United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region X
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

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.

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.

If further information is needed, please see the previous POLREPS.

Friday, May 30, 2003

EPA OSC (1), USCG PST (1), START (5), and ERRS (7) personnel on site.  START members continued documentation of samples collected on May 29, 2003.  They also reviewed empty or near empty sample jars and recorded the reasons why they were not collected (i.e. empty container, factory sealed container, solidified material, etc.).  If the jar was near empty, they attempted to pour the material from the container into the jar to obtain a larger volume of material.  By the end of the day, START had collected 6 samples from various liquid vats, with a to date total of 1197 liquid sample obtained.  START also completed HAZCATing 202 liquid sample, bringing the total to date for those to 1041.  ERRS continued finalizing the bulking sequence for the vats.  To date the bulking sequence for the following categories has been completed: Acid, Acid Oxidizers, and Hexavalent Chrome Acids.  They will continue working on the bulking sequence for the remaining categories.  ERRS also continued with the staging of the 5-gal containers for bulking.  This will be an on-going process due to the number of 5-gal containers contained throughout the facility.

Saturday, May 31, 2003

EPA OSC (1), USCG PST (1), START (5), and ERRS (7) members on site.  START began to demobilize some of their equipment and personnel.  Continued HAZCAT operations and conducted a walkthrough to assess remaining sampling needs.  ERRS completed the following tasks: bulking sequence for the majority of the remaining vats (a few miscellaneous vats still have to be classified; remaining categories are Bases, Oxidizing Bases, and Cyanides), began work on the cyanide scrubber system that will be used during the pumping process, and continued staging orphan 5-gal containers for bulking.  The site was secured for the weekend.

Sunday, June 1, 2003
No work was performed.

Monday, June 2, 2003

EPA OSC (1), USCG PST (1), START (5), and ERRS (7) members on site.  The ERRS contractors completed filling the 3rd Baker tank with the consolidation of  thirty-two 55-gal drums.  They also consolidated and bulked like 5-gal containers into empty 55-gal drums.  ERRS bulked approximately 200 5-gal drums into their respective hazard waste class (i.e. acid, acid oxidizer, cyanide, etc.)  START staged, documented and sampled an 116 samples (1313 total to date.)

Tuesday, June 3, 2003

EPA OSC (1), USCG PST (1), START (6), and ERRS (7) members on site.  EPA CID servered a search warrant today at 1000.  (6)EPA CID members were on site conducting evidence gathering activities. ERRS continued bulking the 5-gal containers into their respective hazards classes.  They also conducted a walkthrough of the building gathering miscellaneous drums, containers, boxes, etc. that will need to be sampled.  They found approximately 60 additional items that needed sampling.  START members assisted the DEQ in the collection of 74 total samples from 45 different locations around the plating facility for the purpose of identifying additional waste and improper RCRA storage.  START teams also completed HAZCATing 116 samples that were sampled on June 2.

Where appropriate, ERRS will continue bulking hazardous waste by waste stream and remove via vacuum truck, baker tank, or drums, for proper disposal.  They will also work on the bulking sequence for the vats for the upcoming pumping operation.  Vacuum truck operations could proceed as early as Tuesday morning.  START will continue staging and HAZCATing unknown drums and containers as well as manage on site water accumulation.  As time allows, ERRS will continue removing contaminated debris, characterize sludges and liquids beneath vats in plating room as well as remove all sludges and liquids from floor and wastewater treatment unit.

Specific and General Requirements have been developed and discussed with the responsible party (owner) regarding the beneficial reuse of some chemicals that remain on site.  These Specific and General Requirements must be met by the owner before any  "products" could be removed from the site.  Failure by the responsible party to address or comply with any of the requirements my result in denial of transfer or custody of any or all of the requested materials.