Old Sawmill Asbestos Site Update

US Environmental Protection Agency

September 1-7, 2024

Current Situation

Site Description:  The EPA Region 9 Removal Program is conducting a Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) at the Old Sawmill Asbestos Site, Navajo Nation, Sawmill, AZ.  This action began the week of September 1, 2024.    

This removal action is being performed by U.S. EPA to mitigate the release or threat of release of hazardous substances that is causing a threat to public health and the environment by taking steps to prevent the ongoing release of asbestos fibers.

The goal is to complete work this field season, which will take around 6 weeks. 

Removal Objectives:

1. Protect worker and community health and safety.
2. Ensure all response actions are consistent with the National Contingency Plan.
3. Keep stakeholders including community informed of response actions.
4. Remove all or portions of the former concrete kiln building.
5. Remove visible asbestos-contaminated soil or material from the area surrounding the former concrete kiln building and other demolished buildings on Site.
6. Utilize dust suppression/wetting techniques to prevent a release.
7. Conduct air and soil sampling to demonstrate that the hazards have been mitigated and to document that dust suppression techniques are effective.
8. Transport and dispose of removed/excavated material at an appropriate facility in compliance with the off-site rule, 40 CFR § 300.440
9. Conduct confirmation sampling and analysis where the former kiln building was demolished.

Current Actions / Progress to Date

Mobilized to Site on 9/3/2024

Received equipment on site all week, including heavy equipment, rock, trailers, and water tanks. 

Set up water tank holding and dispersal system, which consists of 4 tanks and 500 feet of hoses for dust suppression.

Continued collecting water from the Navajo Water Resource Lagoon and started dust suppression activity.

Surveyed site around the kiln building for visible asbestos and marked with pink spray paint.  Not all areas could be inspected due to heavy vegetation. 

Began removing dispersed asbestos debris on soil. 

Began installation of perimeter fencing.

Collected background air monitoring and sampling data prior to work starting.

Set up 7 dust trac monitoring stations (3 around the Site perimeter and 4 in the surrounding community) to take daily particulate measurements as well as air samples. 

ACM Contaminated Material Removed:  Trucks 0

Planned Actions

1. Continue air monitoring and sampling.
2. Continue dust suppression during removal action.
3. Demolish the former kiln building.
4. Remove visible asbestos from the soil surrounding the kiln building.
5. Haul asbestos containing material/demo debris to disposal facility.
6. Regrade disturbed areas.

Organization

The EPA Region 9 Removal Program is conducting this removal action.  Stakeholder communication is being shared with Navajo EPA, Navajo F&W, Sawmill Chapter Officials, and the Community.

Resources On-Site

Personnel on-site include:  EPA On-Scene Coordinator (1-2 OSCs), Crew of Environmental Quality Management and Subcontractors (ERRS 10-12), and Weston (2-3) 

Community Involvement Activities

Recent Actions:

A Chapter House/Community meeting took place in August 2024. 

Planned Actions:

OSCs will present at the Chapter House meeting on 9/9/24 and the first week of October.  Weekly site updates will be posted to the website and shared with stakeholders.

Website

https://response.epa.gov/oldsawmillasbestos

Old Sawmill Asbestos Site Update

US Environmental Protection Agency

September 8-14, 2024

Current Situation

Site Description:  The EPA Region 9 Removal Program is conducting a Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) at the Old Sawmill Asbestos Site, Navajo Nation, Sawmill, AZ.  This action began the week of September 1, 2024.    

This removal action is being performed by U.S. EPA to mitigate the release or threat of release of hazardous substances that is causing a threat to public health and the environment by taking steps to prevent the ongoing release of asbestos fibers.

The goal is to complete work this field season, which will take around 6 weeks, into mid October, 2024. 

Removal Objectives:

1. Protect worker and community health and safety.
2. Ensure all response actions are consistent with the National Contingency Plan.
3. Keep stakeholders including community informed of response actions.
4. Remove all or portions of the former concrete kiln building.
5. Remove visible asbestos-contaminated soil or material from the area surrounding the former concrete kiln building and other demolished buildings on Site.
6. Utilize dust suppression/wetting techniques to prevent a release.
7. Conduct air and soil sampling to demonstrate that the hazards have been mitigated and to document that dust suppression techniques are effective.
8. Transport and dispose of removed/excavated material at an appropriate facility in compliance with the off-site rule, 40 CFR § 300.440
9. Conduct confirmation sampling and analysis where the former kiln building was demolished.

