United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IX
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

See Last Polrep.

EPA entered into a Consent Agreement with the responsible parties in mid-2006 to remove all containerized hazardous substances from the smelter facility (exluding process solids), consolidation of all loose process solids in the smelter into one of the buildings, securing of the smelter and WMU and placement a sediment runoff control measures.  The removal successfully removed all containerized hazardous substances with the exception of the process solids and magnesium scrap by November 14, 2006.  

During the PRP removal, a  large amount of process solids were removed from the yard of the smelter to inside the smelter building.  There is approximately 5000 cubic yards of process solids stored at the smelter inside the smelter buildings, conex containers and quonset huts.

On November 14, 2006, OSC Wise conducted a tour of the site for with representatives EPA Superfund Management, EPA Office of Regional Consel, EPA Superfund Remdial program, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and the California Department of Toxic Substance Control to observe current site conditions.  During this tour, OSC Wise observed that the sediment control measures placed by the PRPs were improperly installed.  Also during that site visit representatives of the EPA ERRS contractor were on-site to evaluate the WMU and smelter for further runoff, sediment and erosion control measures at the request of the OSC.

On November 16, 2006, OSC Wise directed the PRPs to repair the sediment fence.  Also after conservations with the Ventura Co. Fire Department concering the fire hazards posed by the scrap magnesium, the PRPs were directed to dispose of this material.  The sediment control measures are expected to be repaired by December 15, 2006.  The magnesium will be transported to US Ecology for disposal during the week of December 18, 2006.

On December 12, 2006, OSC Wise, EPA Consel S. Goldsmith and EPA RPM W. Praskins met with the new owners of the WMU property and current lease holders on the smelther to review the recommendations of the ERRS contractor on sediment and erosion control.  Also present at this meeting were representatives of the RWQCB and the Santa Barbara Channel Keepers. The new owners were directed to provide EPA with a written proposal on how these issues were to be  addressed no later then December 20, 2006.

1.  Repair of the existing sediment control measures.
2.  Removal of the magnesium scrap for off-site disposal.
3.  Implementation of a runoff, sediment control and erosion control plan at the WMU and the Smelter facility.

1.  Repair of the existing sediment control measures.
2.  Removal of the magnesium scrap for off-site disposal.

The new property owners are to provide a written runoff and erosion control plan for the smelter and the WMU by December 20, 2006.  

The OSC will be amending the action memo to reflect the need to exceed the 1 year time limit on removals and the extra costs associated with the sediment and runoff control measures if EPA has to do the work.