Site Assessments Going Out in The Field

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Site AssessmentsGoing Out in The Field

Laura J. WeberSolid Waste Project ManagerSt. Regis Mohawk Tribe

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

What’s the difference?

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Overview of SRMT’s SW Program

Open Dump & Subtitle D Landfill

Defining Open Dump Assessment

Data Safety Training Case Study

Presentation Summary

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

SRMT’s Solid Waste Program

Mission: To promote environmental protection through

the use of sound solid waste management practices while contributing to the economic and

social progress of the community.

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

SRMT’s SW Community Service Agency

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

What Are the Major Differences Between an Open Dump & Subtitle D Landfill?

Open Dumps

Subtitle D Landfill

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Open dumps are areas where waste is disposed without proper controls such as: Regular application of cover Controlled access to site Environmental controls

Source: http://www.epa.gov/osw/wycd/tribal/pdftxt/opendump.pdf Based on this definition, does size make a difference?

Open Dump Definition

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

An open dump site assessment is: A process of collecting,

analyzing & evaluating site data

Use data to determine the potential environmental and health threat to the community

Make recommendations for site remediation & cleanup

What is an Open Dump Site Assessment?

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Solid Waste Survey Form

Field Guide for OMDS Data Gathering/Entry

Data to Collect

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

40 hr HAZWOPER is best 24 hr HAZWOPER is sufficient First Responder Awareness is

good Site conditions may

determine what level of training is needed based on OSHA regulations http://www.osha.gov/html/faq-h

azwoper.html#faq1

Safety Training

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Equipment Personal Protection for workers Tracking & Evaluation Reporting Political Community Members

Other Considerations

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

In 2004, SRMT Environment Division began investigating a large open dump site

Things known at time of first site visit: Site owned by community member Materials consisted of mainly C&D

wastes Owner was willing to walk the site with

us and provide us information

SRMT’s Case Study

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Emergency Response Vehicle w/ HAZMAT Equipment

Photo Ionization Detector

Gloves Boots – steel toe &

shank Portable radio and/or

cell phone Camera GPS Field notebook

Equipment for First Site Visit

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Pond located adjacent to dump area Three distinct open dump sites made

up the entire area Materials at the site included:

lead acid batteries, waste oil; tires; fuel containers; and C&D wastes.

Data Collected from First Site Visit

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Owner entered into a consent agreement with the Tribe to cleanup the site

EPA performed an open dump characterization study in 2005 Majority of materials were identified as C&D wastes

In 2009, decision made to develop a remedial action plan for site Need to understand geology of site and potential for

groundwater pollution to make recommendation for site cleanup & closure.

Ownership of site changes

Additional Work Since 2004

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Another site assessment was conducted to collect geological, groundwater, and surface water data.

Dug test pits Explosion gas

studies

2010 Site Assessment

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Value of Pictures

2007

20042004 201

0

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Value of Pictures Con’t

June 2010

April 20102007

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Value of Pictures Con’tCollect Information about potential responsible parties PRP’s

Labels provide Informationabout contents

Laura J. Weber

Addressing & Managing Illegal Dumps in Indian Country

Laura J. WeberSolid Waste Project

ManagerSt. Regis Mohawk Tribe

M-F, 6:30 AM -2:30 PM EST

[email protected]

www.srmtenv.orgQuestions?