United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region II
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

At 1615 hours on 10/29/08 EPA received a notification from the NRC that a chemical release was occurring at Abrachem Chemical, a bulk chemical packaging facility that leased a building in Clifton, Passaic County, NJ.  The NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection was on-scene and requested EPAs presence.

At 1730 hours OSC Ellen Banner and OSC Paul Kahn responded to the scene.  The company was found to be storing drums and bulk containers of known and unknown chemicals in 17 56-foot long intermodal shipping carriers (ISCs), stacked 3 tiers high (approx. 35 feet).  Only 5 of the ISCs could be opened, and inside those it was observed that drums and bulk containers were staged behind tiers of empty poly drums, giving  the impression that the ISCs were used for new drum storage.  EPA observed that in the one ISC where the release originated at least one drum was leaking its contents onto a wooden pallet; strong chemical odors emanated from the open door of the ISC and were also pervasive in the general area.  

The Operator of Abrachem retained the services of a remediation company, and contractor personnel were advised to lay poly sheeting and begin removing and overpacking the leaking and unknown drums that were readily accessible.  Work commenced almost immediately, but at 2100 hours was halted due to lack of adequate lighting and inability to phyusically access the majority of the drums through the narrow doorway.  

The Operator of Abrachem and the Owner of the property was issued a Field Expedient Notice, and in response the Operator stated he would initiate a removal action.  When his efforts to respond to the release, and threats of a release, proved to be inadequate EPA sought voluntary access to initiate a response action.  This access was denied on two occasions.  On 12/4/2008 EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) for access.  The Operator refused to comply with the UAO and EPA referred the matter to the Department of Justice for a legal remedy.  On 1/8/2009 a federal Magistrate issued an access warrant to EPA to initiate a response action at the Site.

During this reporting period ERRS continued to overpack deteriorated drums.  Forty samples of chemicals NOT intended to be returned to, or disposed by, original suppliers were sent to a certified laboratory for analytical testing.  The results of this testing will be used to determine which containers of chemicals can be bulked and/or grouped together as separate waste streams for disposal.

The ERRS crew has been working continuously since mobing to the Site in January.  They will be demobed effective 4/10 for one week to be home with their families.  Removal activities will resume as of 0730 hours on 4/20.  During this period of time security guard service will be in effect 24/7.

One chemical company visited the Site and acquired samples of it's chemicals in preparation for accepting their chemicals for reuse or recycling.

Demobe Site as of 4/10.

After the resumption of Site activities on 4/20 chemical companies with chemicals at the Site will begin to retrieve their chemicals or arrange for them to be shipped off-Site for disposal.

For those 'orphan' chemicals without an identifiable supplier, waste streams will be organized and disposal profiles will be worked-up for T & D purposes.

See above.