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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCD980602163_19980427_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_Status Report - Detoxification Study-OCR-•l:CltlET4RY f?•' ·1/-' . 'l: ~-- ·\;~\ . NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT STATUS REPORT PCB LANDFILL WARREN COUNTY, NC DETOXIFICATION STUDY REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1998 401 OBERLIN ROAD, SUITE 150, RALEIGH, NC 27605 PHONE 919-733-4996 FAX 919•71 IS-3601S AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER -ISO% RECYCLED/I 0% POST-CONSUMER PAPER Mrs. Dollie Burwell Citizen of Warren County Co-chair, PCB Working Group Michael Kelly, CPM Deputy Director Division of Waste Management Mr. Patrick Barnes, PG Science Advisor Barnes, Ferland & Associates Dr. Joel Hirschhorn Science Advisor Hirschhorn & Associates Mr. Henry Lancaster Deputy Secretary DENR SPEAKERS: Phase II -PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT PCB LANDFILL DETOXIFICATION Warren County, North Carolina Prepared for THE JOINT WARREN COUNTY/STATE PCB LANDFILL WORKING GROUP AND THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ICF KAISER ENGINEERS, INC. Gateway View Plaza 1600 W. Canon Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 March,1998 Prepared by In Association with: BFA Environmental, Inc. 3655 Maguire Blvd. Suite 150 Orlando, FL 32803 .. ETG ENVIRONMENT AL, INC. 16 Hagerty Boulevard West Chester, Pennsylvania 19382 Hinchhorn & Associates, Inc. 2401 Blueridge Ave. Suite 411 Wheaton, MD 20902 ~--Preliminary Design Report -BCD Detoxification Warren County Landfill EXCUTIVE SUMMARY The State of North Carolina owns and maintains a closed landfill containing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin/furan contaminated materials in Warren County, NC. The materials in the landfill were generated from cleanup of areas along state roads where PCB materials were illegally disposed. Due to considerable local opposition to the construction of the landfill, the residents of Warren County were assured by the Governor and the state legislature in the early 1980s that the landfill would be eliminated through detoxification when feasible and effective detoxification technology became available. In 1995 the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated one million dollars to study detoxification feasibility and to investigate the site. After an extensive review of potential detoxification technologies, the Joint Warren County/State PCB Landfill Working Group (Working Group) selected Base Catalyzed Decomposition (BCD) and Gas Phase Chemical Reduction as the technologies for consideration for detoxification of the PCB Landfill. Actual landfill materials were tested in a Phase I bench scale study utilizing each of these two technologies. As a result of these Phase I studies, the Working Group concluded that feasible and effective detoxification technology is now available and selected BCD as the preferred technology for detoxification of the PCB Landfill. ETG Environmental, Inc. (ETG) was subsequently awarded a contract to perform this Phase II preliminary design of a full-scale BCD detoxification system to remediate the PCB Landfill (ETG performed the successful Phase I bench scale BCD study). The primary purpose of this report is to -. ETG Environmental, Inc./ICF Kaiser March 1998 Preliminary Design Report -BCD Detoxification Warren County Landfill develop sufficient conceptual design information to allow for preparation of a cost estimate to form the basis to request funding from the State legislature for final design and detoxification of the PCB Landfill utilizing the BCD process. The BCD process utilizes non-incineration chemical reactions to detoxify the PCBs and dioxins/furans in the contaminated materials. Chlorine atoms are chemically removed from the PCB and dioxin/furan molecules, and replaced with hydrogen, rendering them non-hazardous. The resulting non-hazardous oil can be recycled off-site. Detoxified soils will be replaced on-site, covered and revegetated. The process has been proven at several full-scale project applications. The preliminary conceptual design of the full scale detoxification project is divided into two components. The first component provides written conceptual designs for site preparation, excavation, treatment, confirmation/verification sampling, stormwater management, security, site reclamation, decontamination, and demobilization. These aspects of the project have been conceptually designed to provide the basis for a detailed cost estimate for detoxification. Drawings have been provided to supplement these conceptual design items. The second component presents those aspects of the project which will be completed during the final design portion of the Phase III Design/Build detoxification. Outlines have been provided to introduce these final design items, as follows: emergency response plan, permitting plan, performance demonstration plan, air monitoring plan, quality assurance plan, health and safety plan, construction quality assurance plan, and technical specifications . . . ETG Environmental, Inc./lCF Kaiser ii March 1998 __::__-~ Preliminary Design Report -BCD Detoxification Warren County Landfill To assist in the overall project oversight, a Citiz.ens Advisory Board (CAB) would