On-Call Environmental and Consulting Services for City of Philadelphia

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When the former Caraustar-Rittman Paperboard facility was operating at its peak, the plant was home to more than 1,200 local employees. Its closing in 2006 resulted in the loss of these jobs and left behind 300-acres of vacant real estate in the industrial core of Rittman, Ohio. 

The City of Rittman (Wayne County, Ohio) now has 80 acres of prime industrial property ready for a new end user and a new 205-acre public park that will be open to visitors next year. The redevelopment of the former Caraustar-Rittman Paperboard manufacturing facility is a monumental accomplishment achieved through an ambitious public-private partnership and state funding.

This large and complicated project involved close coordination with the City of Rittman, Wayne County, JobsOhio, Team NEO, Ohio EPA, Ohio Public Works Commission, Wayne County Health Department, and the Ohio Department of Transportation. Funding assistance, a critical factor to this project’s success, was provided through a $2 million JobsOhio Revitalization Program grant and a $2.5 million Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant.

Redevelopment and revitalization of the former Caraustar-Rittman Paperboard facility is a classic example of how a public-private partnership can provide a solution for a civic problem. Preparing this property for new industrial and commercial development is needed for the economic viability of the community. Preparing the remaining property considered less desirable from a development perspective into public open space will preserve important habitat while offering health, wellness, and educational benefits for local residents and visitors for generations to come.

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On January 2, a tanker truck carrying approximately 9,500 gallons of several fuels (gasoline, diesel, and No. 2 fuel oil) in separate compartments was involved in a traffic accident. The accident led to the shutdown of surrounding roads after the tanker truck was struck, rolled over and became engulfed in flames. Working in close cooperation with Maine DEP, Verdantas directed initial remedial activities between January 3 and February 12 and excavation until remedial endpoints were achieved. For this project, Verdantas coordinated initial remedial activities, and is currently performing on-going monitoring of groundwater, surface water, and residential wells. Reporting to Maine DEP has included preparation of a Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP), an Initial Response Activities (IRA) Summary Report, and two quarterly status reports.

Achievements

FAST 24/7 EMERGENCY RESPONSE – While regional firefighters were burning off the remaining fuel, controlling the fire, and working to evacuate nearby businesses and homes, Verdantas was working alongside the Maine DEP, acting fast to minimize and assess the damage caused by the crash and fire. We immediately dispatched an oversight team, including Maine Certified Geologist to the accident site to observed conditions and record the impact area. By responding in such a short time, our onsite team of environmental experts were able to communicate with Maine DEP officials and first responders to ensure the emergency response moved as fast as possible.

PROTECTED LOCAL WELLS AND AQUIFERS – There were local water supply wells and a natural aquifer nearby that could have been impacted by the spill. These receptors were not impacts, thanks to the quick response effort.

EFFICIENT SOIL CHARACTERIZATION SAVED TIME AND MONEY – By utilizing real time data, our team was able to effectively assess the overall area of soil that had been impacted by the crash and fire. Furthermore, through the application of efficient soil characterization techniques, we were able to identify soil that was unaffected and did not require site removal. The methods provided in our Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) minimized the time required for site assessment, additionally minimizing remediation costs and overall site impact. The SAP included Data Quality Objectives for soil and water sampling. The data quality objectives for soil samples were established to evaluate the extent (vertical and lateral) and magnitude of petroleum impacts in soil from the release; and evaluate the effectiveness of the soil excavation remedial response action. Soil samples were collected from both the soil excavation and from soil borings.

1,025 GALLONS OF LIQUID WASTE COLLECTED FOR DISPOSAL – Initial Response and Remedial Actions consisted of deploying sorbent booms and pads on liquid petroleum and near culvert entrances and outfalls, extinguishing active fires, and removing pooled petroleum product using a vacuum truck.

