United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The site is located in a mixed industrial and residential area of Trainer, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The site includes a chemical manufacturing facility consisting of about 200 tanks, several buildings, a laboratory, a wastewater treatment facility, and many processing vessels, equipment items, systems, and pipelines which were used in or are related to the chemical manufacturing processes. Chemicals at the facility included oleum, methanol, heptane, mineral spirits, sulfuric acid, and others including many mixtures.  On April 12, 2007, the OSC was notified by EPA Region III staff that the facility was in bankruptcy court and that chemical substances remained at the facility which may pose a threat. EPA issued Orders to Stoney Creek Technologies and other companies to remove the inventory at the site in order to reduce the potential threats posed by chemicals.

In October 2008, EPA initiated removal activities at the site since Stoney Creek Technologies and other companies which received orders from EPA had failed to remove the chemical inventory.  EPA removal activities have included: removing chemicals from tanks, equipment, and piping; decontaminating exterior surfaces to prevent migration of chemicals off site via surface runoff; and decontaminating and reconfiguring the site storm sewer system and waste water treatment plant.  With the exception of planned storm water discharge sampling, all removal activities at the site are now complete.  

-ERRS sub-contractors re-evaluated the sewer system with a video camera and conducted additional cleaning of the entire sewer system with a jet rod (high pressure water). Upon completion of sewer jet rod activities, ERRS cleaned out all manholes by shoveling out debris, then scrapping and pressure washing inside and surrounding areas of the manholes. Approximately 32 tons of sludge have been disposed offsite from jet rod activities.

-ERRS completed shipping waste water off site to DELCORA for treatment.  Approximately 580,000 gallons of water generated from sewer clean out activities was shipped offsite for treatment.  Water was pre-treated using 5 micron filter bags and a carbon filtration unit prior to shipment.  

-ERRS completed the power washing of dismantled process pipes/lines from the wastewater treatment plant.

-ERRS removed sludge and sediment from the bottoms of tanks used for waste water storage.

-Approximately 50 tons of drummed waste from various sources was transported off site for disposal during this work period.  Roll-off boxes containing PPE and crushed RCRA containers were also transported off site for disposal.  All waste generated during removal activities has now been transported off site for disposal.
  
-ERRS drained built up residual material from low spots in process pipes throughout the facility.  This material was drummed and shipped off site for disposal.
  
-START contractors performed air monitoring to ensure worker safety while performing confined space entries and other activities.

-ERRS power washed and scrapped the floors of the laboratory.  

-Cleanout of WWTP (10’x10’) was completed.

-ERRS patched holes in fencing located throughout the site.

-PECO was on site on 9/18/12 to ensure that the gas line to the site was shut off and an electrician was on site 10/10/12 to de-energize electrical substations.

- All personnel and equipment were demobilized from the site on 10/10/12.

-With the exception of storm water discharge sampling, all planned removal activities are now complete.  EPA plans to conduct sampling of water discharging to Stoney Creek during both dry and rainy days in November through December 2012.  This will be done to ensure that water discharging from the site continues to meet applicable standards.

- The OSC was informed on 10/10/12 that the site was purchased on tax sale by Trainer Custom Chemicals LLC. The OSC will coordinate future sampling with Trainer Custom Chemicals and ensure that the new owners are aware of actions taken by EPA at the site.

Disposal activities include disposal from individual tanks, tank consolidations, and a variety of drums.  Single manifests may include wastes from multiple sources.  Wastes are primarily disposed as corrosive (acids and caustics), flammable (items containing solvents), and non hazardous (primarily oil-based materials).