be established as a committee to the Working Group and would include an independent science advisor (s). The Design/Build detoxification contractor would include Program Management, working in conjunction with the state, to ensure that the local community has a strong role in the detoxification project's implementation. The Design/Build detoxification eontractor would also include a coordinator to ensure maximum economic benefit to local/minority businesses and the local economy. Direct local economic impact is estimated in the range of $3-5 million, which includes the hi.ring of local individuals and utilization of local businesses for supplies, material, and services to support the detoxification project. A detailed cost estimate has been prepared to perform the detoxification project utilizing the BCD process. A cost of $23,975,000 is presented, which includes a $2,079,000 contingency to account for the following assumptions, which could change as the detoxification project progresses: 1. Quantity and characteristics of the material to be treated. 60,000 tons of material at 10-12% moisture content and average concentration of 500 parts per million (ppm) for PCBs has been assumed. 2. Regulatory uncertainties associated with permit acquisition and final design activities. 3. Modifications required to the detoxification project as a result of fmal design changes that may result from the permit/final design process. ETG Environmenaal, Inc./lCF Kaiser iii March 1998 SUMMARY -THE BASE CATALYZED DECOMPOSITION (BCD) TECHNOLOGY • Non-Incineration Chemical Destruction of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Dioxins/Furans Through Chemical Dechlorination Reactions. (After Removing Chlorine, PCBs and Dioxins/Furans are Non- Hazardous ). • BCD is Conducted in Solid and Liquid Phase. Solid Phase BCD Removes/Destroys PCBs and Dioxins/Furans From Soil. Liquid Phase BCD Chemically Destroys PCBs and Dioxins/Furans Removed From Soil. • Solid Phase BCD Utilizes Reagent Assisted Indirect Heat Thermal Desorption. Reagent is Sodium Bicarbonate or Baking Soda. Safe Process -Operating Temperatures Less Than 1000°F and an Inert (Low Oxygen) Atmosphere. Reaction Products are Non-Hazardous Oil and Table Salt (Sodium Chloride). Clean Soil is Left On-Site. Oils, PCBs and Dioxins are Vaporized and Removed in the Gas Phase. • Primary Vapor Treatment of Contaminants is Condensing to Recover Contaminants for Further Chemical Destruction by Liquid Phase BCD. Low Volume Vapor Flow and Discharge. • Liquid Phase BCD to Destroy PCBs and Dioxins/Furans. Small Quantity to be Treated in Liquid Phase -Less than 50 tons for Entire Project. Produces Non-Hazardous Oil and Sodium/ Potassium Chloride Suitable for Off-Site Recycling. Safe Process -Operating Temperatures Less than 650°F. • Technology Proven for Full Scale Applications. Successful Demonstration on Warren County Soils. Soil and Air Discharge Standards Met/Exceeded. Envlramental Inc. Thermal Desorption I BCD (Che111ical Deha/ogenation) Contaminated Media Dechlorination Reagent "Clean" Media Dechlorination Reagents ► Off-gas Treatment/ Recycling ' Organic Condensate Contaminant Recovery/Recycling Water Treatment/ Recycling --~ ,,;;au &nvlronmental, Jnc. Contint1ot.1s Indirect /-/eat Thermal CJesorption System -------··---------------------·------·--------------------------------------------·---!!!JllllallllJ!!!!a ...... ~-u Environmental, Inc. Therm-O-Detox Batch Vacuum System ···--·-··--------~-------------------------__ _..... -=-u Environmental, Inc. BCD -Chemical Dehalogenation • Destroys Recalcitrant Contaminants: -PCBs -Dioxins I Furans -Pesticides • Licensed from EPA-RREL • Coupled to ETG's Therm-O-Detoxx System . ------------------~-------------------------····-----·------------------·---·-·---··------·--·---------------------!!![lal-~ -=-u Envlronmental, Inc. . ( . . . . .. · .... ·' I · ,.. -: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR RALEIGH 27611 JA .. U 8 . HUNT. Jf\. 901f£11N0" October 20, 1982 An Open Letter to the Citi~ens of Warren County: I appreciated the opportunity to meet with community leaders ana members of the executive committee of the Concerned Citizens of WArren County on Friday, October B. We had a full and frank discussion, lasting abo~t two hours. We did not A9ree on everything, obviously. But it was A valuable meeting for me ~n~, I hope, for All of you. I told your representatives that I Wlderstand and respect your concerns About the PCS landfill. Nobody w~nls a landfill of any kind in their community. ~our representatives expressed your concerns in stron9, clear terms. They did not hold anything bAck, and I appreciated their frankness. In turn, l was frank with them. I told th~m that, in my judgment, the State of North Carolina had no option but to place the PCB-tainted material in a safe and aecure landfill. The Environmental Protection Agency would not approve handling the material in place along the roAdside, I told your representatives that WArren County wAs chosen for the site solely on the basis of technical reason6. No other con~ideration whatsoever was involved. I also said during the meeting thAt the StAte of North Carolina does not intend to simply walk awAy from any responsibility once the landfill is completed. I made several commitments to that end, and I want to spell those out for you: l. At the request of your repre&entatives, the state will sponsor a public meeting in Warren County at which our agency officiAls, engineers ana scientists will ✓ · review the safety features at the landfill and respond to your specific concerns ano questiona. The meeting will be held At 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 27, in the National Guard Armory in W~rrenton. (more) • I • • I • . . • r' .. . .. -· Warren county Citizens Page Two October 20, 1982 ... 