Removal Action Work Plan for UPRR Right of Way (UPRR Site Adjacent To Proposed Greenway Trail Extension)

Removal Action Work Plan for UPRR Right of Way (UPRR Site Adjacent To Proposed Greenway Trail Extension)

The project involves the limited excavation and on-Site containment of arsenic and lead impacted soil at the Union Pacific Railroad site, adjacent to the proposed Whittier Greenway Trail Extension site. The Removal Action Workplan includes an evaluation of remedial alternatives and proposed remediation designed to protect human health and the environment. The Site is located at the Leffingwell Creek Crossing, east of Scott Avenue, in the City of Whittier. The Site is located in a residential area near the east side of the city. The Site is bounded by the Whittier Greenway Trail to the north, and residential properties to the south. Historically, the area around the intersection of Leffingwell Creek and Lambert Road in Whittier was agricultural land, primarily orange and lemon groves. The property was developed as a rail line by Pacific Electric Railroad between 1903 and 1908. A 1927 topographic map indicates that the rail line was used by Pacific Electric. The rail line, previously used by Pacific Electric, is currently active and owned and operated by UPRR. Site assessments conducted between 2017 and 2021 identified arsenic and lead in surface soil at concentrations exceeding residential screening levels (12 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) for arsenic and 320 mg/kg for lead). The extent of arsenic and lead contamination was vertically and laterally delineated in 2021. The proposed remedial alternative for the Site is targeted, shallow excavation and on-Site containment in the form of a gravel cover. A geotextile demarcation barrier will be placed over native soils prior to being covered with a minimum of 0.5 feet of crushed gravel. A Land Use Covenant will be recorded with the Los Angeles County Recorder to limit uses of the property and to notify future owners of the property of Site conditions to prevent exposure to contaminants remaining in place. Specific project activities consist of the following: - Placing signage to inform nearby residents of on-Site activities; - Implementing dust controls measures, as needed; - Importing stage materials (geotextile and gravel) to the Site; - Installing temporary construction fencing, as needed A gravel cover will be placed over approximately 33,000 square feet of the Site. Demarcation geotextile fabric be placed either by hand or by using small equipment. The gravel will then be placed using small construction equipment. Potential equipment to be used is listed below: - Compact loaders or bulldozer for fill transport, placement and grading; - Small vibratory compaction equipment for compaction of fill material - Telescoping forklift or skid steer forklift for transport of demarcation geotextile; - water buffalo for dust suppression; - A street sweeper attachment (with a filter to be changed out when necessary) for the compact excavator/loader to keep the project area and access roads clean; - Trucks for imported gravel (appropriately secured to eliminate dust); - Other hand-held equipment based on occasional field needs for areas not accessible by equipment. During remedial activities, Site access will be restricted to authorized personnel only. During non-working hours, access will be controlled via secured temporary orange safety fencing that will be placed, as needed, along the edges of the work area to limit Site access. The work area will be kept clean of any contractor generated waste material. The contractor-generated waste material will be consolidated and removed from the property daily. Projection of existing railroad ties and ballast will be managed via administrative controls to avoid fouling of the track. Demarcation layer installation will be performed manually to limit equipment in these areas. Cover placement will be performed to within approximately 1 foot of the limit of ballast and then worked by hand to tie the materials together. During mobilization construction fencing will be installed around all trees at the maximum reach of the tree branches. Where gravel cover is required adjacent to a tree, hand work will be performed to spread material around the trunk area. Along the Greenway Trail fencing and fencing along the LACFCD channel, construction fencing will be installed 4 feet from the fence face to prevent damage during the majority of the remedial action. To finalize the cover placement the construction fencing will be removed in segments and cover material placed to within approximately 2 feet of the limit of the fence or fence posts and then worked by hand to complete installation up to the fencing. Gravel cover will be sloped by hand to tie into the LACFCD channel wall. Other environmental controls may be required if conditions change at the Site. Remediation will be conducted in a very proactive manner to identify unforeseen conditions and develop appropriate engineered measures to improve those conditions. If unforeseen conditions are identified, work will be transitioned to another portion of the property where these conditions will not affect the ongoing operations, if possible. Work will be halted if unsafe conditions arise. Although not anticipated, in the event biological, cultural or historical resources are discovered in the course of project activities, work will be suspended while a qualified biologist, cultural or historical specialist makes an assessment of the area and arrangements are made to protect or preserve any resources that are discovered. If human remains are discovered, no further disturbance will occur in the location where the remains are found, and the County Coroner will be notified pursuant to the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 2, Section 7050.5.

Whittier

Los Angeles

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Los Angeles