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Browns Island Chemical Spill

All POLREP's for this site Browns Island Chemical Spill
Weirton, WV - EPA Region III
POLREP #1 - Browns Island ER final POLREP
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On-Scene Coordinator - Dennis Matlock 4/30/2008
Emergency - Removal Assessment Pollution Report (POLREP) #1
Pollution Report (POLREP) #1
Site Description
The facility is a former Coke by-products Plant that closed in 1982. The facility is located on Browns Island, WV. The facility is currently owned by Areclor Mittal Tecumseh Redevelopment Corp., who is in the process of demolition of the facility which includes environmental cleanup activities.  Asbestos abatement activities have been ongoing for several months.  There are two areas, coal tar tanks and Prussian blue release, involved in corrective actions with the US EPA.  The facility is listed in CERCLIS as the National Steel Corp., ID # WVD980538607.  The facility can be accessed from a backwater bridge from the west side of the river, Costoni, OH.

Current Activities
Asbestos abatement is ongoing at the facility as part of preparations for demolition activities.  On Thursday, March 20, 2008, James Kastner, on behalf of Areclor Mittal Tecumseh Redevelopment Corp., contacted the NRC (report # 865550) to report a spill of approximately 300 gallons of an unknown liquid at a closed facility on Browns Island near Weirton, WV.  OSC Matlock was responding to a separate incident in Swiss, WV so he dispatched the START contractor to the scene to gather further information on the spill.  START arrived on scene about 1345 hours, 3/20/08 and met with Jim Kastner.  Temperature was in the mid 30s with light winds from the north.  Weavertown was on scene and had alreadt laid out absorbent pads around the pooled areas of liquid.  The leaking tank was labeled #36.  Mr Kastner believed the tank to be empty.  START observed a painted line with arrows written on the tank.  START used a Raytec non-contact thermometer to obtain temperature levels from the tank.  A 10 degree difference was noted approx 1 foot from the top.  WVDEP Gaston and Coffey arrived on site.  Weavertown inspected the tank and determined there were approximately 2 feet of material left in the tank.  A vac tanker was ordered to offload the remaining material from tank #36.  Analytical from the tank's material indicated the largest constituents of the material were naphthalene at 20,600 ppm, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene at 9,240 ppm, and total xylenes at 3,380 ppm.  
On 3/21/08, START returned to the site to document the progress on spill containment and recovery.  The spill area had been scraped, contaminated soil was placed into a covered rolloff which was present on site, and tank #36 had been moved from it's original location.  Approximately 1,100 gallons had been transfered from tank #36 to tank #143.  An earten berm had been placed around the low area of the original tank location where the saturated soils had begun to seep out liquid material.  Tank #143 was secure and not leaking.


Planned Removal Actions
Areclor Mittal Tecumseh Redevelopment Corp. will dispose of material and continue with Site Securirt at their facility.

Next Steps
WVDEP to continue with investigations at the facility.
No further EPA action for this Site.