U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Antique Chrome Shop - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial PolRep
Antique Chrome Shop
C553
Indianapolis, IN
Latitude: 39.7882370 Longitude: -86.1268570

To: Max Michael, IDEM
Harry Atkinson, IDEM
Mike Sutton, IDEM
Pam Thevenow, Marion County Health Department
Jeff Larmore, Marion County Health Department
Jason Doerflein, MCHD
Eric Kaufman, MCHD
Tim Smith, Indianapolis Fire Department
Fred Previne, Indianapolis Fire Department
Paul Werderitch, City of Indianapolis
Tom White, City of Indianapolis
Bob Masbaum, City of Indianapolis
Tracy Domi, Marion County Health Department
John Crawford, IDEM
Terry Wilbur, City of Indianapolis
Gabrielle Hauer, IDEM
Rex Osborn, IDEM
Daniel Shackle, City of Indianapolis
Jessica Fliss, IDEM
Pam Thevenow, Marion County Health Department
Larry Lobdell, Marion County Health Department
From: Shelly Lam, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 6/9/2011
Reporting Period: June 8-9, 2011

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      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: 6/8/2011    Start Date: 6/8/2011
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description

1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is the former Antique Chrome Shop located at 1925 Massachusetts Avenue and 1544 Samoa Street in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.  Site coordinates are latitude 39.7882370 north and longitude 86.1268570 west.  The Site is located in a commercial and residential part of Indianapolis.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
On June 4, 2011, the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) responded to a release of plating waste from the former plating shop, which is currently operated as an automotive repair facility.  The material was released by the tenant powerwashing materials from the floor into the alley.  Plating waste flowed down the alley, onto Hamilton Avenue, and then entered a storm drain.  The storm drain outfalls to a nearby location on Pogues Run.  MCPHD, IDEM, and the City of Indianapolis took immediate action to stabilize and contain materials.  The City of Indianapolis pumped liquid waste out of roadways.

MCPHD and IDEM requested the assistance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 8, 2011.  Plating residue remained in the roadways and the tenant could not finance cleanup operations. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
EPA's On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Shelly Lam mobilized to the Site on June 8, 2011 and met with MCPHD, IDEM, and the tenant.  MCPHD informed OSC Lam that a fire had occurred in the building in January 2011.  MCPHD issued orders to the property owner to remove plating waste from the facility. 

OSC Lam observed numerous drums in the garage area, including nitric acid, zinc acetate, mineral spirits, and unknown materials; plating waste in the alley and road leading to a storm drain; numerous drums and small containers staged in a second building, including sodium cyanide, acids, bases, chrome solutions, nickel sulfate, and unknown materials.  The drums were improperly stored with incompatible materials, such as sodium cyanide and sulfuric acid, staged in close proximity.  Additionally, many of the drums had no lids and were leaking or corroded.

It was determined that an electrical fire hazard was present at the facility from improperly installed electrical connections.  EPA, MCPHD, and the Indianapolis Fire Department documented live, bare electrical lines running through the buildings.  The live wires were observed to be in contact with metal piping, including the gas line.  With the presence of plating waste on-site, the OSC determined that there was an immediate threat of fire or explosion with the threat of additional releases that could affect public health and the environment.

OSC Lam initiated emergency response operations on June 8th.  The Emergency and Rapid Response Support (ERRS) and Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractors mobilized to the Site to support emergency response actions.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
EPA conducted emergency response actions following a release from a former plating shop.  EPA conducted emergency response operations to stabilize the Site and prevent future releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
During the reporting period, EPA conducted the following activities:

  • Cleaned and recovered plating waste from roadways;
  • Bermed storm drain to prevent additional waste from migrating to Pogues Run;
  • Inventoried and sampled drums;
  • Collected surface water and sediment samples from Pogues Run;
  • Segregated, staged, and secured 16 drums in a Conex storage box pending disposal;
  • Segregated, staged, and secured 29 drums requiring overpacking in one building;
  • Consulted with EPA's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents regarding the improper storage and disposal of hazardous waste;
  • Consulted with CID's technical specialists regarding evidentiary sample collection;
  • Consulted with MCPHD and IFD regarding unsafe building conditions and fire hazards; and
  • Discovered basement with additional drums and liquid waste on floor.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
OSC Lam met with both the tenant and property owner.  Information on the PRPs is in the Site file.  The tenant informed EPA that he was not financially viable to conduct cleanup for waste in the roadways and the property owner informed EPA that he was not financially able to conduct removal of the drums in a timely manner.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
Pending          
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
During the next reporting period, EPA will continue stabilization activities by overpacking drums missing lids and that are leaking or corroded.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA will dispose of waste on-site.

2.2.2 Issues
None

  2.3 Logistics Section
    Not applicable (NA)

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
OSC Lam served as Safety Officer for the incident.

2.6 Liaison Officer
NA

2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer
EPA has not received any media inquiries.  However, any media requests will be coordinated with the Office of Public Affairs.

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
None.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
NA

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
MCPHD
IDEM
IFD
City of Indianapolis

4. Personnel On Site
  Personnel from the following agencies were on-site over the reporting period:

EPA OSC - 1
EPA CID Agents - 2
START - 2
ERRS - 5
MCPHD - 4
IDEM OSC - 1
IDEM CID Agent - 1
IFD - multiple personnel

5. Definition of Terms
 
CID Criminal Investigation Division
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ERRS Emergency and Rapid Response Services
IDEM Indiana Department of Environmental Management
IFD Indianapolis Fire Department
MCPHD Marion County Public Health Department
NA Not Applicable
OSC On-Scene Coordinator
PolRep Pollution Report
PRP Potentially Responsible Party
START Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team


6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
For additional information, refer to www.epaosc.org/antiquechromeshop.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
The next Pollution Report (PolRep) will be submitted with the emergency phase is complete.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  NA