In early March, 2009, representatives from the Clifton Fire Department (CFD) asked EPA to accompany them on an inspection of Heller Heat Treating because they suspected that hazardous materials were stored inside the premises. Heller had previously filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and does not have the funds to conduct a clean-up of the site.
On March 10, 2009 OSCs Daly and Kahn accompanied the CFD and reps from the NJDEP on an inspection of the premises.
The following chemicals and hazardous materials were observed to be present at the Site:
--approx. 30,000 gals of used quench oil in totes inside various buildings. An almost equal amount
of oil contained in below-grade reservoirs for heat treating furnaces at various locations around the Site.
--one 30-cubic yard roll-off of zinc oxide sludge staged in a parking lot.
--approx 60 drums of zinc oxide sludge.
--approx. 60 drums of good sodium nitrite, and 40 drums of sodium nitrite sludge.
--approx. 400 drums of various chemicals, including solvents, acids, caustics, paint, oxidizers and unknown chemicals.
--two zinc electroplating lines that contain plating chemical residue and sumps that contain unknown quantities of waste chemicals.
--approx 50 fiber drums of elemental zinc balls.
--partially full ammonia and natural gas tanks.
--two below-grade process tanks that contain 170 tons each of molten sodium nitrite.
