United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
From:
Steve Spurlin, On-Scene Coordinator


Subject: 

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


POLREP No.:
6
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) All drums and totes have been sampled.

2) Sludges and wastewaters have been removed from open-top ASTs in upper secondary containment area. Sludges are collected in sludge box which will be sent for disposal.

3) Open-top ASTs are being deconned with pressure washer.

4) Wastewaters in EQ tank in lower secondary containment will be sent off-site for treatment and disposal.

5) Solidified sludge from the pit is being sent for disposal.

6) Conduct bench tests with drums and totes to combine waste streams.


Planned Removal Actions

1) Remove wastewaters and sludges from PIH, Horizontal, TWT, Special Wastes, and plastic tanks.

2) Decon tanks after wastewaters and sludges have been removed.  Plastic tanks may be discarded.

3) Decon or dispose of ASTs pipes.

4) Dispose of totes, drums, and containers.

5) Dispose of hazardous wastes in tanker truck.

6) Excavate contaminated soils around secondary containment area if needed.


Next Steps

Some ASTs and the daf unit in process area show evidence of leaks.  Contents may be transported to totes or other containers.


Key Issues

None.


response.epa.gov/BPADecatur