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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

REGION 8

999 18TM STREET - SUITE 500

DENVER, CO 80202-2466

http://www.epa.gov/region08

SDMS Document ID

2038093

INITIAL POLLUTION REPORT

Midvale Slag NPL Site (OU1)[Drums]

Midvale, Salt Lake County, Utah

October 10, 2001

Tien Nguyen

EPA

Region VIII - Emergency Response Program

999 18th Street, Suite 300

Denver Colorado 80202

(303)312-6820

Patty Kalla, EPA Headquarters

Initial

Midvale Slag (OU1) [Drums] Site

II. BACKGROUND

Site Number:

Party Conducting the Action:

Response Authority:

NPL Status:

Action Memorandum Status:

Date Action Started:

Completion Date:

0871

EPA

CERCLA

yes

Approved -10/01/01

10/02/01

TBD

SITE INFORMATION

A. Incident Category

Time-Critical, Fund-Lead, NPL

B. Site Description

1. Site description

The Site is located in Midvale, Utah, approximately 12 miles south of Salt Lake City. The

entire Midvale Slag Superfund Site encompasses approximately 430 acres of

undeveloped and residential land. A smelter operated on the site from 1897 until 1958.

Lead, arsenic, and cadmium contamination resulted from the slag, calcines, stack

emissions, and baghouse dust from the copper and lead smelting operation. Over the

years, it changed from a copper to a lead smelting facility, producing gold/lead/silver

bullion from sulfide ores. An arsenic-recovery plant was also part of the smelting process

which produced slag and calcines as wastes.

OPrinted on Recycled Paper
The Site was divided into two Operable Units (OU). The OU1 consists of the northern

portion of the Site - north of the slag piles and including a mobile home park. The OU2

consists of the slag piles and smelter complex area. The drums, which are discussed in

this POLREP, are located in the southern portion of OU1.

2. Site evaluation

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) completed work at OU1 several

years ago and a Remedial Action Report has been signed. Currently remedial

investigations and feasibility studies are occurring at OU2 under the direction of Region

VIII EPA Superfund Remedial (EPR-SR) RPM. As a part of the data completion for the

work at OU2, additional sampling wells were completed on OU1 to update information

regarding the'ground water plume. While sampling the wells, EPR-SR found

approximately 90 deteriorated drums of well cuttings and PPE, and three decon pads/pits

containing plastic containers and plastic liners. It is believed that the drums and wastes

were adversely left at the Site since July 1991 as a result of Site Remedial Investigation

and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) performed by URS Consultants. A site file review (Site

Characterization Report for Midvale Slag Superfund Site (OU1), dated June 30,1992)

reveals that in June and July 1991, twenty seven boreholes were drilled as shallow

monitoring wells at OU1. The drill cuttings and PPE generated during this operation were

drummed and stored on the Site. The soil sample results at OU1 indicate that the native

soil, contaminated with lead, exceeds 500 parts per million (ppm); arsenic exceeds 70

ppm; and cadmium exceeds 12 ppm. Most of the drummed materials were native soil

from drill cuttings. Many of these drums were badly deteriorated.

Since UDEQ did not have the capability or funds to clean up this contamination, EPR-SR

requested assistance from the Region 8 Emergency Response Unit (EPR-ER) in

conducting this cleanup.

3. Description of threat

Lead, arsenic, and cadmium have been identified at the Site as the contaminants of

concern. These are hazardous substances, as defined by Section 104(14) of CERCLA.

The direct threat from deterioration of the drums which contained drill cuttings and PPE

is contaminants may be migrating via surface water and air. Contaminated wind-blown

soil could be transported from the Site into nearby down-gradient yards and homes and

into surface water. The Site is located near a residential area (Winchester Estates) to the

north, and the population within a mile of the Site is estimated at over 22,381. The Site

where the drums located is along the banks of the Jordan River.

IV. RESPONSE INFORMATION

A. Situation

1. Removal actions

On 10/02/01 EPA's ERRS Contractor and its sub-contractor mobilized to the Site to start

the Site stabilization, repackaging, and staging of the deteriorated drums and the removal

of decon pads liners. Activities included:

• ERRS personnel cleared construction debris to get access from an existing road

to the drums staging area located near the bank of Jordan River. Approximately

68 drums of drill cuttings were transferred to the access road. Drums were

opened for visual inspection. Drill cuttings from the drums were transferred into

two 20-yard roll-offs. Each drum after being emptied was inspected for leftover
residues before being crushed and placed into a third 20-yard roll-off. On

October 4, ERRS's sub-contractor (PSC Philip Services) personnel collected

composite sample of drill cuttings for analysis for waste profile.

• At the North side of the 7200 South street, three decon pads/pits with liners and

approximately 15 drums of PPE were removed. PPE materials were taken out of

the drums. Pad liners and PPE materials were placed into a 30-yard roll-off staged

onsite. Empty drums were crushed and a 500-gallon polyethylene tank found in

one of the decon pit was cut into pieces before being placed in the roll-off for

disposal. The decon pits were leveled with dirt at the same level as the

surrounding area.

• During the removal of 15 PPE drums, one drum full of oily liquid was discovered.

The drum probably did not belong to the group of PPE drums, but was more likely

a result of illegal dumping along with other debris seen on Site. The OSC

informed the RPM of the discovery of this drum, and had EPA's subcontractor

(PSC)hazcat/sample the content of this drum for appropriate disposal.

2. Enforcement

Enforcement procedures for the total Mid vale Slag NPL Site resulted in negotiated

settlements, and monies from these settlements were placed in a site-specific account

(Midvale Slag Special Account). Details are contained in the Administrative Record File at

the Superfund Records Center for Region VIII EPA, 999 18th Street, Denver, Colorado

80202.

3. State and Local Role

UDEQ was involved in the initial evaluation of the Midvale Slag site and recommended

that the Site be included on the NPL. The State of Utah and local authorities have

provided background data, support, and community assistance throughout previous

activities on the Site, and UDEQ has recently conducted remediation activities at the Site

(OU1) under the direction of EPR-SR.

B. Future Plans

A total of four roll-offs are covered and secured with tarps, and the oily drums are staged

onsite awaiting analytical results, waste profiles, and disposal approval at an appropriate

disposal facility.

C. Key Issues

None at this time.

V. COST INFORMATION

Cost to complete this Removal Action will be taken from the Midvale Slag Special Account established

with the monies from negotiated settlements with Responsible Parties at the Midvale Slag NPL Site.

Total costs have not been received at this time but appear ro be less than the budget ceiling of $50,000

which was established in the Action Memorandum.

VI. DISPOSITION OF WASTE

TBD
POLREP FILE GENERATION

(TO BE SUBMITTED BY OSC WITH INITIAL POLREP)

Site Name:

SSID NO. '03"/V CASE N^

Polreps Dist. List

1. Program Dir., Doug Skie, T. Leaders: Jim Knoy, Steve Hawthorn,

Luke Chavez (rotating)

2. RA, DRA, ARAships

3. ERD - Headquarters ATTN: Director (5202G)

4. Region Response Team Members (via fax - 29 members)

5. Other Fax Numbers:

6. 8OC ATTN: Rich Lathrop

7. Legal Depart (ENF) ATTN:

8. OSC:

10. Adm. Records Coordinator

11. State Program

Director/Manager

Address

12. National Pollution Fund Center: Y or N

13. OTHER:

(5
POLREP DISTRIBUTION LOG

OSC:

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