United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Monday, July 2, 2007
From:
Kenneth Rhame

To:
Bob Bittinger, ERRB
Taylor Matt, ERRB
Jim Mcguire, US EPA

Subject: 

Final
Groves Drum
Hwy 77, Ohatchee, AL
Latitude: 33.7889000
Longitude: -86.0317000


POLREP No.:
3
Site #:
A4NX
Reporting Period:
D.O. #:
Start Date:
2/21/2006
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
2/21/2006
Response Type:
Emergency
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
5/16/2007
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

On 12-Feb-07 Alabama Dept. of Env. Management (ADEM) was notified, by Hancock Forest Management (HFM), of abandoned drums on a wooded property owned by John Hancock Life Insurance Company. HFM requested ADEM to investigate the drums as to content and possible criminal activity. HFM, the property manager, is a subsidiary of Hancock Timber Resource Group and leases the property to a hunting club. The property consists of approximately 200 acres and is surrounded by farm and residential land. ADEM performed some “haz-catting” of the containers, the results indicate possible incompatible hazardous materials staged next to each other. ADEM notified U.S. EPA Region 4 on Friday, 2-16-07. On 2-21-07 OSC Ken Rhame mobilized to the site to provide an assessment. Noticing the potential threat, he is currently in discussions with HFM to have them removed.


Current Activities

On May 16, 2007 Al Lyons with Hancock Forest Management notified US EPA that the drums had been properly characterized and disposed of.  The site had 24 drums that were illegally placed on property owned by John Hancock Life Insurance Company by Mr. Robert Groves.  Etowah Chemical picked up and recycled 12 drums.  Hancock Forest Management as the representative of John Hancock Life Insurance co. contracted with Action Environmental to remove, characterize and dispose of the remaining 12 drums.  These test concluded that the remaining 12 drums were "non-haz."


Planned Removal Actions

None


Next Steps

None


Disposition of Wastes

24 Drums Total:
12 Drums recycled/used by Etowah Chemical
12 Drums disposed of by Hancock Forest Managment as "Non-Haz" through Action Environmental.



response.epa.gov/grovesdrum