United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region X
POLLUTION REPORT


Date:
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
From:
Diane Thangamani

Subject: 

Root Paint & Glass Company
422 S. Adams St, Hoquiam, WA
Latitude: 46.9763150
Longitude: -123.9015290


POLREP No.:
3
Site #:
10GT
Reporting Period:
D.O. #:
Start Date:
7/14/2009
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
7/14/2009
Response Type:
Time-Critical
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

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


Current Activities

Soil sampling results indicated that there were several areas in which arsenic levels exceeded the MTCA Method A Cleanup Level and a few spots where lead levels were exceeded. All samples passed for TCLP. The geoprobe samples indicated that the depth of contamination was less than a 1ft in most areas and close to 2ft in few select locations. The estimated volume of contamination is 1200 cubic yards.

9/21/09- 1 EPA, 2 START, and 4 ERRs personnel mobilized to the Site. ERRs started excavating soil in order to make a clean path for disposal trucks


Planned Removal Actions

-Bring in rock in order to make the soft areas in the road easier for disposal trucks to pass
-Excavate & dispose of areas of ash and unburned paint waste
-Excavate & dispose of areas where soil exceeds MTCA Method A cleanup levels for Arsenic and/or Lead.
-Take composite samples and XRF in order to confirm that contamination has been removed


Next Steps

Meet with Washington Ecology on 9/22/09 for Site Walk


response.epa.gov/RootPaintRemoval