FLDEP referred the Site to EPA ERRB. The facility previously operated as Auto Restoration Depot, Inc. and as Auto Klassix Metal Clean, LLC, car restoration businesses that included total immersion paint stripping and electrolytic de-rusting services. The business was storing at least 15,000 gallons of hazardous waste, thought to be mainly caustic rinse water with heavy metals. One of the 5,000 gallon process tanks holds a caustic cyanide process solution. Other tanks and drums contain wastewater and/or sludge or solids that is in various states of deterioration, some of which are leaking or have leaked. The operator frequently failed to manage waste and hazardous materials properly after several visits from FLDEP. The property owner disposed of 30,000 lb. of hazardous waste from one of the 5,000 gallon tanks in February 2014 but has more than 60,000 lb. of waste left on site, packaged in leaking yard boxes. Four 1,000 gallon liquid totes are also on site, two stored outside. No fence is present to secure the Site which is located in a small urban area, surrounded by commercial buildings and private residences.
