Field Office Compliance - Field Activity: Staff Action ID - 120799

Phoenix Recycling - 310203575
4764 NE 22ND ST. Des Moines, IA 50313
Polk County

FO 5

Activity Report
Document Name Type File Date Note
070717 visit summary.pdf
Inspection Report (public)
07/07/2017 070717 visit summary
File Name File Type File Date Note
Comments
7/25/2017 At 3:51 a.m. on 7-24-17 Cameron Stufflebeam from Polk County Emergency Management reported that the fire had rekindled at the Phoenix site. At 2 a.m. on 7-24-17 the fire was discovered by the Saylor Township Fire Department and they put out the fire. The fire department left a fire hose flowing just in case the mulch pile reignited. Janet Gastineau and I visited the Phoenix site at 1 p.m. on 7-24-17 and met with Bobby Colosimo (owner) and Chris Reynolds (VP - Phoenix). No runoff from the site was observed and no fire was present. The fire hose had been turned off. Chris stated that they were running their own garden hose to prevent the fire from reigniting. ANNE HILDEBRAND
7/24/2017 Gastineau, Janet <janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov> Attachments6:53 AM (1 hour ago) to Ted, David I stopped by Friday and there was more activity than usual. Trucks were coming in to get some of the clean fill stockpiled on the south side of the property. All but two rolloffs were gone and one was setting on a tractor. I couldn't determine if it was full or not since the pooled water was so deep I couldn't get through. No fire hose was in use on the mulch pile. A trickle was coming through the southeast outfall and the creek at 43rd and Baseline looked good/normal; 6-8 inch fish swimming in the pool just below the outlet of the storm sewer. On the 18th they reported 2-3 loads of water had been sucked up for disposal. Based on observations Friday this could certainly be repeated; there was more standing water than ever before.? JANET GASTINEAU
7/18/2017 Chris Reynolds called today to report 2-3 loads of contaminated water were sucked off site, but he's not sure of the load capacity. Continuing to work with insurance adjuster to plan for solids to be removed. No fire hose use today but using a garden hose in one spot. JANET GASTINEAU
7/18/2017 Gastineau, Janet <janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov> Attachments2:45 PM (16 hours ago) to Ted, Robert, Mark, Bret, Bill I heard from Chris Reynolds today who reported they had to put both fire and garden hoses on the mulch pile over the weekend. However, they increased the gravel dam at the head of the flow on at the southeast and have plans for Gallon Inc., a local plumber and somehow related to Bob's Septic System, to come in and pump off the contained water. Gallon representatives have reportedly talked with WRA who will accept the contaminated water. The flow through the wall, which was pretty significant last Thursday, has slowed to a trickle and the flow from the base of the east mulch pile has also slowed; today there was no discharge through Discharge Point #3 (so labeled on the previously provided plan). Discharge Point #2 was actively flowing, was darker black, had a stronger odor, but was significantly slower than it was last week. Some of the retained contaminated water on the Phoenix properly is several inches. See attached photo. The creek at 43rd and Baseline had minnows swimming and appeared to be fairly normal in color. It still looked somewhat off as the filamentous algae has died off and appears whitish. See attached photo. No word on whether they can move material off site and nothing done to that end based on observations from today. I will plan for another visit later in the week, or sooner depending on conditions reported by Phoenix or the public. JANET GASTINEAU
7/18/2017 On Fri, Jul 14, 2017 at 2:10 PM, Gastineau, Janet <janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov> wrote: I left a message with Chris yesterday afternoon and I talked to Bobby and Chris today. Bill Gibbons and I stopped by Walfley Creek today at 4th Street and Aurora. It looked the same as yesterday. Chris reported the garden hose continues in the same general vicinity as where I saw it yesterday, but no fire hose had to be used. They will get with their storm water consultant to see about options to further contain water in the detention area to the south (see attached). The rolloffs will be used as soon as the insurance adjuster gives them the go ahead to begin removing solid material. JANET GASTINEAU
7/18/2017 On Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 3:26 PM, Gastineau, Janet <janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov> wrote: I talked to Ted before he left for the day and let him know I just came from making observations at the recycle site and multiple creek crossings. Yes, it is deep brown at the 43rd and Baseline sewer outlet into the creek. I didn't get an odor at this location. Further downstream at 4th and 6th streets it is starting to lighten up considerably and by the time it reaches Morningstar it looks pretty normal; water is very stagnant at this bridge and downstream of it is a natural dam that may be helping slow water way down. The fire hose was off but still set up on the east side and the garden hose was way up top on the west side of that large mulch pile at the entrance. I will talk to Chris about possibility of increasing the detention on the south side of the property or possibly even containing it on the concreted area when you first drive it and pumping it for sanitary sewer disposal. This option is somewhat limited because they have brought in at least a dozen rolloffs; I will ask Chris about this too. JANET GASTINEAU
