The Site is situated on a one-acre parcel of land located in a primarily residential area (small industrial area bounded by residential properties) of Pennsboro, Ritchie County, West Virginia. The Site is the location of the former Pennsboro Glass Company manufacturing facility, and subsequent Champion Glass Ltd storage facility. It is located near the center of town in Pennsboro, which is located in the northeastern portion of Ritchie County, West Virginia. The site is comprised of two buildings and is situated over a small stream. The largest of two buildings is partially damaged/demolished. Access to the site is not restricted. There is an unnamed tributary that runs beneath the facility, fed by waters from the hillside to the north.
There are several drums, vats, and pallets of glass manufacturing chemicals remaining at the Site. Some of the drums appear to contain oil or oil based materials. Vats containing glass cuttings, marbles and other materials are also present. On the floor of the main facility building powdered material of varying color and consistency is present.
Situation (1830 hrs, Monday, November 20, 2006)
A. On July 28, 2005, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) requested assistance from EPA Region III via a Division of Water & Waste Management (DWWM) complaint/emergency response report. WVDEP Kevin Campbell forwarded the request for assistance regarding a defunct glass manufacturing facility located in Pennsboro, Ritchie County, WV. This facility was purchased by an acquisitions limited liability corporation following a sheriff’s sale of the property due to backed taxes. The previous owner was Champion Glass Company, also a limited liability company. Champion acquired the property from the Pennsboro Glass Company who operated the site from the late 1930s through 1998. The WVDEP report indicated that several potentially hazardous contaminants were present at the site with no restriction of access to the building. The main building (one of three) is listed as partially demolished.
B. START researched the information provided by the WVDEP and located the contact phone number for the present site owner and subsequently forwarded this information to the OSC. OSC Easton contacted the property owner in an attempt to obtain a mailing address for access agreement correspondence. A post office box mailing address was provided.
C. OSC Easton mailed a request for access letter via certified mail to the property owner address which was provided. The letter was returned undeliverable by the United States Postal Service.
D. On 8/26/05, START conducted a windshield assessment of the Site. START observed no access restriction measures other than caution tape. START observed a defunct manufacturing building in disrepair, with a section of the roof collapsed.
E. On 9/28/05, OSC Easton reviewed the site ownership information obtained from West Virginia Secretary of State office. This information indicated that the site was owned by a limited liability corporation, and listed an additional contact/member. Since this listed individual would have the authority to grant access to the site, the OSC again mailed an access request letter to the company address in care of this individual via certified mail. The letter was returned unclaimed.
F. On 1/31/06 START contacted the Ritchie County Assessors Office to receive an update on the Site property ownership status. START was informed that the taxes had not been paid for some time on the property, and the property was in ‘Certified to the State’ status. This is similar to a tax lien where the property can not be sold while the taxes are delinquent. START was provided a copy of the tax record that indicated the delinquent tax status on this property, and a copy of this documentation was provided to the OSC.
G. Personnel on scene (11/10/06): START-1
H. Weather: 11/10/06 overcast, temps in the low 40's
II. Actions Taken
Friday, November 10, 2006
A. At 0930 hours, START departed for the Site to conduct a windshield assessment and update the Site condition observations.
B. At 1200 hours, START arrived at the site and began conducting a windshield assessment of the Site and surrounding properties. START observed no access restriction measures, and the previously intact caution tape was no longer intact. START observed that the several piles of glass cullet in the vicinity of the Site continued to be present. START observed there to be several glass marble-like glass pieces littered about the Site. START also made note of many drains that appear to drain rainwater directly to the stream that flows directly below the main facility building. Also, START noticed an excessive amount of refuse to be present around the outside of the main Site building. START conducted written and photographic documentation of all windshield assessment activities.
C. At 1300 hours, START completed the windshield assessment and departed the Site.
Monday, November 20, 2006
D. At 0900 hours, START departed for the Ritchie County Courthouse in Harrisville, WV.
E. At 1100 hours, START arrived at the Ritchie County Courthouse. The objective of this visit was to update EPA records, and attempt to retrieve a current address for the site ownership. START received an updated copy of the tax collection report from the Ritchie County Assessor’s Office. This document indicated that the taxes for the property continued to remain unpaid. The property at this time remained to be in a ‘suspended from sale’ status.
F. At 1210 hours, START departed Harrisville, WV, and returned to the Wheeling, WV START office.
Sampling Assessment
III. Future Plans
A. OSC to continue attempting to gain access from the current property owner to conduct a sampling assessment at the site. If necessary, the OSC will attempt to procure access through an official access warrant.
B. OSC Easton will continue to coordinate with WVDEP and the City of Pennsboro regarding the status of the assessment.
Access to the site has not been granted by the property owners. Attempts to deliver access request letters via certified mail have failed.
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