The Atlas Iron and Metal Co., Inc site (Atlas) is located at 10019 South Alameda Street in the City of Los Angeles, California. Atlas is bordered to the north by LEX-West, a Lexington Steel Corporation, to the south by David Starr Jordan High School facilities and to the west by the Jordan High School sports field. Alameda Street and the Alameda corridor border Atlas facility to the east. The Los Angeles River is located 3.5 miles southeast of Atlas.
Atlas is an approximate three acre active metal recycling facility where scrap metal is stored and prepared for reuse by cutting, welding and sorting operations. The type of scrap handled at the facility includes ferrous (iron and steel) scrap industrial equipment, appliances, non-ferrous scrap metal other than steel (such as aluminum, copper, lead, zinc), auto, radiators, stainless steel, aluminum cans, brass plumbing fixtures, electric motors, and insulated wire. The site has operated as a metal recycling facility since approximately 1949.
In October, 2005 the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), submitted a formal Request for Federal Action to EPA to address two waste piles present at the facility. The waste piles are located on the western most end of the facility along the facilities boundary with the Jordan High School sports field. The larger pile is approximately 140 feet long by 40 feet wide by 5 feet deep and contains roughly 1,050 cubic yards (yd3) of waste material. The smaller pile is approximately 36 feet long by 39 feet wide by 7 feet high and contains roughly 365 yd3 of waste material. According to facility representatives and State records, the piles consist of sweepings, debris and cuttings associated with site operations for more than 40 years.
EPA efforts through 2005 involved an initial Site walk and records review of available documentation regarding the Site and numerous local and State agency environmental investigations associated with the waste piles.
In February, 2006 EPA implemented a Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) to fully characterize the waste piles and augment existing State data. The EPA analytical results confirmed that the Atlas waste piles, consisting of approximately 1,400 yd3 of soil and debris, are characteristic hazardous wastes due to the concentrations of copper, lead and zinc in excess of State and/or Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste concentration thresholds. In addition, the waste piles contain elevated levels of PCBs, arsenic, chromium and benzo(a)pyrene.
Subsequent negotiations between EPA, DTSC and the PRP resulted in an EPA approved PRP Removal Action Workplan and Health and Safety Plan for the excavation and disposal of the waste piles and any associated areas of soil contamination. The PRP removal team mobilized on August 14, 2006. Field operations concluded on September 13, 2006.