7/18/2017 On Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 3:04 PM, Petersen, Ted <ted.petersen@dnr.iowa.gov> wrote: Our office did receive a report today about Walfley Creek having a black appearance and odors. If Phoenix is applying water to piles again, and its leaving the site, lets consider the options available to detain the water in an area that would allow for infiltration to the soil. Such as, the area just down gradient of the Phoenix property (ravine/wooded area) and/or the County controlled storm water detention basin. Janet - I'm off Friday, please work with Polk Co. and Phoenix to see what reasonable options are available to slow the water down and infiltrate before reaching the creek. Thank you! - Ted On Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 9:56 AM, Robert Rice <Robert.Rice@polkcountyiowa.gov> wrote: Yes he called to discuss something but haven’t called him back – Will try to get this done today From: Gastineau, Janet [mailto:janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov] Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2017 9:38 AM To: Robert Rice <Robert.Rice@polkcountyiowa.gov>; Ted Petersen <ted.petersen@dnr.iowa.gov> Subject: Phoenix R fire Chris Reynolds let me know they had to put the fire hose back on this morning to settle some smoldering areas. Yesterday they used a garden hose on a small area and nothing smoldering when they wrapped up at the end of the day, but there was a flare up this morning that he didn't think would go anywhere as long as they got the fire hose on it. They may be able to switch back to the garden hose later today. Chris also reported having a call in since yesterday from Bobby Colosimo to Mr. Rice to have a discussion. I'll go by the creek and Phoenix site some time today. JANET GASTINEAU
7/12/2017 7/12/2017 Chris Reynolds telephoned to report a garden hose was started back on a hot spot this morning. I recommended they keep a log of activities out there to track when someone is on site and the timing and placement of water on the mulch piles. Chris seemed agreeable to that and also reported Bobby Colosimo also called Bob Rice with Polk County and left him a message that has not been returned to date. JANET GASTINEAU
7/12/2017 Gastineau, Janet <janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov> 8:50 AM (0 minutes ago) to rcolosimo, creynolds Thanks for all the information you have been able to provide over the past several days. As discussed during the on-site visit yesterday, please continue to keep us informed about activities on the site, especially if you have to begin putting water on the mulch piles again. My contact information is provided below. Please feel free to contact me at any time. Email updates are also acceptable. Our after hours emergency number is 515-725-8694. JANET GASTINEAU
7/11/2017 Gastineau, Janet <janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov> 12:59 PM (0 minutes ago) to Bill, Ted, Tom Photos from today show improvement to the creek. Water on the mulch piles was shut off yesterday afternoon and owners are performing periodic checks to make sure nothing sparks up again. Water continues to run from the mulch piles. Gravel was placed at the discharge points on the property to slow it down. Chris Reynolds will provide us with updates, especially when they have to put water on any of the surfaces. N:\Environmental Services\Field Services\ESD05-DsM-Fo5\Pictures (FO5 investigations)\Solid Waste\Phoenix C&D Recycling (Central Recycling Site #6), Des Moines\7-11-2017 after fire JANET GASTINEAU
7/11/2017 Gastineau, Janet <janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov> Attachments11:19 AM (21 hours ago) to Ted, Tom, William, Robert.rice I got the word out to DMWW about their Des Moines River intake. When I spoke with Bob Rice (321-5320) he confirmed the flow to the creek and will look in to containing fire water runoff in one of the two detention basins south of efco. He agreed regardless of the bankruptcy protection his concerns are air quality and water quality. He seemed grateful at the prospect of WRA taking it, but as Ted mentioned on Friday, much of the water would likely soak in to the detention basins if it got outside the concrete flumes. He will get back to us on containment options. I spoke with Chris Reynolds (Phoenix VP) and his STWW consultant...Chris is sick today and has not been on site, but said Bobby (707-0064) would/should be. Chris understands the general water quality violation and reported the smoldering to be mostly under control and that they may shut off the water today anyway. In the meantime they will look in to what can be contained in what is described as the detention area south of the Phoenix property (see attached). Nothing has been hauled to Metro SDP. JANET GASTINEAU
