter, and blended with fuel oil to

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Site Information

Identifying Information

Rose Township Dump Superfund Site
Holly, Michigan

CERCLIS #: MID980499842

ROD Date: September 30, 1987

Treatment Application

Type of action: Remedial (on-site infrared
incineration)

Period of operation: September 1992 -
October 1993

Quantity of material treated during
application: 34,000 tons of contaminated
soil

Background

Historical Activity that Generated
Contamination at the Site: Dumping of spent
solvents, paint sludges, lead battery sludges, and
waste oils. No manufacturing or other industrial
activity was conducted at this site.

Corresponding SIC Code: Not applicable

Waste Management Practice That Contributed
to Contamination: Waste disposal in landfills
and surface impoundments

A search warrant obtained in June of
1979 allowed the drums to be sampled
by the MDNR to identify their contents.

Based on the results of 1979 drum
sampling, a toxic substances emergency
was declared by the Michigan Toxic
Substances Control Commission. A
removal action, completed in July 1980
resulted in the removal of over 5,000
drums from the site for off-site disposal.

Site History:

The Rose Township site occupies a 110-acre
parcel of land. A portion of the site was used
for farming from the 1950s to the 1960s.
From 1966 to 1968 approximately 5,000
drums containing spent solvents, paint
sludges, lead battery sludges, and waste oils
were buried in a 12-acre portion of the site.
An undetermined amount of bulk wastes
were also discharged to the surface or into
shallow lagoons or pits in the area.

The results of investigations at the site
indicate that surface and subsurface soils
and groundwater at the site were
contaminated with PCBs, metals, and volatile
and semivolatile organic compounds.

In April 1979, the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources (MDNR) surveyed the site
and identified approximately 1,500 drums of
unknown contaminants.

A Remedial Investigation [Rl] and a
Feasibility Study [FS] were initiated at the
Rose Township Site in February of 1984
and were completed in June of 1987.

On September 30, 1987, EPA signed a
Record of Decision (ROD) specifying
on-site incineration as the selected
remedy for the contaminated soil at the
Rose Township Site. An amendment to
the ROD was issued in 1989.

From September 1992 until October
1993, an infrared incinerator operated at
the Rose Township Site as part of a
remedial action. During the remedial
action, 34,000 tons of contaminated soil
were incinerated.

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Site Information (Cont.)

Regulatory Context:

The Rose Township Site was placed on the
National Priorities List (NPL) in 1982.

On September 30, 1987, EPA signed a
Record of Decision (ROD) specifying the site
cleanup requirements.

A consent decree was signed by 12
Potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and
EPA in 1988 to remediate the site.

The DREs were set in accordance with
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) incinerator regulations in 40 CFR
part 264, subpart O and Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA) regulations in 40 CFR
part 761.

The selected remedy was conducted
under the provisions of the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980 (CERCLA), the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of
1986 (SARA) and the National
Contingency Plan (NCP) in 40 CFR
part 300.

Remedy Selection: EPA determined that
on-site incineration would be protective of
human health and the environment, and cost
effective. EPA further determined that
on-site incineration satisfied the CERCLA
requirement that the remedy reduce toxicity,
mobility, or volume of the waste.

Timeline

Table 1. Timeline

Date

Activity

1966-1968

Wastes are disposed of at Rose Township site

April 1979

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) surveys site

June 1979

Drums sampled by MDNR

July 1980

5,000 drums removed from site by MDNR

1982

Site placed on NPL

February 1984-September 1987

MDNR performs Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study

September 1987

Record of Decision signed

September 1992

Trial burn conducted

September 1992

Excavation and incineration operations begin

October 1993

Incineration operations completed

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Site Information (Cont.)

Site Information

The Rose Township site occupies 110-acres
on Demode Road in rural Rose Township,
Michigan. Located approximately 1 mile west
of the town of Rose Center, the site
comprises an upland area almost completely
surrounded by wetlands with an abundance
of wildlife on the site. The southern portion of
the site is heavily wooded with hardwoods.
The middle portion, a rolling meadow, is
bordered by a marsh to the west and
northeast and Demode road to the north.