2,113.63 TONS OF IMPACTED SOIL WERE EXCAVATED – Verdantas oversaw soil excavation activities between January 3, 2019, and February 12, 2019, by ACV Enviro (ACV) of Skowhegan, Maine. Approximately 2,113.63 tons of impacted soil were excavated and transported from off-site for disposal. The soil excavation was conducted mostly within the right-of-way for Route 12 and Depot Road. Verdantas coordinated the field work with the Maine Department of Transportation (Maine DOT). Challenges encountered during remedial work included encountering three culverts during excavation activities that required the removal and replacement of the culverts.

PROACTIVELY MANAGED HEALTH AND SAFETY – Verdantas prepared a site-specific Health and Safety Plan (HASP) for the project. A signed copy of the HASP was maintained by the field staff on-site during monitoring activities.

Scope of Services

• Conducing an emergency response to a 9,500 gallon spill of multiple petroleum fuels (gasoline, diesel, No. 2 fuel oil) from a tractor-trailer tanker truck vehicle accident;
• Working in close cooperation with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Department of Transportation to investigate and remediate the spill;
• Communicating with private property owners to conduct investigation and remedial actions;
• Excavating over 2,000 tons of petroleum-impacted soil adjacent to a state highway;
• Collecting confirmatory post-excavation samples for comparison to Maine regulatory criteria;
• Collecting water samples from nearby private water supply wells and surface waters for laboratory analysis;
• Installing monitoring wells and collecting groundwater samples to evaluate for potential groundwater impacts; and
• Completing regulatory response actions and obtaining regulatory closure for the spill.

Project Details

REMEDIATION GUIDELINES FOR PETROLEUM CONTAMINATED SITES IN MAINE – Verdantas followed guidelines listed in the Remediation Guidelines for Petroleum Contaminated Sites in Maine (published December 1, 2009, amended May 23, 2014) to establish soil sampling locations and laboratory analyses.

FIELD SCREENING OF SOIL SAMPLES UTILIZING PHOTOIONIZATION AND FLAME-IONIZATION DETECTORS – During excavation activities soil samples were collected in triplicate and screened in mylar bags pursuant to the Maine DEP guidance document Field Screening of Soil Samples Utilizing Photoionization and Flame-Ionization Detectors (revised April 17, 2015).

COMPENDIUM OF FIELD TESTING OF SOIL SAMPLES FOR GASOLINE AND FUEL OIL (STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE: TS004) – Soil samples were collected for oleophilic dye testing and PID field screening pursuant to MEDEP’s guidance document Compendium of Field Testing of Soil Samples for Gasoline and Fuel Oil dated October 15, 2012.

MAINE DEP REMEDIAL ACTION GUIDELINES (RAGS) – Verdantas used PID measurements to delineate the extent of impacts and soils above 40 ppmv were subsequently excavated pursuant to Maine DEP guidance. Post remedial soil samples were collected at an appropriate frequency and submitted for laboratory analysis of volatile petroleum hydrocarbons (VPH) fractions and target analytes and extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH) by Massachusetts Department ofEnvironmental Protection (MADEP) Methods. Soil analytical data were compared to applicable Maine DEP Remedial Action Guidelines (RAGs).

ANALYSIS OF VPH FRACTIONS AND TARGET ANALYTES AND EPH BY MADEP METHODS – Verdantas performs groundwater, surface water and residential well sampling. For monitoring well sampling groundwater is purged using a peristaltic pump, disposable polyethylene tubing, and low-flow sampling techniques. Field parameters are measured during purging, and the groundwater samples were collected when the field parameters stabilized. Verdantas collected the surface water samples using disposable polyethylene bailers. Groundwater and surface water samples were transferred to pre-cleaned laboratory containers and stored on ice for delivery to the Alpha under chain of custody for laboratory analysis of VPH fractions and target analytes and EPH by MADEP Methods.

PRIVATE WELL SAMPLING – Prior to sampling, tap water was purged from the piping for approximately 10 minutes to allow for stabilization and an evaluation was performed to identify that at one property a chlorination system and carbon filtration system was in use, and sampling was performed directly from the supply well.

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