The Atlas Tack Superfund Site: an Example of Ecological Enhancement

Ken Finkelstein, NOAA Elaine Stanley Office of Response and Rest. EPA Region 1 Boston, MA Boston, MA

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Site BackgroundSite Background

►► Atlas Tack Corporation operated from 1901 toAtlas Tack Corporation operated from 1901 to 19851985

►► Site is comprised of approx. 48 acresSite is comprised of approx. 48 acres

►► Manufactured wire tacks, steel nails, rivets, bolts,Manufactured wire tacks, steel nails, rivets, bolts, and similar itemsand similar items

►► The facility's operations included electroplating,The facility's operations included electroplating, acidacid--washing, enameling and paintingwashing, enameling and painting

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Site Background (con’t)Site Background (con’t)

►► From 1940 to 1980, wastewater wasFrom 1940 to 1980, wastewater was discharged into floor drains, ondischarged into floor drains, on--site lagoonsite lagoon and adjacent wetlandand adjacent wetland

►► Solid and liquid wastes were disposed of onSolid and liquid wastes were disposed of on--site and also filled in a portion of thesite and also filled in a portion of the wetlandwetland

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Contaminants of ConcernContaminants of Concern

►► Metals:Metals: arsenic, cadmium, nickel, zinc, antimony andarsenic, cadmium, nickel, zinc, antimony and leadlead

►► CyanideCyanide ►► PCBsPCBs ►► sVOCssVOCs –– mainly PAHsmainly PAHs ►► VOCsVOCs –– mainly toluenemainly toluene ►► PesticidesPesticides

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Site & Contaminant MapSite & Contaminant Map

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SELECTED REMEDYSELECTED REMEDY Phase I: Commercial AreaPhase I: Commercial Area -- 10 acres10 acres

�� Demolish former oneDemolish former one--story building slab,story building slab, threethree--story rear building, power plant and twostory rear building, power plant and two smaller shedssmaller sheds �� Excavate and remove plating pit, picklingExcavate and remove plating pit, pickling

trench, underground waste conveyancetrench, underground waste conveyance trenches and dispose offtrenches and dispose off--sitesite �� Excavate 775 cubic yards (cy) contaminatedExcavate 775 cubic yards (cy) contaminated

soil and sludge and dispose offsoil and sludge and dispose off--sitesite �� Cost $2,300,000Cost $2,300,000 �� Completed September 2006Completed September 2006

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Phase I: Specific BuildingsPhase I: Specific Buildings

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Phase II: Solid Waste and DisposalPhase II: Solid Waste and Disposal AreaArea –– 9 acres9 acres

�� Excavation and offExcavation and off--site disposal of approx.site disposal of approx. 38,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and38,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and debris in the Solid Waste and Disposal Areadebris in the Solid Waste and Disposal Area

�� Contaminated soil and debris disposed offContaminated soil and debris disposed off--sitesite

�� Cost $14,000,000Cost $14,000,000

�� Completed April 2007Completed April 2007

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Phase III: Marsh AreaPhase III: Marsh Area –– 5.4 acres5.4 acres

�� Excavation of 20,000 cy contaminatedExcavation of 20,000 cy contaminated marsh soil and creek bed sedimentmarsh soil and creek bed sediment �� Restoration of the marshRestoration of the marsh �� Cost $5,000,000Cost $5,000,000

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Phase III (continued)Phase III (continued)

►► Marsh excavation scheduled completion MayMarsh excavation scheduled completion May 20072007

►► Marsh Restoration begins May 2007Marsh Restoration begins May 2007 ►► Total Site restoration scheduled completionTotal Site restoration scheduled completion

September 2007 (construction complete)September 2007 (construction complete)

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Environmental RisksEnvironmental Risks

►► Movement of contamination to groundwater,Movement of contamination to groundwater, surface water and creek sediment fromsurface water and creek sediment from Commercial Area, Solid Waste & DisposalCommercial Area, Solid Waste & Disposal Area, and marsh surface soilArea, and marsh surface soil

►► Exposure of biota to contaminated surface soilExposure of biota to contaminated surface soil & sediment in Solid Waste & Disposal Area& sediment in Solid Waste & Disposal Area and Marsh Area and to contaminated Boysand Marsh Area and to contaminated Boys Creek surface water & sediment.Creek surface water & sediment.