7/11/2017 Petersen, Ted 12:23 PM (19 hours ago) to DNR, DNR, David, Bret, Chuck, William At 6:30PM Sunday July 9, a report was received by FO5 via the 24-hour spill line, that the water in Wafley Creek was discolored. Wafley Creek flows to the Des Moines River, east to west, north of Aurora Ave in the City of Des Moines. FO5 staff responded to the creek and confirmed that what was being reported was accurate. Monday July 10, FO5 staff responded to the Wafley Creek area and backtracked the discolored water to the Phoenix Recycling site. At the site water was being dispersed on a large wood mulch pile using a 3" hose. Water from the fire was observed to being running offsite to the south eventually reaching Wafley Creek. The water leaving the site is dark colored and has a burned soot odor. Wafley Creek reaches the Des Moines River upstream of the DM Water Works river intake; they have been notified. Currently water works is not using water from the Des Moines River. FO5 staff have contacted Phoenix to discuss options for reducing the water flow from leaving the site and maintain adequate suppression on the hot pile. Other options such as dismantling the piles are also being considered. Polk County has been contacted to determine if the runoff water could be detained in a storm water basin to allow for infiltration before reaching Wafley Creek. A press release is being requested as Wafley Creek flows near a residential area and contributes to the Des Moines River. Water color in Wafley Creek was black the entire stretch from 2nd Avenue to the mouth at the DM River; the color was quickly dispersing in the DM River and was not visible near the Euclid Ave. bridge. The storm water system intermittently flows both on the surface and below the surface to the west - see map below (red line is surface flow). JANET GASTINEAU
7/11/2017 DNR checking runoff from fire in Des Moines MEDIA CONTACT: Ted Petersen at 515-725-0268 or Ted. Petersen@dnr.iowa.gov DES MOINES – DNR environmental specialists checked dark, soot-smelling runoff in Walfley Creek near the Firestone plant on Second Avenue late Sunday and again this morning. The creek reaches the Des Moines River between Aurora and Interstate 80/35. DNR staff traced the runoff to Phoenix C&D Recycling on Northeast 22nd Street in Des Moines where a fire occurred July 6. Runoff flowed from the recycling center through a runoff detention basin, then went west underground before reappearing in the creek. “Residents in the area may notice a sooty fire odor and black discoloration,” said Ted Petersen, supervisor of DNR’s Des Moines area field office. “We’re working with Phoenix recycling to reduce the amount of water leaving the site.” He added that people should keep their children and pets away from the creek for at least 24 hours after the water runs clear. Residents should not be concerned about drinking water quality. Des Moines Water Works has been notified and is monitoring raw water for potential contaminants. Drinking water goes through an extensive treatment process. DNR staff investigated the fire site Friday. At that time runoff was minimal and staff expected it to be contained. JANET GASTINEAU
7/11/2017 see attached JANET GASTINEAU
7/11/2017 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Tim Huckaby <thuckaby@paperstreetconsultants.com> Date: Fri, Jul 7, 2017 at 10:47 AM Subject: Phoenix Recycling / Drainage Map To: janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov Cc: Christopher Reynolds <creynolds@phxrr.com>, rcolosimo@phxrr.com Janet, BLUE lines are flow lines, this should help depict where the different drainage areas run. The southern portion of the overall site is a vegetated detention area. The cover is pretty dense through here and does provide significant filtering capabilities. There are a few sediment controls at DISCHARGE POINT #1 that admittedly have seen better days. Phoenix staff typically changes out the existing wattle when it gets noneffective. This sounded like the area you were describing the flows post-fire were headed to. There is also a berm that runs down the eastern perimeter of the stock piled materials in the south. This primarily contains runoff from the aggregate material in the south as this tract of ground is elevated from the drive area to the north. Chris Reynolds has asked us to follow up on this in conjunction with our bi-annual inspection where we pull runoff samples for lab analysis. Our goal is to land during a rain event to capture the “first flush” from the sheet flows. Current forecast is showing some slight chances late this weekend into next week, I had planned to target any sort of pop-up thunderstorm that may show up on the radar. Let me know if you’ve got any questions, comments or concerns. Chris is a good resource too for any day-to-day operations inquiries. He’s copied on this correspondence as well. Thank you Janet. PAPER STREET Consultants LLC JANET GASTINEAU
Compliance Tracking
Action Type Date Completed Date Comment
State of Iowa DNR Home Site Policy
Leading Iowans in caring for our natural resources
Version: 2.3.1.23706
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