On April 5, 2007 the Ohio EPA requested U.S. EPA assistance in conducting a potential time critical removal action involving several hundred 55 gallon drums and numerous tanks of plating waste at the former Schulte Metals Finishing facility located at 4909 Charlemar Drive in Cincinnati. Schulte Metals conducted copper cyanide, chrome, and nickel plating. The City of Cincinnati (MSD) turned off the water to the facility in 2006 and estimated approximately 50,000 gallons of waste plating materials were present on site.
An auction was held March 28, 2007. The contents of the building were sold (including plating tanks). The next day while a buyer was picking up his equipment, he observed people who were salvaging the tanks dumping plating liquids on the floor and notified the Ohio EPA. Ohio EPA determined that another buyer purchased the unwanted plating hardware (whole lines and tanks) and was salvaging the copper and other scrap for resale. One item involved was a cyanide plating tank. The salvage workers and auctioneer employees had no idea what they were dealing with and no one was using proper PPE during the salvage work. The Cincinnati Fire Dept. halted the removal of all material from the site and locked the building. In addition, MSD placed a plug in the sewer.
During an Ohio EPA investigation on March 30, 2007, numerous drums of the cyanide compounds were located on site as well as chromium trioxide, and nitric acid drums. There is also evidence of leaking plating tanks and drums. The facility is in a residential neighborhood located about 100 feet from apartment buildings and there is evidence of vandalism at the site.
On April 16, 2007, the U.S. EPA initiated a site investigation to determine if the site meets the criteria for a removal action. The EPA site investigation was completed on April 23, 2007 including waste sampling (drums, vats, and containers).
June 1, 2007 Update: The EPA removal action was initiated with mobilization of site office trailers and completion and distribution of a site emergency contingency plan.
July 3, 2007 Update: The EPA removal action continues with removal of F008 debris (dismantled plating line) and lab pack chemicals. Air monitoring network established.
October 4, 2007 Update: The EPA removal action continues with removal of F008 debris (dismantled plating line). Air monitoring continues.
November 13, 2007 Update: Floor decontamination initiated.
November 28, 2007 Update: The EPA removal action was completed.
