The Frick-Gallagher Manufacturing Company is located at 201 S. Michigan Avenue, Wellston, Jackson County, Ohio. The facility is located in a densely populated residential area with both single and multi-family dwellings in close proximity, as well as a commercial grocery store nearby. The Frick-Gallagher facility consists mainly of a large manufacturing building and shed used to store products and wastes that, while surrounded by a fence, can and have been easily accessed.
Frick-Gallagher formerly operated as a manufacturer of commercial/industrial steel shelving and cabinets, and conducted painting operations of the products made at the Wellston facility. As a result of these operations, waste paint and spent solvents were generated as well as unused paint, and other miscellaneous wastes (e.g. PCBs in transformers, paint product in piping, etc.) generated from Frick-Gallagher’s cessation of operation around the fall of 2004.
In January 2006, Ohio EPA conducted an inspection of the Frick-Gallagher facility, at which time it was discovered that the business was no longer operating. During the inspection, Ohio EPA observed, through the facility fence, several 55-gallon (and smaller) containers of unidentified chemicals. Ohio EPA inspections in May of 2006 and a U.S. EPA Site Assessment in June of 2006 found the following estimated waste left on Site:
--200 drums of flammable and corrosive waste
--2,000 gallons of bulk corrosive wastes
--200 small containers (5 gallon or less) of flammable and corrosive waste
--7 PCB transformers
