U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT Oak Creek Bluff - Removal Polrep Final Removal Polrep

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Region V Subject: POLREP #4 Final Oak Creek Bluff Oak Creek, WI Latitude: 42.8430002 Longitude: -87.8534858 To: Scott Ferguson, WDNR From: Kathy Halbur, OSC Date: 11/29/2012 Reporting Period: 11/22/2011-11/28/2012
1. Introduction 1.1 Background Site Number: C598 Contract Number: D.O. Number: Action Memo Date: Response Authority: CERCLA/OPA Response Type: Emergency Response Lead: PRP Incident Category: Removal Action NPL Status: Non NPL Operable Unit: Mobilization Date: 11/1/2011 Start Date: 10/31/2011 Demob Date: 2/3/2012 Completion Date: 11/28/2012 CERCLIS ID: RCRIS ID: ERNS No.: State Notification: FPN#: G12002 Reimbursable Account #: 1.1.1 Incident Category EPA Region 5 supported a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and State (Wisconsin DNR) lead emergency response to a bluff failure that resulted in a release of hazardous substances, including petroleum products, to Lake Michigan. We Energies assumed responsibility for the emergency removal action. 1.1.2 Site Description At approximately 11:00 am on October 31, 2011, a lakefront bluff along Lake Michigan gave way, releasing a variety of construction materials, soil, and fly-ash into Lake Michigan. These materials included native soils, flyash, sea/land containers, road vehicles, construction vehicles, and fuel containers. 1.1.2.1 Location 

### Page 1 of 4

9 / 30 / 201 5 http ://www.e p aosc.or g /sites/7404/files/WE

_ oak

_ creek _p olre p_ 4.htmThe bluff collapse occurred at WE Energies Oak Creek Power Plant, 11060 S. Chicago Rd., Oak Creek (Milwaukee County), WI. 1.1.2.2 Description of Threat Hazardous substances (including heavy metals) and petroleum products were submerged in Lake Michigan as a result of the bluff collapse. The potential for petroleum discharged as a result of this incident was determined to be between 600-1,000 gallons. All large equipment was removed from Lake Michigan by November 21, 2011. Additional smaller equipment was removed from the lakebed by December 5, 2011. The only observable sheening was during day one of the incident. 1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results EPA collected and analyzed a sample of the soil/flyash material from the base of the landslide. Elevated levels of arsenic, chromium, and 1,1,1 Trichloroethane were detected. EPA also collected four water samples from Lake Michigan. Elevated suspended and dissolved solids were identified near the spill area. A composite sample of excavated material from the base of the bluff and east settling pond was also collected by EPA; analytical results of this sample were consistent with the initial soil/flyash sample. WDNR and We Energies collected similar samples; those results were similar to the EPA results. 2. Current Activities 2.1 Operations Section 2.1.1 Response Actions to Date We Energies assumed responsibility for all cleanup work. Contractors and consultants (Clean Harbors, Gillen, Edgerton, URS, Brandenburg, and Natural Resources Technology) were immediately mobilized to the scene. See previous POLREPs for details regarding response actions taken to stop additional releases, stabilize the bluff, remove recoverable materials from Lake Michigan, clean the shoreline and settling ponds, verify the cleanup, and restore the bluff. The following occurred during this reporting period: • We Energies submitted an Interim Spill Report on December 14, 2011 • We Energies and EPA conducted a shoreline impact study in December, 2011 that determined no

further action was needed on downstream shorelines; We Energies submitted a shoreline assessment report on January 18, 2012 • We Energies submitted a report detailing results of sediment and water sampling on January 27,

2012 • Unified Command held its final meeting and disbanded on February 3, 2012 • WDNR initiated enforcement against We Energies in March, 2012 • We Energies submitted the permanent bluff restoration plan to WDNR on June 29, 2012 • We Energies obtained required permits and approvals for restoration work through the summer and

fall of 2012 and conducted restoration work • UWM conducted hydrodynamic modelling for the coal ash release to confirm that the sampling

conducted to date was in the appropriate locations; UWM's report was completed in September, 2012 • We Energies submitted the Final Spill Report on November 19, 2012 • We Energies submitted answers to EPA OSC questions regarding Final Spill Report on November

