A River Runs Through It

A Summary of PCB Assessment and Cleanup Effortsat the Former Riverside Wastewater Treatment Plant

Gateway Park, Fort Worth, Texas

Richard S. Talley, City of Fort Worth Water Department

Greater Trinity River PCB Impairment General Stakeholder Meeting

May 15, 2014

Outline

History of former Riverside Wastewater Treatment Plant and Gateway Park

PCB Assessment Activities under TCEQ and EPA Regulations

PCB Remediation Activities and Associated Costs

Ecological Assessment of PCBs in Trinity River

Future of the Site

Former Riverside Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)

Operated from 1920 until 1979

Peak operation size of 143 acres

Relic buildings, clarifiers, trickling filters, sludge digesters, and sludge lagoons remain in place

History of Riverside WWTP and Gateway Park

Extent of Riverside WWTP in 1979

Gateway Park

Constructed in mid- to late 1980s and early 1990s

504 acres total, including former WWTP area

Parts of WWTP facility demolished

Athletic fields built in place6 softball fields3 soccer fields

Aerial photograph indicatesfill material for construction obtained from sludge lagoons

History of Riverside WWTP and Gateway Park

Construction of softball fields shown on 1987 aerial photograph

Construction of soccer fields and parking lots shown on 1994 aerial photograph

Former Riverside WWTP site enrolled in TCEQ Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) in June 2002

Environmental investigation conducted under TCEQ Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) rules

PCBs – primary COC – triggers Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requirements for waste disposal

Cleanup activities coordinated through TCEQ VCP (TRRP rules) and U.S. EPA (TSCA rules)

Regulatory Coordination

Former WWTP footprint divided into four sectors

• Sector 1 - Former Plant Area 25.59 acres, 23 borings, 97 samples, 5 wells

• Sector 2 - Former Sludge Lagoons 62.15 acres, 255 borings, 724 samples, 8 wells

• Sector 3 - Softball Fields 34.74 acres, 43 borings, 187 samples, 2 wells

• Sector 4 - Soccer/Rugby Fields20.55 acres, 33 borings, 234 samples, 3 wells

PCB Assessment Activities

Extent of former Riverside WWTP and Gateway Park in 2000

Sector 1

Relic WWTP Structures

Sector 2

Former Sludge Lagoons along

West Fork of the Trinity River

Sector 3

Gateway Park Softball Fields

Sector 4

Gateway Park Soccer and Rugby

Fields

Findings

Sector 1 – Elevated PCBs in sludge in nine digesters; PCB cleanup under EPA’s TSCA rules

Sector 2 – Elevated PCBs in soils in several sludge lagoons; PCB cleanup under TRRP scheduled for 2015

Sector 3 – Low level PCBs and no human health risk; Softball fields opened in 2002

Sector 4 – Elevated PCBs in soils across sector; PCB cleanup under TRRP

PCB Assessment Findings & Cleanup Projects

Sector 4 – PCB Cleanup Under TRRP

Soils on soccer/rugby fields contained elevated PCBs

6 removal action alternatives evaluated by Water Department & Parks and Community Services Department

Selected protective cap + synthetic grass playing fields

Protective of human & ecological health

Cost comparable to complete excavation & disposal

Sector 4 – PCB Cleanup Under TRRP

Construction started in November 2005.

Completed in December 2006. New Athletic Field Layout

Sector 4 – PCB Cleanup Under TRRP

Synthetic turf fields have been significant revenue generator

for the Parks Department

PCB cleanup costs associated with the protective cap and

turf fields in Sector 4totaled $4.8 million

Sector 1 – PCB Cleanup Under TSCA

Nine relic digesters contained an estimated 5.7 million gallons of sludge (solid and aqueous phase).

PCBs detected in all digesters sampled with concentrations up to 32,600 mg/kg.

Performed pilot study to determine innovative treatment and disposal options for large volume of sludge.

Onsite treatment plant built to treat aqueous sludge.

Republic’s CSC Disposal Landfill in Avalon received TSCA permit from EPA in June 2004 to receive solid sludge.

Sector 1 – PCB Cleanup Under TSCA

An rail car was used for the onsite treatment system. PCBs were removed from the aqueous sludge using

activated carbon and polymers.

Over 5 million gallons of water were extracted, treated onsite, and discharged to sanitary sewer.

Sector 1 – PCB Cleanup Under TSCA

Over 29,177 tons of solid sludge was excavated and transported to CSC Landfillfor disposal as a TSCA waste

PCB cleanup costs associated with the

digesters in Sector 1 totaled $7.25 million

11 former sludge lagoons along Trinity River

Sector 2 targeted for development as a wetland complex as part of Trinity River Vision Project.

Conceptual approach for corrective action involves excavation of all contaminated soils from lagoons and disposal at CSC Republic Landfill in Avalon, TX as TSCA-regulated PCB Remediation Waste.

Estimated 165,000 cubic yards of soil slated for disposal.

Probable Remedial Construction Cost - $8.365 million

Sector 2 – Proposed PCB Cleanup Under TRRP

Sector 2 – Proposed PCB Cleanup Under TRRP

Evaluation of PCBs in Surface Water and Sediment from Beach Street to East First Street adjacent to Gateway Park

• Water depths vary along the length of river evaluated

• Inflatable kayaks were used to transport equipment

Findings

No PCBs detected in sediment or surface water samples.

PCB Assessment in Trinity River

Total PCB Cleanup Costs

Sector 1 – PCB Cleanup Under TSCA $7.25 million

Sector 2 - Proposed PCB Cleanup Under TRRP $8.365 million

Sector 4 - PCB Cleanup Under TRRP $4.8 million____

$20.4 million

Future of the Site

Finalize Affected Property Assessment under TRRP

Complete Proposed PCB Cleanup in Sector 2

Demolish Relic Concrete Structures in Sector 1

Return Former Plant Area to Recreational Area along Trinity River Corridor as part of Trinity River Vision

A River Runs Through It

A Summary of PCB Assessment and Cleanup Effortsat the Former Riverside Wastewater Treatment Plant

Gateway Park, Fort Worth, Texas

Richard S. Talley, City of Fort Worth Water Department

Greater Trinity River PCB Impairment General Stakeholder Meeting

May 15, 2014