In August, 2007, Ohio EPA was notified via a complaint that assorted e-waste was being stored in open containers along the southwestern portion of the US EPA fence surrounding the closed Skinner Landfill, located at 8740 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, in West Chester, Butler County, Ohio. Ohio EPA investigated the complaint and identified 78 cubic yard cardboard containers of crushed computer glass and a rolloff container of assorted computer parts, including intact monitors and hard drives. The waste was being stored in an uncovered location and the weather was causing the containers to rapidly deteriorate. A packing slip on one of the containers listed a company name, “Tri State Computers.” Further investigation revealed that Ray Skinner agreed to store the materials for Tri-State Computers in Fairfield, Ohio. Tri-State Computers has gone out of business; its successor is thought to be Tri-E Technologies.
Ohio EPA sampled the waste material and determined it to be hazardous waste based on high lead content. In February, 2008, Ohio EPA issued Notices of Violation to the waste generator and to Skinner Demolition requiring abatement of the illegal storage of hazardous waste. Neither party submitted a compliance plan to Ohio EPA. In March, 2008, Ohio EPA requested assistance from U.S. EPA with the assessment, removal, and disposal of the hazardous waste.
US EPA confirmed that the waste was characteristically hazardous for lead as defined in 40 CFR §261.24. After both parties failed to submit a response to U.S.EPA’s Notice of Liability, U.S. EPA initiated a time critical removal of the hazardous waste.
U.S. EPA and its contractors began the cleanup on June 9, 2008. The removal was completed on June 11, 2008.
US EPA’s ERRS Contractor, Environmental Quality Management, utilized a loader, lull, bobcat, and mini-excavator to load the contaminated material into lined trucks. Approximately 131 Tons of hazardous waste, including crushed cathode ray tubes, e-waste, and contaminated soil, were disposed of at the Michigan Disposal Waste Treatment Plant in Belleville, Michigan. U.S. EPA and START used an Innov-X to confirm that all of the contaminated soil had been removed. At the request of Ohio EPA, the clearance standard utilized at this Site was 200 ppm lead.
Ohio EPA is evaluating enforcement options. Ohio EPA and the remedial action PRPs will continue to monitor the Site for unauthorized storage of hazardous waste by Skinner Demolition and Container Company.
This removal action received television and newspaper media coverage.
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