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FundingFunding

�� Phase IPhase I -- $2,300,000$2,300,000 ►► $552,000 from Hathaway$552,000 from Hathaway-Braley settlementBraley settlement ►► $750,000 from MA DEP$750,000 from MA DEP ►► $1,000,000 from EPA HQ$1,000,000 from EPA HQ

�� Phase IIPhase II -- $14,000,000$14,000,000 –– from EPA HQfrom EPA HQ �� Phase IIIPhase III -- $5,000,000$5,000,000

►► $1,500,000 planned April 2007$1,500,000 planned April 2007

�� Total $20,300,000Total $20,300,000 �� O&M and LTRA total costs approx. $800,000O&M and LTRA total costs approx. $800,000

�� Received approx. $1,000,000 to date from Atlas TackReceived approx. $1,000,000 to date from Atlas Tack

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Groundwater & Restored WetlandsGroundwater & Restored Wetlands MonitoringMonitoring

►► Groundwater monitoring is proposed to beginGroundwater monitoring is proposed to begin at the start of the cleanup and continue for atat the start of the cleanup and continue for at least 10 yearsleast 10 years

►► Phytoremediation (planted trees help removePhytoremediation (planted trees help remove groundwater contamination)groundwater contamination)

►► Restored wetlands will be monitored to ensureRestored wetlands will be monitored to ensure protection and habitat viabilityprotection and habitat viability

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Extent of marsh cleanupExtent of marsh cleanup based on results frombased on results from PrePre--remedial Designremedial Design

studystudy

(aka: Bioavailability study)(aka: Bioavailability study)

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ERM Mean Quotients: Delineated Areas ERM > 1

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Marsh RemediationMarsh Remediation

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Atlas Tack – Fairhaven, MA Restoring Wetlands Through Remediation

High Marsh >

Tidal Creek >

< Hurricane Barrier with 4-ft Culvert A-32

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Restoring Ecological Functions with Out-of-Kind Restoration

< Remediation Control Berm

<Tidal Phragmites Spartina marsh > (to be excavated) (excavated)

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Ongoing Remediation – September 2006

< Excavated Contaminated Fill Soils

< Exposed Native Glacial Outwash Soils and Groundwater Table

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Restoration PlanRestoration Plan

►► Fresh waterFresh water wetlandwetland

►► Salt water wetlandSalt water wetland ►► PhragmitesPhragmites controlcontrol ►► IslandsIslands ►► ManMan-mademade bermberm ►► SpillwaysSpillways

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Atlas TackAtlas Tack June PlantingJune Planting

Upland transition area, north of the barrier, east of the creek

Northwest tributary shaped, seeded with Southern T er Consulting Mix # 1 and # 4, and stabilized with erosion control blankets

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Atlas TackAtlas Tack June PlantingJune Planting

Boys Creek, seeded and stabilized with erosion control blankets

North of the barrier, east of the creek, high marsh plantings (seashore saltgrass, saltmeadow rush and salt hay), installed in a 20-ft X 20 ft grid

North of the barrier, east of the creek, high marsh plantings (seashore saltgrass, saltmeadow rush and salt hay), installed in a 20-ft X 20 ft grid

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NOAA Restoration CenterNOAA Restoration Center What do we do?What do we do?

►► Project identification and developmentProject identification and development ►► Partnership develPartnership develoopmentpment ►► FundingFunding ►► Administrative suppoAdministrative supporrtt ►► Technical assistance on feasibility, design andTechnical assistance on feasibility, design and

construction detailsconstruction details ►► MonitoringMonitoring ►► PermitologyPermitology

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Integrating Remediation and Restoration – Some Examples

• Working with EPA and DOD on design assistance on remedial

sites to combine remediation and restoration • Working jointly with EPA and PRPs to achieve cooperative settlement and capture restoration through NRD –i.e. global settlements • Enhancing or extending restoration above and beyond remediation with other NOAA funds (Community Restoration Program)

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Project TypesProject Types

Remove river blockagesRemove river blockages Restore oiled wetlandsRestore oiled wetlands

Construct oyster reefs &Construct oyster reefs & shellfish habitatshellfish habitat

Acquire, restore & protectAcquire, restore & protect waterfowl habitatwaterfowl habitat

Enhance Public AccessEnhance Public Access

Fish passage

Oyster planting

before

after

Dam removal

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The Poudre River Site

Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado

The Poudre River Site

Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado

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The ProblemThe Problem

Q A Viscous, Oily Liquid (gooey stuff) Was Discovered Emerging from the River Sediments Along a Short Stretch of the Cache La Poudre River

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Site History and BackgroundSite History and Background