Current Actions / Progress to Date

Demolition on the former kiln building began on 9/13/2024.  To date, the second level and approximately 1/3 of the first level of the kiln building has been demolished.  There are several trees and brush that also needed to be removed that were growing inside the former kiln building. 

The demo’d material has been segregated into piles and staged for transportation and disposal.  The material is wetted throughout the day and covered with a tarp and heavy objects when EPA is not on site to prevent offsite migration of material.

Water trucks continue to collect water from the Navajo Water Resource Lagoon for dust suppression activity.   The water is placed into tank and dispersal system, which consists of 4 tanks and 500 feet of multiple hoses.

Continue removing dispersed asbestos debris on soil. 

Finished installation of perimeter fencing.

Continued daily particulate monitoring and air sampling using 7 dust trac stations (3 around the Site perimeter and 4 in the surrounding community).  All of the daily air samples for asbestos have been non-detect, which demonstrates the on site engineering controls have successfully  kept the workers and community safe during operations. 

ACM Contaminated Material Removed:  Trucks 0

Planned Actions

1. Continue air monitoring and sampling.
2. Continue dust suppression during removal action.
3. Continue to demolish the former kiln building.
4. Increase security presence due to site vandalism and aggressive trespasser.
5. Continue to remove visible asbestos from the soil surrounding the kiln building.
6. Haul asbestos containing material/demo debris to disposal facility.
7. Regrade disturbed areas.

Organization

The EPA Region 9 Removal Program is conducting this removal action.  Stakeholder communication is being shared with Navajo EPA, Navajo F&W, Sawmill Chapter Officials, and the Community.

Resources On-Site

Personnel on-site include:  EPA On-Scene Coordinator (1 OSC), Crew of Environmental Quality Management and Subcontractors (ERRS 12), and Weston (1-2) 

Community Involvement Activities

Recent Actions:

Two Chapter House/Community meetings took place in August and September 2024. 

Planned Actions:

OSCs will participate in their final meeting at the Chapter House meeting in early October 2024.  Weekly site updates will be posted to the website and shared with stakeholders.

Website

https://response.epa.gov/oldsawmillasbestos

Old Sawmill Asbestos Site Update

US Environmental Protection Agency

September 15-21, 2024

Current Situation

Site Description:  The EPA Region 9 Removal Program is conducting a Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) at the Old Sawmill Asbestos Site, Navajo Nation, Sawmill, AZ.  This action began the week of September 1, 2024.    

This removal action is being performed by U.S. EPA to mitigate the release or threat of release of hazardous substances that is causing a threat to public health and the environment by taking steps to prevent the ongoing release of asbestos fibers.

The goal is to complete work this field season, which will take around 6 weeks, into mid October, 2024. 

Removal Objectives:

1. Protect worker and community health and safety.
2. Ensure all response actions are consistent with the National Contingency Plan.
3. Keep stakeholders including community informed of response actions.
4. Remove all or portions of the former concrete kiln building.
5. Remove visible asbestos-contaminated soil or material from the area surrounding the former concrete kiln building and other demolished buildings on Site.
6. Utilize dust suppression/wetting techniques to prevent a release.
7. Conduct air and soil sampling to demonstrate that the hazards have been mitigated and to document that dust suppression techniques are effective.
8. Transport and dispose of removed/excavated material at an appropriate facility in compliance with the off-site rule, 40 CFR § 300.440
9. Conduct confirmation sampling and analysis where the former kiln building was demolished.

Current Actions / Progress to Date

Demolition of the kiln building is mostly complete.  Currently, there are only footings left below ground that are being assessed for contamination and whether they present a health and safety hazard.  Transport and disposal of the demo’d asbestos containing material is scheduled to begin the week of 09/23/24.

Water trucks continue to collect water from the Navajo Water Resource Lagoon for dust suppression activity.   The water is placed into tank and dispersal system, which consists of 4 tanks and 500 feet of multiple hoses.

Continue removing dispersed asbestos debris on soil. 

Continued daily particulate monitoring and air sampling.  All of the daily air samples for asbestos have been non-detect. Once trucking operations begin, the dust trac’s will be reduced from 7 to 4 stations, given the hazard has been reduced, and we have demonstrated the dust suppression engineering controls have been successful.