There are two groundwater contaminant
plumes on-site. In the northern part of
the site is a plume containing vinyl
chloride, and in the southwest is a plume
containing vinyl chloride, xylene, toluene,
and benzene. The northern plume
threatens to contaminate nearby
domestic drinking-water wells, one of
which is located within 1,600 feet of the
site.

Site Loaistics/Contacts

Site Management: EPA Region 5-lead

Oversight: Michigan Department of Natural
Resources

Remedial Project Manager:

Kevin Adler

US EPA Region 5

77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL

Phone: 312-886-7078

State Contact:

Brady Boyce

Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality

301 S. Capitol Street
Lansing, Ml 48933
Phone: 517-373-4824

Treatment System Vendor:

Greg McCartney

OHM Remediation Services Corp.
16406 U.S. Route 224 East
Findlay, OH 45840

Matrix Description

Matrix Identification

Type of Matrix Processed Through the
Treatment System: Soil, rocks, and tree stumps

Contaminant Characterization

Primary Contaminant Groups: PCBs, metals,
and volatile and semivolatile organic compounds.

During the Rl, contaminants detected in the
soil included PCBs at concentrations up to
980 mg/kg. Lead was detected at
concentrations up to 3,200 mg/kg. A variety
of other volatile and semivolatile organic
compounds also were detected in soils
during the Rl. The most common
contaminants and their respective maximum
concentrations were toluene (4,700 mg/kg),
ethylbenzene (430 mg/kg), chlorobenzene

(570 mg/kg), xylene (1,400 mg/kg),
naphthalene (31 mg/kg),
pentachlorophenol (32 mg/kg), acetone
(76 mg/kg), and total phthalates (91
mg/kg).

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Matrix Description (Cont.)

Matrix Characteristics Affecting Treatment Costs or Performance

The major matrix characteristics that most significantly affected cost or performance for this technology
and their measured values are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Matrix Characteristics [4]

Parameter

Value1

Measurement Procedure

Percent Moisture

13.1 -14.2

SMEWW2 209F

Heat Content

<200-1,310 BTU/lb

ASTM3 D240-76

The value given is the range of values found in soils incinerated during the trial burn. Information on matrix characteristics for the full-scale
incineration is not currently available.

SMEWW - Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste, 17th Edition, 1989.

ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials, 1985 edition.

Treatment System Description

Primary Treatment Technology

Incineration system including: OHM Mobile
Infrared Thermal Destruction Unit, including:

Waste feed handling system
Infrared incinerator
Secondary combustion chamber

Supplemental Treatment Technology

Pretreatment (solids):

Screening
Drying
Blending

Crushing/shredding (rocks/debris)

Post Treatment (air):

Quench

Low-energy venturi scrubber
Packed-column chemical scrubber
High-energy venturi scrubber

Post Treatment (water):

Clarification
Sand filtration
Bag filtration

Activated carbon adsorption
Ion exchange

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Treatment System Description (Cont.)

System Description and Operation

Soil was excavated from the Rose Township
Site using backhoes and longarms.

Excavated materials were screened to
remove debris greater than 1 inch in
diameter using a portable three-tiered
screen. Wet soils were dried before
screening in a drying building to prevent
clogging of the screen.

Drying was conducted on the site in a
building equipped with heaters and blowers.
Excavated material that required drying was
placed in the building and periodically mixed
with a frontend loader or tractor equipped
with a rototiller. Soil was also screened in the
building following drying.

Screened soils were blended with fuel oil or
diesel fuel to raise its heat content to
approximately 500 BTU/lb.

Debris such as rocks and tree stumps
screened out of the soil were stored
separately for further processing. Rocks
were crushed using a mobile crusher and
tree stumps were shredded in a tub grinder.
Both the rocks and tree stumps were
reduced to less than one inch diameter and
incinerated along with shredded personal
protective equipment.

Intact drums unearthed during the excavation
were sampled and analyzed to determine
their contents and disposed of off the site at
approved facilities.

Material to be incinerated was loaded into a
feed hopper, from which it was discharged
onto a weigh belt feeder. The material then
dropped from the weigh belt feeder to an
enclosed conveyor belt, where it was leveled
as it passed under a screw. The material
then dropped from the conveyor belt to a
high temperature metal alloy belt that
conveyed it through the primary combustion
chamber.

discharged from the primary combustion
chamber.

