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Site is a defunct paper converter which manufactured tissue and toilet paper, and is located within 10 feet of the Battenkill River in upstate rural NY. Owner operates a business office at the site, but manufacturing ceased 12 years ago.
Since April, 2004, OSC has been working with the owner to remove approx. drums of hydraulic fluid, PCB fluids, waste oil and other chemical substances. The CERCLA removal action was completed in June, 2005.
During the removal action, the OSC observed a large oil tank on the property. Closer examination revealed the presence of approx. 10,000 gallon of aged #6 oil being stored in what was a deteriorated metal tank that had inadequate secondary containment.
Inasmuch as the mill has been shut down for 12 years and will never operate again, the OSC determined that the oil being stored in the deteriorated tank, with less than adequate secondary, constituted a significant threat of a release of petroleum to a navigable waterway of the United States. Because of the Petroleum Exclusion in CERCLA, the oil will be now be addressed with funding authority under CWA-Oil Pollution Act '90. The owner has agreed to cooperate with EPA and have the oil removed.
See separate site profile for "Bio-Tech Mills-CERCLA" for additional information.
After exhausting inquiries with a number of possible buyers for his oil, without any success, Responsible Party (RP) has finally conceded that he cannot make or afford the necessary arrangements to have the oil and tank removed. He has granted EPA full access, in writing, to his property to undertake the OPA oil removal action.
OSC has contacted ERRS Response Manager and made arrangements with him do do a site walk-thru on Friday 10/27. At that time OSC and RM will determine, among other things, what site preparations are necessary to allow equipment to access the containment wall and 20,000 gallon oil tank inside the wall.
Meet with RM on the site. Determine what site prep is needed to get machines and equipment up to the tank, preheat the oil, and pump it into a transport vehicle for recycling or sale to an end-user.
Key issues are the accessibility of the tank through heavy underbrush and overhead electrical lines. Adverse weather conditions will also present a hinderance to field operations.
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