Incinerator Ash: Quick Cleanup at Pueblo Canyon

Spider excavates ash from incinerated documents while hugging the steep terrain.

Remediation Photos

Related Services

• Soil & Groundwater Services

Background Information

The Los Alamos National Lab was ordered to clean up incinerator ash and hazardous debris within 30 days. A small amount of unexploded ordnance (UXO) had also been found there during a preliminary site survey. MARCOR was contracted to remove approximately 2,500 cubic yards of the ash, which had accumulated over more than 40 years of the lab’s document incineration operations, as well as 500 cubic yards of asbestos- and lead-contaminated debris, which may have contained UXO and/or low-level RADs. The work site was at a high elevation (7,500 ft.), very steep (a 1,500- to 2,000-ft. vertical drop), and was a very confined area. An active county-owned airport was in close proximity. And the work site was in view of multi-million-dollar homes, requiring discretion and appropriate community relations.

Description of Work

MARCOR set up a tram lift for workers to navigate the steep terrain, extensive fall arrest protection systems, and a 28-foot decontamination trailer with showers, lockers, HEPA filtration, hand wash station, heaters, etc. for personnel use. All MARCOR personnel were thoroughly trained in fall protection, low-level RADs, and hazardous material handling / abatement operations. They also received special training and certification in UXO safety. The site superintendent was also trained in radiological hazards. Initial and daily safety briefings were provided for those working in the work exclusion zone. Daily crew size consisted of 13-14 technicians and equipment operators.

Excavation with Spider

A Spider excavator, commonly called a “Pilot” was used to maneuver in the tight, steep area with minimal disturbance to the existing terrain. Its 26-foot reach, 50,000-pound. boom-mounted winch with bucket, and highly skilled operator was the best solution for the rugged area. Workers carefully hand-cleared the area where the Spider would be stationed. In addition, MARCOR utilized a sky lift rig with a two-cubic- yard bucket, along with three CAT excavators to provide stationary support. Debris was moved to the top of the canyon where it was staged and packaged for disposal. Among the debris, MARCOR discovered various historic/collectable artifacts, which were later given to the county.

Safety precautions

Personal protective equipment (PPE) included hard hats and climbing helmets, hearing protection, half-face respirators (full-face initially, until exposure sampling for lead showed that lead levels were below the OSHA Action Level of 30 ìg/m3), protective suits, leather gloves, sturdy work boots, safety glasses, harnesses, lifelines, and locking carabineers.

The result

In all, MARCOR filled 115 dumpsters (30 cubic yards each) with debris over a two-week span, working 10 hours per day. The dumpsters were double-wrapped in 10-mil poly and properly packaged for transport to an approved disposal facility. Any areas that had been disturbed during the project operations were stabilized and restored to prevent erosion.

The project was performed successfully, without incident, and ahead of schedule.

For additional information, call MARCOR's corporate headquarters at 1-800-547-0128 or send email to info@marcor.com.