United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Mobile American Bumper and Plating site is located at 1654 Navco Road in Mobile, Alabama. The site is bordered by residential properties to the North and East and by Interstate 10 to the South.  Approximately 250 feet of wooded land separates the site from residential properties to the West. The site is a former chrome plating operation that encompasses approximately 9 acres. The site consists of an approximate 120,000 square foot, steel-clad building, two shallow concrete-lined surface impoundments, and two concrete-lined ponds. The topography is relatively flat. Surface drainage from around the facility flows to the south via drainage ditches that discharge to a concrete culvert parallel to Interstate 10.

On 1/22/2008 the EPA On Scene Coordinator (OSC), at the request of the City of Mobile, Alabama, met at the American Bumper site with all stakeholders involved to assess the presence of hazardous materials. The facility was abandoned and in severe, structural disrepair.  The various chemicals, containers and some vats were completely exposed to the external elements. Several containers were severely deteriorated and releasing their contents directly unto the surrounding ground and environment. Ongoing trespassing and vagrancy was apparent.  As a result of the initial assessment the OSC initiated an Emergency Removal Action.

Subsequent to the emergency response, a Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) was initiated to address potential exposure to hazardous chemicals inside the building and surrounding property. The TCRA scope includes demolition and disposal of the building, disposal of solid and liquid wastes from the emergency removal action and an assessment of the surrounding soils, ponds and surface impoundments.

Building Demolition and Disposal
- 75 percent building demolished
- 10 percent building debris disposed/recycled
Site Preperation/Clearing
- 90 percent bumper and trash clearing
Soil Contaminant Characterization
- 60 percent soil characterization
Solid and Liquid Waste Disposal
- 70 percent hazardous characterization of waste
- 70 percent waste streams identified
- 70 percent waste bulked
- 25 percent waste profiled for disposal
- 0 Percent waste disposed
Pond/Surface Impoundment Closeout
- 100 percent water and sludge characterization
- 0 Percent water disposal
- 0 Percent sludge disposal
- 0 Percent concrete liners removed
- 0 Percent pond/surface impoundment backfilled
Public Relations
- On 9/8/08 OSC Sparks conducted an interview with Channel 5 local news at the site.
- On 9/8/08 ADEM representatives visited the site and were escorted on a site tour.
- On 9/8/08 a public meeting was held at a nearby church. OSC Sparks gave a briefing of current activities on the site and answered questions from the community. ADEM was also in attendance.

- Contact the local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) to coordinate pond and surface impoundment water disposal.
- In order to establish a more complete picture of extent of contamination and compile information for potential future potential future investigations, groundwater wells will be sampled to establish a current baseline.

- The main site building is severely damaged and structurally unsound.  Access into the main operational areas of the building for assessment is prohibited until portions of the building can be removed.
- Site drainage is ineffective and soil on site is routinely saturated by seasonal heavy rainfall.  A site storm water management plan is being established to minimize off-site migration.