The Aluminum Finishing of SC Site (Site) is the location of a former aluminum anodizing and coloring facility. The site was owned and operated from approximately 1999-2004 by the Aluminum Finishing of South Carolina Corporation. The Site is no longer in operation. Based on a review of Barnwell County records, the site was sold in a tax sale on November 7, 2005. At that time, the property was titled to REOCO, LLC of Jupiter Lakes, Florida. (Ref 1)
The Site is located at 566 Fuldner Road, Barnwell, South Carolina. Recent inquiries have indicated that Fuldner Road has been renamed as Joey Zorn Boulevard, however, Barnwell County documents continue to list the address as Fuldner Road. The property is approximately thirteen acres and is located in an industrial park adjacent to the Barnwell County airport. There is one-story steel frame structure on the Site, which housed the aluminum finishing operation. There is a stormwater retention pond on the southeast side of the property and a small paved parking lot located on the northeast corner. Water supply to the Site is provided by the Barnwell County public water system. The Barnwell County Sheriff's office is located directly across from the Site.
In January 2007, REOCO, LLC initiated a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) at the Site. The Phase I ESA was completed between February 15 and April 10, 2007. The Phase I included a review of historical records, a site inspection and sampling and analysis of some of the waste streams at the Site. The Phase I report identified numerous tanks and containers both inside and outside the building on the Site. (Ref 3). The following were documented in the Phase I ESA report:
- Fifteen fiberglass vats, ranging in size from 5,000 to 6,000 gallons located inside the building. Vats contain liquid, sludge and/or precipitate;
- At least three isolated containment units beneath the open vats, which contain liquid, sludge and/or precipitate;
- Two above ground tanks inside the building which contain a slightly caustic solution;
- One above ground stainless steel tank which has a corroded foundation and is leaning against the east wall of the building;
- Several plastic totes and 55-gallon drums of new and spent acids, caustics and additives inside the building;
- Numerous containers of laboratory chemicals, paints and other hazardous materials near the electrical room;
- Several plastic totes, drums and containers located outside on the west side of the building. At least three fiberglass above ground storage tanks located outside. Containers are labeled as new/spent acids, caustics and additives.
At 0730 on May 31, 2007, EPA and ERRS contractor WRS arrived at the Site. A representative from DHEC was also on site. EPA and ERRS discussed health and safety issues at the Site. ERRS worked throughout the day to accomplish the following tasks to stabilize the Site:
- Overpacked two leaking drums with pH 1;
- Moved and secured 25 full drums into the building;
- Moved and secured 13 partially full drums into the building;
- Moved and secured 10 partially full 250 gallon totes into the building;
- Moved 29 empty drums into the building;
- Collected samples from three drums and one above ground storage tank;
- Performed hazard categorization field screening on the four samples. Results indicated three drum samples with pH < 2 and one tank sample with pH 12;
- Shipped four samples off site for laboratory analysis.
EPA OSCs conducted air monitoring around the containers and throughout the Site during the emergency response action. No elevated readings were detected on the PID, FID and 4-gas meter. In addition, a radiation survey was conducted and no readings were detected above background (12 uR/hr).
EPA and ERRS completed all emergency response actions and demobilized from the Site on the morning of June 1, 2007.
During this reporting period efforts were focused on solidifying sludges for non-hazardous solid disposal. Liquids and sludges from the water treatment containment area were pumped into vats for solidification treatment with super absorbent polymer. Sludges from several vats were placed in roll-offs for disposal. A total of nine (9) roll-offs were transported for disposal during this period. On April 8, two tanker trucks totaling 11,100 gallons of non-hazardous liquids were disposed of at Clean Management in Walterboro, South Carolina. These were liquids from vats that were unable to be adequately pH neutralized for discharge to the POTW with a pH outside of the range for hazardous waste. Also on this date, batch #2 was discharged to the sewer on-site. The volume of the discharge was approximately 14,960 gallons. A letter with analytical results indicating that the batch is within discharge limits was attached and submitted to personnel at the City of Barnwell Sewage Treatment Plant. On April 11 the final hazardous waste shipment of low pH chromium liquids from vat 10 and the containment area 2 was transported and disposed of at Vickery Environmental in Vickery, Oh. The load volume was approximately 3,500 gallons. Please refer to the waste disposition section for a summary.
An electrician was sent to the Site in order to energize the crane on-site. Unfortunately, the crane was not strong enough to assist in moving the vats. The excavator was used to move vats 1 and 2 in order to continue decontaminating containment area 1. During this period vats 8,11,14 and 15 were decontaminated. Vats 1 and 2 were docommissioned for future use by cutting holes in the sides near the bottom.
Continue with the decontamination and decommissioning of vats. The containerized liquids are scheduled for disposal on April 14.
Vat 3 sludges are not solidifying with the addition of the super sorbent polymer. Additional plans for stabilization will have to be evaluated.
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