Ash from the primary chamber dropped
on to an enclosed, water-cooled screw
conveyor. Ash discharged from the
screw was sprayed with water to
suppress dust and for additional cooling.
Ash that contained greater than 1 mg/kg
PCBs was incinerated again;
approximately 600 tons of material was
incinerated again. Ash that exceeded the
extraction procedure (EP) toxicity test
threshold of 5 mg/L for lead or arsenic
was stabilized. All ash that met the
treatment criteria, including ash that was
incinerated or stabilized, was disposed of
on site.

The primary combustion chamber
residence time was required to be
greater than 15 minutes for incineration
at the Rose Township Site. The
incinerator feed rate was limited to less
than 13,800 Ib/hr.

The maximum heat input to the primary
combustion chamber from the
silicon-carbide heating elements was
3,412,000 BTU/hr. The primary
combustion chamber was capable of
operating at temperatures up to 1,800°F,
and was required to be operated at the
site at temperatures greater than
1,400°F. Within the primary combustion
chamber the material was stirred by
cake-breakers powered by 1/2
horsepower (hp) motors.

Primary combustion chamber gas flowed
counter-current to the material being
incinerated. Combustion air was
provided by an forced draft blower
manufactured by Buffalo Forge
Company, Model No. 270, type BL.

In the primary combustion chamber material
was heated with infrared radiant heat
generated by silicon carbide heating
elements. Ash and off-gases were then

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Treatment System Description (Cont.)

System Description and Operation (Cont.l

Off-gas from the primary combustion
chamber entered the SCC for further
destruction. The SCC was 96 feet, 10 inches
long and had an internal height of 8 feet,
internal width of 7 feet, and internal volume
of 3,770 cubic feet. The SCC was fired by 4
Multifire® natural gas burners, Model No.
31534, manufactured by Maxon Corporation,
Muncie, Indiana. Integral to the burner
system was a 20 hp forced air blower
capable of providing 32 inches of water
column pressure. The burner system had a
maximum firing capacity of 12,020,000 BTU.

The SCC was designed to operate at
temperatures up to 2,400°F, and was
required to operate at greater than 1,950°F
at the Rose Township Site.

Excess combustion air was provided in the
SCC by a blower manufactured by the
Chicago Blower Corporation, Model 24-1/2
SQAD, with a maximum capacity of 14,000
acfm.

Gas exiting the SCC was quenched with a
water spray that reduced its temperature to
less than 250°F.

The off-gas from the quench was then routed
to a low-energy venturi scrubber to remove
particulates. Water was injected into the
venturi scrubber at a rate of 140 gallons per
minute (gpm), and the pH in the venturi
scrubber was controlled by the addition of a
10% caustic solution. The off-gas was then
sent to a packed column chemical scrubber.

The packed column chemical scrubber
removed acid gas by passing the gas through
260 cubic feet of 3.5-inch JeagerTripack
polyethylene packing. Water at a flow rate of
greater than 150 gpm was passed through
an overhead distribution plate onto the
packing to scrub the gas. The pH of the
packed column was controlled by the
addition of a 10% caustic solution.

The off-gas then was sent to a high-energy
venturi scrubber to remove particulates and

heavy metals. Water was injected into
the scrubber at a rate of 140 gpm; a
pressure drop of 55 to 65 inches of water
column was maintained across the
scrubber.

After passing through the high-energy
venturi scrubber, the gas was passed
through 4 banks of high efficiency Munter
Chevron mist eliminators, and then to an
exhaust stack with an inside diameter of
32 inches and a height of 37 feet. Two
induced draft fans maintained a negative
pressure in the system. One fan was a
Robinson Industries Model No. 70x3.5
RBD-SWSI, which could draw 30,000
acfm at 190°F, induced a pressure of 45
inches water column, rotated at a speed
of 1,780 rpm, and was powered by a 200
hp motor. The second fan was a
Robinson Industries Model No. 57x3.5
RBD-SWSI, which could draw 30,000
acfm at 190°F, induced a pressure of 35
inches water column, rotated at a speed
of 1,780 rpm, and was powered by a 200
hp motor.

