On June 1st, 2010, Airgas employees at Airgas Nor Pac, located at 3021 Martin Way, Olympia, Washington, noted two cylinders of identical design which had been abandoned on the sidewalk outside their facility. Airgas contacted the Department of Ecology for assistance in removing the cylinders. The Department of Ecology (DOE) responded to the site and examined two cylinders which, based upon the presumed test dates engraved on the cylinders (30's-50's), and the manufacturer's markings (SOCOOFCALIF, interpreted to be Standard Oil Company of California),were potentially over a half-century old. The tare weight engraved on
one of the cylinders was 52 3/4, interpreted to be 52.75 lbs. The cylinders were weighed by DOE and determined to weight 90 and 91 lbs, suggesting that considerable product remained in the cylinders. Unfortunately, there were no markings on the cylinders which provided evidence of their contents. The DOE requested the assistance of the US EPA in identifying the contents of the cylinders and in safely disposing of their contents.
The US EPA mobilized to the site on June 2, and inspected the cylinders. The cylinders were in poor conditions, with flaking paint and substantial rust obscuring most of the writing and technical information. Based on partial information, EPA determined that the cylinders were originally serviced pre-1940. START attempted to identify the content by using explosive gas, oxygen, and VOC sensors, but none of these contaminates were detected. EPA/START were able to successfully remove and package the cylinders for transport to the Tacoma Airgas facility. At the Tacoma Airgas facility, the two orphan cylinders were accepted by facility to be safely vented and disposed.
