United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region X
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

Columbia American Plating Co. is located at 3003 NW 35th Avenue in the Guilds Lake industrial area of Portland, Oregon.

Columbia American Plating Co. is a registered large-quantity hazardous waste generator, shipping waste under EPA identification number ORD 068788926.  CACP operated under Air Contaminant Discharge Permit #26-2809 and wastewater discharge permit #413-005.  CACP is located in a primarily industrial area with the following neighbors:  Carson Oil to the north; Meyers Drum Company is to the West, Rose City Van Storage and Commercial Furnishing, Inc. are across NW 35th Avenue to the east and Northwestern Steel Company is located across NW Lake Street to the South.  The nearest residences are approximately 0.5 miles to the south along St. Helens Road.  The Willamette River is approximately 0.75 mile northeast of the facility.

CAPC is a medium sized commercial metal plating facility that performs several kinds or electroplating.  Historically the site has been used for plating operations with zinc, nickel, copper, chromium, silver, gold, tin, and cadmium.  Although processes varied from one metal to another, their general process involved pre-cleaning with caustic solution or solvent, acid pickling (which eliminated scales remaining after cleaning), metal plating, and often a final chromate dip to protect plated surfaces.  Zinc plating is currently the primary process at the site.  The facility employed approximately 13 people.

A variety of hazardous materials have been used and stored at the facility including acids, bases, dissolved metal solutions, solvents, oxidizers, and cyanides.  A wastewater treatment unit (WWTU), to treat both rinse waters from the actual plating process as well as surficial water accumulation outside the facility.  The WWTU has four main functions including chemical precipitation, filtration, chromium reduction, and pH adjustment.  The WWTU generates a sludge that is a F006 hazardous waste.  The wastewater, after pretreatment, is discharged pursuant to an industrial waste pretreatment permit issued by the City of Portland (City of Portland Industrial Discharge Permit 413.005).  

Concentrated solutions (plating baths, pickling acids, stripping baths, alkaline cleaners, etc.) are stored in containers along the north fence and batched into the WWTU.  Flocculation, settling, and a filter press remove solids in the WWTU.  The sludge from the wastewater treatment unit is first dried using heat from the boiler and then dried in an oven to reduce the water content.  This sludge is a F006 hazardous waste.  Sludge from the wastewater treatment system is being stored on site along with various other liquid and solid wastes.

The site consists of RCRA D, F, and P listed wastes (D001, D002, D003, D006, F006, F007, P030), is in disrepair, has poor housekeeping, and is accumulating on site run off that needs to be managed.  Several hundred drums and miscellaneous containers are scattered throughout the site.  

On May 9, 2003 the City of Portland’s Fire Marshals Office (FMO) closed the Columbia American Plating Co. stating that the premises was  "imminently dangerous and unsafe for the purpose for which they are being used and are a fire hazard as defined in Portland City Code" Title 31 Fire Regulations, Section 31.20.050.  The FMO ordered all work to cease and evacuation of the building.  On this same day (5/9/03) the City of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services terminated sewer system services to Columbia American Plating Co. based on "an imminent danger to the health and welfare of persons or the environment”, pursuant to City Code 17.34.110(D)(2)(b).  

On Thursday May 15, 2003 DEQ's Emergency Response and Removal Program contacted and requested EPA's Emergency Cleanup Unit for assistance in evaluating and mitigating the imminent threat to human health and the environment posed by the Columbia American Plating Co.  EPA was asked to stabilize the site and initiate a removal action if the determination was made that: 1) the site presented an immediate risk to public health or welfare or the environment; and 2) determine if the responsible party was going to act in a timely manner to the actual and threatened releases of hazardous substances from the site.

EPA is responding to the site at the request of the DEQ.  Initial activities were directed at securing and stabilizing the site through the management and control of on site water accumulation, the covering of open containers exposed to the environment and determining the secondary hazards that exist on site.  Further assessment of site conditions and hazard categorization for unknowns has also occurred.

The primary concern at this Site was the threat of fire and explosion.  The secondary concern is the threat posed by CERCLA hazardous substances and pollutant or contaminants releasing from abandoned drums, Above Ground Storage Tanks (AST's) and process area vats.  Drums and containers onsite will continue to deteriorate over time.  As a result, the potential of solvents, acids, bases, oil, and toxic chemicals to be released to the environment is high.

Wednesday, May 28, 2003

EPA OSC(1), USCG (1),START (5), and ERRS(8) personnel on site. START members collected a total of 222 liquid samples from various 5-gallon drums, bringing the total to date to 1051. START completed hazard categorization (HAZCATing) on 90 liquid samples, for a total todate of 737 samples. ERRS continued bulking  approximately 1000 gallons (20-55gallon drums) of liquid hazardous materials into a 3rd upright Baker tank.  They also consolidated 50-55 gallon drums containing solid (sedimented) hazardous material into a roll-off bins for off site disposal.  Staging of numerous 5-, 35-, and 55-gallon containers continued throughout the interior of the plating shop. The ERRS members have also resumed segregation of various lab chemicals for the purpose of future over-packing and disposal considerations.

Where appropriate, continue bulking hazardous waste by waste stream and remove via vacuum truck, baker tank, or drums, for proper disposal.  Continue staging and HAZCATing unknowns, manage on site water accumulation, and removing contaminated debris.  Characterize sludges and liquids beneath vats in plating room.  Remove all sludges and liquids from floor and wastewater treatment unit.  Remove all other hazardous substances at the facility.