Wastewater generated by the scrubbers
and mist eliminators was treated on the
site with a system consisting of
clarification, sand filtration, bag filtration,
activated carbon adsorption, and ion
exchange. After treatment the water was
discharged under a NPDES permit.

The health and safety plan developed for
the Rose Township Site required level C
personal protective equipment in the soil
drying building.

Figure 1 shows a simple block diagram
of the incineration system.

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Treatment System Description (Cont.)

Figure 1. Block Diagram of Incineration System used at the Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Cleanup Goals/Standards

The cleanup goals and standards were
specified in the ROD. The DRE and ash
management standards for metals were
based on the regulations under Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (40
CFR 264.343 for the DREs and 40 CFR
261.24 for ash residuals). The DRE
standards for PCBs were based on the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA)(40 CFR part
761).

The DRE requirements for the
incinerator were set at 99.9999% for
PCBs. The metals emissions
requirements were based on EPA
guidance and Michigan Act 348.

The incinerator ash was required to
contain less than 1 mg/kg PCBs prior to
disposal on-site.

The ROD established target cleanup levels
of 10, 70, 14, and 0.08 mg/kg for PCBs, lead,
arsenic, and total VOCs, respectively. The
ROD specified on-site incineration of all soil
contaminated with either organics or PCBs.

However, a consent decree signed in 1988
by 12 PRPs required incineration of PCB-
contaminated soil and an alternate
remediation for soil contaminated with
organics only. Therefore, a soil target
cleanup level was not established for
semivolatile organic compounds in
incinerated soil.

Treatment Performance and Compliance

A trial burn, conducted on September 11 and	99.9999% DRE for PCBs was not

12, 1992, was designed to operate the	necessary during the trial burn because

incineration system at conditions that would	(1) substantial hazards were associated

reflect worst-case destruction and removal of	with transporting and storing

all constituents of concern. Samples of all	concentrated PCB oils, and (2) the unit

influent and effluent streams during	had demonstrated the ability to

operation at these conditions were collected	adequately destroy PCBs in order to

during the trial burn. These samples were	obtain its TSCA permit.

then analyzed to determine whether all of the

incinerator operating standards were met.

Operating limits were then set based on the

worst-case values that were established

during the trial burn.

Because of the detection limit used for PCBs,
and the low concentrations of PCBs in soils
at the Rose Township Site, it was not
possible to demonstrate a 99.9999% DRE.

However, the incineration unit employed at
the Rose Township site had been issued a
TSCA permit for the incineration of
contaminated soils, based on a trial burn
conducted in June of 1988 at another site.

EPA determined that demonstration of a

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Treatment System Performance (Cont.)

Treatment Performance and Compliance (Cont.l

During the trial burn, the incinerator
demonstrated its ability to meet the emission
standards specified in its TSCA permit for the
incineration of PCB-contaminated soils, and
the Michigan Act 348 metals and PCB
emissions standards.

Soil excavated from areas on site that was
known to be contaminated with PCBs, lead,
and arsenic was incinerated during the trial
burn. Before incineration the soil was
blended with fuel oil or diesel fuel to achieve
a minimum heat content of 500 BTU/lb.

During the trial burn conducted in June 1988
as part of the procurement of a TSCA PCB
incineration permit for the incinerator, a
99.9999 % DRE was demonstrated on waste
feed containing 5,600 mg/kg of PCBs. This
information was deemed sufficient by EPA to
demonstrate compliance at the site. The
DRE for PCBs was calculated by the PRP,
and this information is shown in Table 3.

The incineration system included continuous
emissions monitors (CEMs) for carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and total
hydrocarbons. The stack operating data for
the CEMs during the trial burn were used to
set ranges for normal operating conditions.
The CEMs were employed during the normal
operations of the incinerator to ensure that
operating conditions remained within the
bounds established during the trial burn.

The incineration system also included an
automatic waste feed cutoff (AWFCO)
system to suspend operations if the

operating conditions were not within the
proper ranges set by the trial burn. The
AWFCO limits used during the remedial
action are shown in Table 4. Information
about the frequency of AWFCOs was not
available.