28, 2012 2.2.1. Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) WE Energies has taken responsibility for this incident. USCG issued Notices of Federal Interest to WE Energies (as the facility/property owner), URS (as an operator), and Metropolitan Environmental (as an operator). WDNR initiated formal enforcement against We Energies for this incident in March, 2012. 2.1.3 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest Treatment Disposal 

### Page 2 of 4

9 / 30 / 201 5 http ://www.e p aosc.or g /sites/7404/files/WE

_ oak

_ creek _p olre p_ 4.htmOily Debris Material from Lake Michigan Solid 61.15 Tons Multiple Landfill Waste Management Metro Landfill, Franklin, WI Debris from Shore/South Yard Area Solid 357.4 Tons Multiple Landfill Waste Management Metro Landfill, Franklin, WI
Coal ash Solid 22,506 Cubic Yards NA Landfill We Energies Caledonia Ash Landfill
Coal ash/Soil Mix Solid 4,200 Cubic Yards NA Landfill Emerald Park Landfill Scrap Metal Solid 25.28 Tons NA Recycled Miller Compressing, Milwaukee, WI Oily Water Liquid 3250 Gallons 43959 Disposal Jensen Environmental Management, Muskego, WI

2.2 Planning Section 2.2.1 Anticipated Activities No additional activities are anticipated or planned. This is EPA's Final POLREP.
2.3 Logistics Section No logisitics issues during this reporting period. 2.4 Finance Section We Energies is the Responsible Party for this incident. We Energies estimates clean-up and restoration costs associated with this incident to be $12.1 million.

2.5 Other Command Staff 2.5.1 Safety Officer We Energies acted as the Safety Officer for this response. 2.5.2 Information Officer Unified Command, including the joint information group, disbanded on February 3, 2012. 3. Participating Entities 3.1 Unified Command A Unified Command (UC) was established on November 5, 2011. WE Energies, USCG, and WDNR were voting members of the UC; EPA was a non-voting member of the UC. USFWS also participated in the Unified Command/Planning Meetings. UC disbanded on February 3, 2012. 3.2 Cooperating Agencies WI Department of Health Services (WDHS) WI Public Service Commission (WPSC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

### Page 3 of 4

9 / 30 / 201 5 http ://www.e p aosc.or g /sites/7404/files/WE

_ oak

_ creek _p olre p_ 4.htmU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) 4. Personnel On Site EPA OSC Halbur acted as the EPA representative on the Unified Command and a Deputy Operations Section Chief for this response.

5. Definition of Terms CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act OPA: Oil Pollution Act OSC: On-Scene Coordinator UC: Unified Command USCG: United States Coast Guard U.S. EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency UWM: University of Wisonsin Milwaukee WDNR: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 6. Additional sources of information 6.1 Internet location of additional information/report www.epaosc.org/WE_oak_creek 6.2 Reporting Schedule This is the Final POLREP. 7. Situational Reference Materials R5 Priorities Summary

This is an Integrated River Assessment. The numbers should overlap. Miles of river systems cleaned and/or restored 0 Cubic yards of contaminated sediments removed and/or capped 0 Gallons of oil/water recovered 0 Acres of soil/sediment cleaned up in floodplains and riverbanks 0

Stand Alone Assessment Acres Protected 1 Number of contaminated residential yards cleaned up 0 Human Health Exposures Avoided 0
Number of workers on site 272 Contaminant(s) of Concern Contaminant(s) of Concern Coal ash, petroleum products, metals 

### Page 4 of 4

9 / 30 / 201 5 http ://www.e p aosc.or g /sites/7404/files/WE

_ oak

_ creek _p olre p_ 4.htm