The Moss Soap and Chemical Company manufactured industrial and janitorial cleaning supplies. Raw material was combined at the facility and re-packaged for sale. Throughout its years of operation, some product lines were no longer carried, resulting in the accumulation of various chemicals. These chemicals were stored throughout the building in drums and other containers. The facility first came to the attention of EPA after a safety audit conducted by Dade County Fire. Deteriorating drums and containers and leaking chemicals were found at the facility. The building was also in poor condition, with large holes in the roof and corroded support beams. The County requested EPA assistance.
On February 21, 2002 OSC Stilman and DERM conducted a removal assessment at the Site. EPA and DERM found deteriorated and leaking drums, water reactive chemicals exposed to rain through holes in the facility roof and unknown releases on the ground outside the facility in various locations. DERM issued notice of violations to the owner to address the on-going releases and EPA and DERM contacting the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with regard to possible action inside the then active facility. Over the next week DERM directed the clean-up of the ground releases and monitored the condition of the facility.
On February 28, 2002 DERM and Dade County Buildings Department conducted a follow-up inspection. Conditions in the building were further documented and the structure of the facility was inspected. After the inspection, Dade County Buildings department declared the building unsafe and ordered all operations to cease. Dade County did allow however, the owner to remove usable product from the building. At that time DERM began regular patrols of the facility. On March 04, 2002 EPA contacted the facility owner to discuss the need for immediate clean-up of building. Despite EPA and County requests, no clean-up of the building was conducted. Based on the continuing threat of release, on March 14, 2002 OSC Stilman activated ERRS to assist with Site clean-up.
Between March 2002 and Sepetember 2003, EPA conducted an EPA funded removal action. On May 7, 2005, an Agreement was signed by with the new building owner was to complete the clean-up.
