United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region X
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

Root Paint & Glass Company was an industrial paint facility that specialized in the painting of bridges and other industrial applications. While in operation there was improper storage and disposal of on-site spent-thinners, discarded or off-speculation solvent/oil based paint materials, and specialized finishes and paint coatings. Washington Department of Ecology requested EPA assitance. While on the site visit, EPA & Ecology observed about 900 containers as described below:

• Numerous containers, ranging in size from 1-pint to 55 gallons, suspected to contain latex and oil-based paint products including numerous specialty coatings.  Several of the containers are labeled “corrosive” and/or “flammable”; however, many containers lack labels or the labels could not be read.  In addition, many containers are corroded, rusted, or leaking.
•    Two 55-gallon drums suspected to contain methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene, and methylene chloride.
•  Three 55-gallon drums suspected to contain Cuprasol, a copper plating solution.
• Numerous spent fluorescent tubes likely containing mercury and ballast containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
• An area of ash and unburned paint waste on the ground surface of the yard

Since XRF data is indicating subsurface contamination and because it is impossible to visually delineate between contaminated soil and non-contaminated soil, a full characterization is needed. Due to this, removal of visually stained soil (as mentioned in the proposed action) would not be practical or beneficial at this point. The data from this characterization will be passed on to Washington Ecololgy's Toxic Cleanup Program. They will use this along with their own assessment to decide whether further action will be needed.

July 16, 2009
-WA Ecology visited the Site
-26 oil wrangler boxes were shipped off
-ERRs filled 4 latex and 16 oil wrangler boxes
-START took 20  samples for target analyte list (TAL) Metals, 2 TCLP samples,  2 samples for chromium speciation, 5 samples for Volitale Organic Compounds(VOCs) in various locations as the site.

July 17, 2009
-ERRS bulked smaller containers into 55 gallon drums while START performed air monitoring
-ERRS continued sorting oil and latex based paint products
-ERRS collected and disposed of debris
-3 propane tanks were discovered

July 18, 2009
-ERRs packed 4 latex and 21 oil wrangler boxes
-ERRs continued bulking while START continued air monitoring
-START determined that two tanks have gasoline in them and others are empty

July 19,2009
-ERRs continued bulking operations
-15 new drums were discovered, START hazcatted them
-Propane tanks were flared off

July 20,2009
-ERRs continued bulking, crushing, and solidification operations
-22 latex and 4 oil wrangler boxes were shipped
-67 drums were shipped

July 21, 2009
-Private Utility locator visited the Site
-START marked geoprobe locations
-ERRs continued bulking, crushing, and solidification operations
-ERRs continued collecting debris

July 22,2009
-START collected geoprobe samples
-ERRs continued bulking, crushing, and solidification processes

July 23, 2009
-ERRs shipped ??? drums and wrangler boxes
-ERRs put tanks out of commission & built a fence around the property
-START finished soil sampling
-16 Florescent Tubes Collected and disposed of

July 24, 2009
-EPA, USCG, START, & ERRs demobilized from the Site

-Finishing Soil Sampling
-Shipping remaining wrangler boxes, drums, and debris
-Emptying tanks and putting them out of comission
-Building a permanent fence

- Brian Garral, City of Hoquiam, stopped by to inform us of some of some suspected dumping at an adjacent property. EPA OSC contacted the City of Hoquiam and bussiness operating on property and have yet to consent for access to the property.