Trial burn and typical operating
parameters are shown in Table 5.

The incinerator operated at the Rose
Township Site operated predominantly
within the operating limits established
during the trial burn.

The residual ash was sampled and
analyzed using the EP toxicity test for
lead and arsenic to determine whether
these parameters met the requirements
specified in the ROD for on-site disposal
as backfill. The ROD required ash that
failed to meet the requirements for
leachable metals to be stabilized before
land disposal. No ash required
stabilization before land disposal.

Initially some of the incinerated soil at the
site did not meet the cleanup goal of less
than 1 mg/kg PCBs. This was attributed
to the fact that the size of the material
being fed to the incinerator was too
large. As a result, approximately 600
tons of material required reincineration.
All subsequent feed to the incinerator
was screened to less than 2 inches in
diameter. No material required
reincineration after the institution of such
screening. The DRE was met for PCBs
and metals.

Table 3. Average Destruction and Removal Efficiencies from
	Trial Burn Compliance Testing [3]	

Contaminant

Average Contaminant
Feed Rate in Soil (g/hr)

Average Contaminant
Stack Gas Emissions
Rate (g/hr)

Average Contaminant
Concentration in Ash
(mg/kg)

DRE(%)

PCBs

1,049

0.00131

120

99.99982

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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Treatment System Performance (Cont.)

Table 4. Automatic Waste Feed Cutoffs [4,6]

Parameter

Cutoff Limit

Secondary Chamber Temperature

<1950°F, >2,500°F

Secondary Chamber Excess Oxygen Level

<3%

Stack Carbon Monoxide Concentration

> 90 ppm with 2 minute delay, >150 ppm instantaneous

Primary Belt Failure

NA

Primary Chamber Pressure

<0.00 inches w.c.

Ash Cooling Conveyor Failure

Not Applicable

Induced Draft Blower Failure

Not Applicable

Stack Temperature

>250°F

Scrubber Quench Temperature

>250°F

Leveling Screw Failure

Not Applicable

Primary Chamber Zone A2 Temperature

<1,400°F

Primary Chamber Zone B2 Temperature

<1,530°F

High-Energy Venturi Pressure Drop

<20 inches w.c.

Scrubber pH

<4 s.u.

NA = Not Available
s.u. = Standard units
w.c. = Water column

Table 5. Operating Parameters [6, 9]

Parameter

Actual Value

Trial Burn Value

Primary Combustion Chamber Zone A2
Temperature

>1,400°F

1,523- 1,543° F

Primary Combustion Chamber Zone B2
Temperature

>1,530°F

1,624- 1,651 °F

Primary Combustion Chamber Pressure

<0.0 inches w.c.

NA

Secondary Combustion Chamber
Temperature

>1,950°F

2,025-2,048°F

Secondary Combustion Chamber Excess
Oxygen

>3%

6.125-6.51 %

Stack Carbon Monoxide

<90 ppm

2.79 - 3.34 ppm

Stack Gas Flow Rate

<6,180 dscm

4,958 - 5,411 dscm

Scrubber pH

>6.0

6.41 - 6.87

Low-Energy Venturi Pressure Drop

>8 inches w.c.

11.42 - 11.96 inches w.c.

High-Energy Venturi Pressure Drop

>45 inches w.c.

52.98 - 56.4 inches w.c.

Waste Feed Rate

<13,800 Ib/hr

13,092- 13,937 Ib/hr

Primary Combustion Chamber Retention
Time

>15 minutes

NA

w.c. = Water column

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Technology Innovation Office

175


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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Observations and Lessons Learned (Cont.)

Performance Data Completeness

Data are available for concentrations of
contaminants in the soil before incineration.
Confirmatory soil samples were collected by
the vendor after the remediation was
completed.

Data are also available for
concentrations of contaminants in the
incinerator residue. These data were
collected periodically prior to landfilling.
In addition, emissions data are available
from the incinerator compliance test.

Treatment System Cost

Procurement Process

Cost Data

The PRP contracted with Perini
Environmental to acquire and operate the
incinerator at the Site. Perini
Environmental used several subcontractors
to implement specific aspects of the
operation.

