United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT


Date:
Monday, July 27, 2009
From:
Steve Spurlin


Subject: 

Wastewater Disposal Continues
Biological Processors of Alabama
611 Finley Island Road, Decatur, AL
Latitude: 34.6217000
Longitude: -87.0519000


POLREP No.:
5
Site #:
A4XX
Reporting Period:
D.O. #:
Start Date:
 
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
6/8/2009
Response Type:
Emergency
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

Biological Processors of Alabama (BPA) located in the industrial area of Decatur, Alabama and was referred to the Emergency Response and Removal Branch by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM).  BPA is a centralized waste treatment facility that collected, treated wastes from facilities throughout northern Alabama.  The facility utilized oil/water separators, precipitation of wastes and neutralization in preparation for discharging to the Decatur Waste Water Treatment Plant.  

The facility started operations in the Fall of 2004 and ceased operations in the Fall of 2008.  

The site consists of 35 frac tanks, 16 above-ground storage tanks (ASTs), 1 tanker truck, an open pit, secondary containments, process equipments, numerous drums and totes, and many laboratory reagents.  There are more than 1 million gallons of wastewaters containing hazardous substances abandoned at the site.

The site will consist of 2 phases.  Phase 1 will be addressed first due to higher threats (ASTs, secondary containment, piping, containers, and soils).  Phase 2, which includes frac tanks and process equipment inside building, will be addressed after Phase 1 is complete.

Current Activities

1) About 80% of drums and totes have been sampled.

2) Rainwater collected from the cleaned upper secondary containment has been treated and discharged onsite.  The rainwater was treated using activated carbon, collected into a pool, and then sampled prior to discharge.  

3) Rainwater from the lower secondary containment continues to be removed when needed.  

4) About 370,000 gallons of nonhazardous wastewaters have been sent for treatment and disposal.

5) Nonhazardous wastewaters from rented frac tanks are have sent for treatment and disposal.  Rented frac tanks are being cleaned and removed from site.


Planned Removal Actions

1) Sample remaining drums and totes.

2) Dispose of remaining wastewaters and sludges from ASTs.

3) Decon ASTs.

4) Decon or remove the AST's pipes.

5) Dipose of waste in tanker truck.

6) Excavate and dispose of any contaminated soils.


Next Steps

Dispose of sludges in ASTs and remove hazardous wastewaters from ASTs.


response.epa.gov/BPADecatur