U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
US Oil Recovery - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI
Subject: POLREP #2
Progress Report
US Oil Recovery
A6X7
Pasadena, TX
Latitude: 29.7177400 Longitude: -95.2210530

To:
From: Adam Adams, OSC
Date: 7/8/2010
Reporting Period: First 168 Hours (1 week)

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: A6X7    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 7/1/2010    Start Date: 7/1/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response/Emergency Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description

US Oil Recovery is located on approximately 13 acres of land just north of the City of Pasadena, Texas north of Texas Highway 225.  US Oil Recovery performed municipal and industrial wastewater pretreatment of Class I and Class II wastewater, characteristically hazardous waste, used oil and oily sludges, and municipal soild waste. 

1.1.2.1 Location

US Oil Recovery is located at 400 N. Richey, Pasadena, Harris County, Texas 77506.  US Oil Recovery has an affiliated facility called MCC (USOR#2) that is located at 200 N. Richey, Pasadena, Texas 77506.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Approximately 200 roll-off boxes (most labeled "Hazardous Waste Oct 09" or "Hazardous Waste Dec 09"), approximately 400 plus drums and approximately 100 plus 300 gallon totes are located throughout the site in no particular arrangement.  A number of the roll-off boxes are not properly secured and open to the elements.  A retention pond is located on the western side of the site and contains unknown chemicals.  Additionally, there is a tank battery on the north end of the facility that contains approximately 24 aboveground storage tanks (AST's).  The integrity of the AST's and secondary containment are not determined, but signs indicate potential issues.  There is a large bioreactor on the northwest corner of the property that has deteriorating walls and a secondary containment approximately 1 foot tall.  There are no employees operating the facility, and restriction of access to the public.  Any significant rainfall could and would cause an overflow of the retention pond, some rolloff boxes, the tank battery containment, and several on-site basins.  Drainage is primarily to the north and to the west, both directly flowing into Vincent Bayou, approximately 100 feet from the property line.   

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Historical inspections/investigations conducted by the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have shown elevated levels of benzene and chlorinated solvents in some of the waste stored on-site.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

US Oil Recovery opened for business in May 2002 in Pasadena, Texas to handle used oil.  In its proprietary plant, US Oil Recovery performed municipal and industrial wastewater pretreatment of Class I and Class II wastewater, characteristically hazardous waste, used oil and oily sludges, and municipal solid waste.  The facility is located on approximately 13 acres located north of the City of Pasadena at 400 N. Richey.  The MCC facility is located on approximately 5 acres located north of the City of Pasadena at 200 N. Richey with a mailing address and business office at 400 N. Richey.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Response efforts were expanded to include both the USOR facility located at 400 N. Richey Street as well as the connected MCC (USOR#2) facility located at 200 N. Richey Street, due to an uncontrolled discharge of hazardous material from two locations at the MCC (USOR#2) facility.  To date, a total of 17 Frac tanks, 1 vacuum truck, and 5 pumps are/were in use on the response to contain and maintain site contact water and leaking containment areas.  Sampling has been conducted by ERRS contractors to perform waste characterization and profiling for disposal, and START contractors to assess site runoff and containment areas. Analytical results are expected the week of 071410.
 

START performed tank gauging on the tank battery located on the north end of USOR site in Level C PPE. Based on initial observations, the tanks are full of a mixture of oil and water.  An inventory of the 225 roll-off boxes located at USOR was conducted by START for inventory control and verification of the integrity of the containers.  Uncovered roll-off boxes have been tarped and secured from future overflow.  Drums, totes, and containers on-site are being assessed, inventoried, and segregated to ensure all containers are stable and not staged in an unsafe manner. 

The fence located on the northwest side of the USOR site was repaired, securing the site from public access.  No trespassing signs were posted at both facilities and each facility was secured with new locks.   

 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

The Potential Responsible Parties are US Oil Recovery, LLC and MCC (USOR#2), both with the same owner.
  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Continue maintenance operations on containment areas located at USOR and MCC. Continue to assess, inventory and segregate drums, totes, and containers on-site to ensure all containers are stable and not staged in an unsafe manner. 
  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command


3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Cooperating and assisting agencies involved in the site are the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES).

4. Personnel On Site
  Personnel on-site include EPA, START, and ERRS.

Additional personnel on-site at their discretion are representatives from TCEQ and HCPHES.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Additional information can be obtained from the website www.epaosc.org/USOilRecovery-Pasadena.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
Additional POLREP's will be provided as the response efforts continue.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  Additional information can be obtained from the website www.epaosc.org/USOilRecovery-Pasadena.