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.
I. Situation (1900 hrs, Wednesday, October 24, 2007)
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. On 11/10/06, START conducted an additional windshield assessment of the Site to update the Site conditions. START noted that the caution tape was no longer intact and building access was unrestricted. Also, START noted an excessive amount of refuse outside the main Site building. START provided documentation of the windshield assessment to the OSC.
H. 0n 11/20/06, START traveled to the Ritchie County Courthouse in Harrisville, WV, to obtain updated tax records pertaining to Site ownership status and tax delinquency status. Records indicated that the site was still in a ‘suspended from sale’ status.
I. On 08/27/07, OSC Easton again mailed access request letters to the previously identified site owner address and company address. The OSC also sent emails to the site owner email address discovered by START during a previously conducted internet search. No response was received.
J. On 10/17/07, OSC Easton (EPA) was issued an access warrant for Site entry, inspection, and sampling, by the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. The warrant was issued for 90 days.
K. Personnel on scene (10/24/07): EPA-1, WVDEP-1, START-1
L. Weather: 10/24/07 light rain, temps in the low 50's
II. Actions Taken
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A. At 0915 hours, the OSC and START departed for the Site to meet with WVDEP Jason Campbell with the purpose of reviewing the current Site conditions and establishing sample locations for the upcoming sampling event.
B. At 1130 hours, the OSC, START and WVDEP arrived at the site and began reviewing site conditions. The OSC, START, and WVDEP looking inside a previously locked storage section of the facility building. Numerous potential hazards were observed within this storage section including drums, loose batch material, vats, bins, and pallets.
C. At 1145 hours, the OSC, START, and WVDEP entered the main section of the building. This section of the building is observed to be in further disrepair, with additional damage to sections of the roof which is collapsed in some areas. Also observed in this area was several remnants of machinery, drums, batch materials, vats, glass products, and marbles. The floor appeared to be water damaged and unsafe in some areas.
D. At 1210 hours, the OSC, START, and WVDEP conducted a reconnaissance of the outside of the main Site building. Features noted included the area of water outlet for the stream, stormwater drains, and potential sampling locations. WVDEP explained that the former Premier Glass Company factory building burnt down in the late 90's. This facility was located just south of the Site. START conducted written and photographic documentation of all windshield assessment activities.
Sampling Assessment
III. Future Plans
A. OSC to task START to conduct a sampling assessment at the Site.
B. OSC Easton will continue to coordinate with the U.S. District Court, WVDEP and the City of Pennsboro regarding the status of the assessment.
Access granted via warrant. Sampling Assessment to be completed to determine if threat to human health and/or the environment exists.
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