2. The state will push as hard as it can for detoxifica~ion of the landfill when and if the appropriate and feasible technology is developed. We will seek to establish a joint local-state-federal working 9roup to pursue this end. The StAte Board of Science and Technology, which l chair, will have the specific responsibility for pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to develop this process and for monitoring rese&rch to determine when detoxification is pos5ible, 3. The state will maintain continual monitoring of the landfill. This will incluOe the monitorin; systems included in the design of the landfill itself, monitoring ~f the residentlal wells within A three-mile radi~s of the landfill and checking ctrewna And creek& in the area. 4. The state will cooperate with your county health department in providing environmental and health monitoring for those persons who live, work or go to school near the landfill. Warren County Health Director Joe Lennon and or. Ronald Levine, the state's health director, will be responsible for developing a monitoring pro9ram that will guarantee that the health of the citizens in the area is being protected. s. My administration will support legislation prohibiting any additional contaminated soil from ever being placed in this landfill and prohibiting the ~tate from ever placing another landfill in your county for any purpose. I . understand that Frank Ballance will be preparing legielation alons these lines, and we will work with him en thi5 issue. 6. The State Department of Commerce will make special efforts to help Warren County attrAct ind\$try and jobs. We will ·encourcge businesses And industries to visit the county and consider sites there for expansion. The.e are the commitments I made on behalf of the State of North Carolina. It ia my responBibility to see that they Are carried out, and I take that responsibility seriously. (more) • I - . . Warren county Citizen& Po.ge 'l'hree October 20, 1982 I know how controversial this matter has been, Again, I respect your concerna. And r take them seriou~ly. Your 5tate government has a responsibility to you ~nd to all the people who live along the roads where the PCB materiAl was dumped, as well as all the residents of North Carolina who ~ight have been affected had that materiAl spread and entered the food chain. 'l'he state i& convinced, on the basis of the best scientific evidence that ic available to us, that the landfill is safe and will remain safe in the future. But you and I have aeen that scientists can dis~gree, and their disagreements concern Ui, That is ~hy I intend to see that the State of North Carolina keeps its commitment t'o you, your children and your grandchildren to continue to press for detoxificaton of the site, to closely monitor it and to guarAntee its s~fety for generations to come. That is the pledge I made to your representatives. in my office last Friday, ana it is the pledge I mAke to you • now. My very bast personal reqards. - Dr. Joel Hirschhorn Doctor Hirschhorn received an engineering Ph.D. from Reusselaer Polytechnic Institute and was a full Professor of engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison for many years. He was also a senior official at the U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment where he helped shape several federal environmental laws . He is a nationally recognized expert on toxic waste site cleanups and technologies. He has published hundreds of papers and several technical books, and is the Editor of the Journal Remediation. As an environmental consultant he has worked for many leading industrial companies, state and federal agencies, and grassroots community groups needing independent technical advice. Biographical Summary Patrick A. Barnes, P.G. Mr. Barnes is a No rth Carolina Registered Professional Geologists with extensive experience in hazardous \Vaste site remediation. He is pre sid ent and founder of Barnes Fer land and Associates, a full sen·ice Environmental engineering firm He has more than 13 years of landfill site assessment and remed iati on experience in clud ing final closur e acti vities at the Love Canal Emergency Declaration area, and implementati on of remedial design at the BROS, IFF and GEMS Superfund sites. He is the current Technical Advisor to the North Fort Lauderdale co mmunity for th e Wingate Superfund site remediation, which like Warren County PCB Landfill is a nationally known environmental justice site. Mr. Barnes also has extensive remedial site co nstru ction and project management experience . His primary area of expertise is subsurface migration of co ntamin ants . For the past 2 years he has worked closely with the Joint Warren County Working Group as they mo ve closer to detoxification of the PCB Landfill. He has specificall y been re sponsible for leading the site assessment and co mmunity out reaching project comp onents.