POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
SMT Drum Site - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII
Initial Pollution Report
SMT Drum Site
B746
Poplar Bluff, MO
Latitude: 36.7675770 Longitude: -90.3271470
| 1. Introduction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1.1 Background |
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1.1.1 Incident Category CERCLA incident category: Inactive Production Facility 1.1.2 Site Description Southern Machine and Tool Company (SMT) is a former machine and tool company that produced machined parts and special machinery, and performed tooling for manufacturing companies. The company began operation in 1964. The company employed over 100 people in 2002 when it declared bankruptcy. Approximately 475 55-gallon drums of waste were abandoned by the company. 1.1.2.1 LocationThe SMT (SMT) Drum Site (Site) is located at 2721 Highway B, Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Missouri. The coordinates, centered on the administrative building at the Site, are latitude 36.767577N, longitude 090.327147W. Per county records, the Site occupies 14.4 acres. It is bounded along the eastern border by the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport and to the south by Missouri Highway B. The north and west boundaries of the Site adjoin agricultural land and residential lots. The elevation of the area is approximately 325 feet above sea level with little relief, typical of the southeastern lowlands of Missouri that fall within the Mississippi embayment (Bootheel Region). 1.1.2.2 Description of Threat A hazardous substance release has occurred at the Site. Unsecured drums have been identified to contain hazardous substances as defined by CERCLA. Specifically, drums containing waste listed in 40 CFR §302.4 and 40 CFR §261 (trichloroethylene or TCE) and waste defined by 40 CFR §261.22 (corrosive acids and bases). SMT generated these wastes during its manufacturing process and left them on this site for years. Waste in drums at the Site has leaked onto the ground as evidenced by staining, sheening, emulsified material, and solid precipitate. The Site is located near residential properties. Contaminants have the potential to migrate to the ground and off of the Site. 1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results On March 16, 2012, the EPA and MDNR responded to the SMT facility due to a citizen complaint that leaking drums were present at the Site. Ms. Sue Fisher of Poplar Bluff is the current owner of the property. On March 16, Ms. Fisher met the EPA and MDNR at the Site and consented to an inspection of the property. Drums labeled as herbicides, sodium cyanide, mineral spirits, metal working fluid concentrate, solvent, and flammable liquid were observed at the Site. Many drums were not labeled or labels were inaccessible during the inspection. Drums were observed to be toppled over, bulging, and leaking. Sheds that once protected the drums have fallen, creating additional hazards at the Site. Emulsified liquid was observed on the ground. SMT was registered in June of 1991 as a generator of D001 (Ignitable) hazardous waste. MDNR reports the company never submitted details of waste disposal activity. Due to inactivity, the permit was deactivated in January of 2003. According to Sue Fisher, the company operated at 2721 Highway B from 1983 through 2002 when the company declared bankruptcy. The company was first created in 1968. Mr. Ted J. Fisher (deceased) was the president and owner. Ms. Sue Fisher, wife of Ted J. Fisher, was listed as the company vice president and secretary. On March 26, 2012, the EPA returned to the Site to inspect the manufacturing building and perform field screening on accessible containers. Field screening and laboratory results confirm that CERCLA hazardous substances have been abandoned at the Site. Wastes were identified that meet the hazardous waste characteristic of corrosivity. Laboratory samples confirmed the presence of concentrated Trichloroethylene (TCE) as well as trace amounts of Tetrachloroethene (PCE), and cis 1,2-Dichloroethene (1,2 DCE). |
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| 2. Current Activities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2.1 Operations Section | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2.1.1 Narrative On April 30, 2012, the EPA mobilized to the Site to continue characterizing waste in abandoned containers and to begin stabilizing hazardous waste. 2.1.2 Response Actions to Date To date, response actions have focused on identifying, characterizing and stabilizing waste abandoned at the Site. Sheds that had collapsed onto some of the abandoned waste drums at the site were removed. There are 620 containers of abandoned waste located at the Site. Approximately 1,400 gallons of corrosive acids, corrosive bases, flammable liquids, and reactive liquids (oxidizers) have been bulked and stabilized on site. Approximately 22,000 gallons of TCE contaminated waste remains to be bulked. 2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) A PRP investigation is ongoing with regard to this removal action. 2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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2.2 Planning Section |
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities Samples have been collected and provided to waste disposal contractors. Once a disposal option has been selected, crews will return to the Site and bulk the remaining waste for disposal. 2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities Planned response activities include bulking the remaining waste and providing disposal at an approved CERCLA disposal facility. 2.2.1.2 Next Steps Once all drums and containers have been emptied or removed, an assessment will be conducted to identify any subsurface source areas of contaminants that may exist due to abandoned waste. 2.2.2 Issues No significant issues have been identified at the Site. |
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2.3 Logistics Section |
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Due to the small size of the crew and scope of the response, the Logistics Section has not been utilized. |
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2.4 Finance Section |
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No information available at this time. |
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2.5 Other Command Staff |
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2.5.1 Safety Officer No safety issues to report. 2.5.2 Liaison Officer A liaison officer has not been required. 2.5.3 Information Officer EPA Office of Public Affairs has been contacted and an Information Officer has been identified. |
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| 3. Participating Entities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3.1 Unified Command The EPA is the lead agency. 3.2 Cooperating Agencies The EPA Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) |
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| 4. Personnel On Site | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Crews mobilize as required. There is not a continuous presence at the Site. While active, the crew consists of an OSC, START Project Manager, ERRS Response Manager and ERRS labor crew of 3. |
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| 5. Definition of Terms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 6. Additional sources of information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report www.epaosc.org/smtdrum 6.2 Reporting Schedule Pollution Reports will be compiled as the need arises and as conditions change on site. |
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| 7. Situational Reference Materials | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No information available at this time. |
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