The total cost for operation of the
incineration system was approximately
$12,000,000. A total of 34,000 tons of soil,
rocks, and tree stumps were incinerated.
This corresponds to a total unit cost for
incineration of $350 per ton. A detailed
breakdown of these costs was not
available.

Observations and Lessons Learned

Cost Observations and Lessons Learned

Substantially more soil required incineration
than anticipated, which resulted in increased
costs. Based on the results of the RI/FS,
9,000 to 13,000 cubic yards of soil were
estimated to require incineration. However,
verification sampling

Other Observations and Lessons Learned

during excavation indicated additional soil
required incineration in order to meet
cleanup goals, and 18,000 cubic yards of
soil were ultimately incinerated at the
Rose Township Site.

Soil screening was hindered in wet weather
because soil formed clumps that would not
pass through the screening equipment. A
drying building equipped with heaters and
blowers was constructed to dry the soil
before screening.

The incinerator was shut down periodically to
replace broken or damaged heating
elements and for repairs to the conveyor belt.
Replacement of the main conveyor belt
required a 3-day shut down at one point
during the project. No cause of these
failures was identified by site personnel.

Several times during the project the
incinerator had to be shut down to
remove fly ash that had slagged in the
duct between the primary and secondary
combustion chambers and in the
secondary combustion chamber.

Other operational problems included ash
discharge system malfunction, loss of
flame in the secondary combustion
chamber, temporary loss of power, and
weigh belt feeder malfunction.

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Technology Innovation Office

176


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Rose Township Dump Superfund Site

Observations and Lessons Learned (Cont.)

Public Involvement

The public comment period for the RI/FS
commenced on June 29, 1987 and ended
on August 12, 1987. A public meeting was
held on July 1, 1987 to discuss the RI/FS
and to present the proposed remediation
plan. During the public meeting, no
significant opposition was raised against
the proposed plan. The public was
generally supportive of the proposed plan
as they wished the source of the
contamination to be removed.

References

1.	Emissions Verification Test Plan. OHM	8.
Remediation Services Corp., Findlay, Ohio,

June 12, 1992.

2.	EPA National Priorities List. Rose Township

Dump Fact Sheet. USEPA Region V,	9.

February, 1996.

3.	Final Closure Report. Excavation and
Incineration. Rose Township Site. Oakland
County. Michigan. Perini Environmental

Services, Inc., Framingham, Massachusetts,	10.

March, 1996.

4.	Final Design Report. Thermal Treatment of
PCB Laden Soils. Perland Environmental
Technologies, Inc. April 1, 1992.

11.

5.	Final Soil Investigation Report. Rose
Township Site in Oakland County. Michigan.

Perland Environmental Technologies, Inc.,

Burlington, Massachusetts, August 28, 1992.

12.

6.	Incineration of PCB Contaminated Soils at
the Rose Township Superfund Site.

Superfund XV Conference and Exhibition
Proceedings. Ungs, R.T., et al., PRC
Environmental Management Inc., Denver	13.

Colorado, 1994.

7.	Report on Volatile Organics in Soils. Rose
Township Site. Oakland County. Michigan.

Perini Environmental Services, Inc.,

Framingham, Massachusetts, March, 1996.

Superfund Record of Decision. Rose
Township Dump Demode Road
Superfund Site. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, September 30, 1987.

Trial Burn Report. Mobile Destruction
Unit. Rose Township Superfund Site.
Holly. Michigan. OHM Remediation
Services Corp., Findlay, Ohio, November
6, 1992.

U.S. EPA Fact Sheet: Update on
Remedial Action Activities at the Demode
Road Superfund Site. Rose Township.
Michigan. USEPA Region V, October
1989.

Personal communication between Peter
Shields, Eastern Research Group and
Kevin Addler, U.S. EPA Region V. April
22, 1997.

Shirco. Infrared Incineration System
Applications Analysis Report. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, June,
1989.

Personal communication between
James Styers, Tetra Tech EM Inc. and
Ed Hammond, Massachusetts Port
Authority (formerly of Perini
Environmental). December 1, 1997.

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Technology Innovation Office

177


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