ACM Contaminated Material Removed:  Trucks 0

Planned Actions

1. Continue air monitoring and sampling.
2. Continue dust suppression during removal action.
3. Continue to demolish the former kiln building.
4. Continue to remove visible asbestos from the soil surrounding the kiln building.
5. Haul asbestos containing material/demo debris to disposal facility.
6. Regrade disturbed areas.

Organization

The EPA Region 9 Removal Program is conducting this removal action.  Stakeholder communication is being shared with Navajo EPA, Navajo F&W, Sawmill Chapter Officials, and the Community.

Resources On-Site

Personnel on-site include:  EPA On-Scene Coordinator (1 OSC), Crew of Environmental Quality Management and Subcontractors (ERRS 12), and Weston (1-2) 

Community Involvement Activities

Recent Actions:

Two Chapter House/Community meetings took place in August and September 2024. 

Planned Actions:

OSCs will participate in their final meeting at the Chapter House meeting in early October 2024.  Weekly site updates will be posted to the website and shared with stakeholders.

Website

https://response.epa.gov/oldsawmillasbestos

Old Sawmill Asbestos Site Update

US Environmental Protection Agency

September 22-28, 2024

Current Situation

Site Description:  The EPA Region 9 Removal Program is conducting a Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) at the Old Sawmill Asbestos Site, Navajo Nation, Sawmill, AZ.  This action began the week of September 1, 2024.    

This removal action is being performed by U.S. EPA to mitigate the release or threat of release of hazardous substances that is causing a threat to public health and the environment by taking steps to prevent the ongoing release of asbestos fibers.

The goal is to complete work this field season, which will take around 6 weeks, into mid-October 2024. 

Removal Objectives:

1. Protect worker and community health and safety.
2. Ensure all response actions are consistent with the National Contingency Plan.
3. Keep stakeholders including community informed of response actions.
4. Remove all or portions of the former concrete kiln building.
5. Remove visible asbestos-contaminated soil or material from the area surrounding the former concrete kiln building and other demolished buildings on Site.
6. Utilize dust suppression/wetting techniques to prevent a release.
7. Conduct air and soil sampling to demonstrate that the hazards have been mitigated and to document that dust suppression techniques are effective.
8. Transport and dispose of removed/excavated material at an appropriate facility in compliance with the off-site rule, 40 CFR § 300.440
9. Conduct confirmation sampling and analysis where the former kiln building was demolished.

Current Actions / Progress to Date

Demolition of the kiln building is complete.  The building footings will remain on-site and voids/empty spaces between the footings are being backfill with soil from the property. Transport and disposal of the demo’d asbestos containing material began on 9/23 and is ongoing.

Water trucks continue to collect water from the Navajo Water Resource Lagoon for dust suppression activity.   The water is placed into tanks on site and multiple hoses are used to support dust suppression activities.

On-site personnel continue to remove dispersed asbestos debris on soil. 

On-site personnel continue to conduct daily particulate monitoring and air sampling.  All of the daily air samples for asbestos have been non-detect. Given that building demolition is complete and dust suppression engineering controls are ongoing and successful, the dust trac’s were reduced from 7 to 4 stations. The map of locations and data is posted on the website.

ACM Contaminated Material Removed:  Trucks 18

Planned Actions

1. Continue air monitoring and sampling.
2. Continue dust suppression during removal action.
3. Continue to remove visible asbestos from the soil surrounding the kiln building.
4. Haul asbestos containing material/demo debris to disposal facility.
5. Regrade disturbed areas.

Organization

The EPA Region 9 Removal Program is conducting this removal action.  Stakeholder communication is being shared with Navajo EPA, Navajo F&W, Sawmill Chapter Officials, and the Community.

Resources On-Site

Personnel on-site include:  EPA On-Scene Coordinator (1 OSC), Crew of Environmental Quality Management and Subcontractors (10 personnel), and Weston (2 personnel) 

Community Involvement Activities

Recent Actions:

Two Chapter House/Community meetings took place in August and September 2024. 

Planned Actions:

OSCs will participate in their final meeting at the Chapter House meeting in early October 2024, planned for Monday October 7th.  Weekly site updates will be posted to the website and shared with stakeholders.

Website

https://response.epa.gov/oldsawmillasbestos