United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT


Date:
Thursday, September 17, 2009
From:
Subash Patel, On-Scene Coordinator


Subject: 

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


POLREP No.:
8
Site #:
A4XX
Reporting Period:
D.O. #:
Start Date:
 
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
6/8/2009
Response Type:
Time-Critical
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) Removing sludges and cleaning Tank #1, PIH #1 tank and PIH #2 tank.  Sludges from all other open-top ASTs have been removed.  These tanks are being deconned with a pressure washer.  

2) Rainwater from upper secondary containment area continues to be pumped into activated carbon treatment system prior to on-site discharge.

3) Hazardous wastewaters from two Special Waste Tanks are being pumped down and sent for treatment off-site.

4) Lab packs have been sent off-site for disposal.


Planned Removal Actions

1) Dispose of totes, drums, and containers that are in poor condition.

2) Dispose of hazardous wastewaster in tanker truck.

3) Dispose of wastewaters in ASTs without open-tops.

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

5) Dispose of debris containing oily residue.

6) Build a drainage system to reduce amount of stormwater runoff from entering upper secondary containment during heavy rains.


Key Issues

A small area of stained soils were discovered in the back area of the site.  Samples were collected and awaiting results.  There are no signs buried drums or totes.  The stained area is in a different location where exploratory trenches were dug.


response.epa.gov/BPADecatur