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Starting Somewhere In TheStarting Somewhere In The Middle...Middle... Q City of Fort Collins Was Awarded a

Brownfields Grant in 2001

Q Fort Collins Wanted to Expand an Existing Community Center Over an Old City Landfill

Q City Initiated an Investigation Targeting the Potential Impacts of the Landfill and the Surrounding Area on Indoor Air Quality of the Proposed Building

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BrownfieldsBrownfields IInvestigationnvestigation

Q Landfill Operated From the Early 1900 until 1963

Q A Manufactured Gas Plant Operated From 1904 until 1927 Immediately Across the Street

Q Post 1927 a Gasoline Distribution Business (Including a Gas Station) Operated on the MGP Parcel

Q A Machine Shop Operated to the Immediate Southwest of the Landfill

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And Hence in the GroundwaterAnd Hence in the Groundwater Beneath the Landfill There Was...Beneath the Landfill There Was...

Q A BTX, MTBE Plume

Q A PAH Plume

Q A Chlorinated Solvent Plume

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But This Was AlrightBut This Was Alright

Q Nobody Used the Groundwater

Q The Potential for Vapor Intrusion Could Be Mitigated

Q It Did Not Appear That the Groundwater Plume(s) Had a Significant Impact on the Poudre River…Except

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However, The Best Laid Plans...However, The Best Laid Plans...

Q In October 2002 a Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (Previously Not Observed On-Site) Was Discovered In the River

Q Subsequent (and Deeper) Investigation By the Brownfields Program Indicated the Problem to Be Fairly Substantial

Q The Site Was Referred to the Removal Program in October 2003

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So We Rounded Up Some PRPsSo We Rounded Up Some PRPs

Q Public Service Company of Colorado (dba Xcel Energy)

Q Schrader Oil Company

Q Not the City of Fort Collins (Determined to Be a Contiguous Property Owner Under the Recent Brownfields Amendments)

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And Did A Joint InvestigationAnd Did A Joint Investigation

Q Exploratory Trenches in the River

Q Soil Gas Sampling Over the Entire Landfill and River Bank

Q Soil Borings and Groundwater Well Installation – Landfill

– Schrader (former MGP) Property

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And We FoundAnd We Found

Q The NAPL Is Coal Tar, Likely Mixed with Gasoline and Diesel Components

Q NAPL Sinks down Through the Alluvium to the Top of Area Bedrock and Traverses Toward the River

Q Near the Landfill the NAPL Moves Entirely Into Fractures in the Bedrock, Eventually Accumulating Underneath the River

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We Also FoundWe Also Found

Q NAPL in The River Sediments Over a 300’ Stretch

Q Underneath the River In the Bedrock Over a 600’ Stretch

Q NAPL Has Migrated Slightly Past the River in Deep Bedrock (20-25’ bgs) Fractures

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So… After Some FriendlySo… After Some Friendly Negotiations We Decided To:Negotiations We Decided To:

Q Excavate the Contaminated Sediments and Bedrock In and Underneath the River

Q Install a Vertical Sheet Pile Barrier with Hydraulic Controls to Intercept the NAPL

Q Provide for Long-term Water Treatment

Q Not Try to Dig Up the Source Area

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Site Restoration GoalsSite Restoration Goals

Q Protect and Hide Remedy

Q Stabilize the Streambed and Bank

Q Replace Invasive Flora with Native Flora

Q Provide Appropriate Habitat

Q Allow Public Access – River

– Bike Path

– Nature Area

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Hide and StabilizeHide and Stabilize

Q Design Slope and Bank to Bury Wall and Pump system

Q Properly Size and Compact Sub-grade of Streambed

Q Restore Original Stream Elevations

Q Discretely Armor and Key in Banks to Bed

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Example of Use of Native SpeciesExample of Use of Native Species

Q Bad – Russian Olives

– Thistle Brush

Q Good – Coyote Willows

– Colorado Sedges

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Examples of Habitat ConcernsExamples of Habitat Concerns

Q Fish Ledges

Q Proper Large Trees

Q Use of Snags

Q Boulders

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Public AccessPublic Access

Q Varied Slope

Q Flat Bank Along Water

Q “Natural” Entry Points to Bank and Trails

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Other IssuesOther Issues

Q Establish Acceptable Survivability Up Front, Plan on Some Die Offs

Q Warrantee All Plantings

Q Watch Out for Beavers!

Q Do Plan for Noxious Weed Control

Q Final Restoration Will Take a Couple of Years

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