According to the owner, Accurate Plating Company (Accurate) began electroplating at the Site in 1965. Electroplating operations included grinding, polishing, detergent cleaning and rinsing, metal plating (cadmium, cyanide zinc, caustic zinc, acid zinc, nickel, and brass), and final rinsing.
The Ohio EPA and the Cleveland Fire Prevention Bureau inspected the facility on November 29, 2010. During the inspection, Ohio EPA inventoried fifty six (56) 55-gallon drums and (1) 250-gallon tote labeled by the owner as hazardous waste. In addition there were forty eight (48) 55-gallon drums with non-hazardous waste labels.
In addition to the drummed waste, there are multiple in-ground storage tanks which contain cyanide ladened rinse waters and in-ground storage tanks used as neutralization pits. Two plating lines containing sludge are present. All tanks associated with the facility’s wastewater treatment unit are assumed to contain untreated waste water.
Vandals have stolen all of the copper plumbing and electrical wiring and continue to break into the facility to steal scrap metal. On November 5, 2010, the fire department responded to a fire at the facility. The fire investigation suspects arson to be the cause of the fire. Frequent break-ins continue at the facility.
In mid-2010, Accurate closed the facility and abandoned the electroplating waste at the Site. The owner attempted to drum and label waste to aid in disposal but had insufficient funds to proceed with disposal of waste off Site.
On April 29, 2011, U.S. EPA OSC James Augustyn conducted a Site visit with the owner and representatives of the Cleveland Fire Prevention Bureau. Conditions at the Site remain as stated in the Ohio EPA referral package.
On June 2, 2011, the Region 5 Superfund Division Director signed the Site Action Memorandum authorizing a Fund-Lead Removal Action at the Site.
