Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Abrachem Chemical
Clifton, NJ - EPA Region II
POLREP #28 - Two Truck-loads of Chemicals Shipped For Disposal

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On-Scene Coordinator - Paul L. Kahn, Michael Hoppe	3/19/2009
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #28
Start Date: 1/2/2009

Site Description
At 1615 hours on 10/29/08 EPA received a notification from the NRC that a chemical release was occurring at Abrachem Chemical, a bulk chemical packaging facility that leased a building in Clifton, Passaic County, NJ.  The NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection was on-scene and requested EPAs presence.

At 1730 hours OSC Ellen Banner and OSC Paul Kahn responded to the scene.  The company was found to be storing drums and bulk containers of known and unknown chemicals in 17 56-foot long intermodal shipping carriers (ISCs), stacked 3 tiers high (approx. 35 feet).  Only 5 of the ISCs could be opened, and inside those it was observed that drums and bulk containers were staged behind tiers of empty poly drums, giving  the impression that the ISCs were used for new drum storage.  EPA observed that in the one ISC where the release originated at least one drum was leaking its contents onto a wooden pallet; strong chemical odors emanated from the open door of the ISC and were also pervasive in the general area.

The Operator of Abrachem retained the services of a remediation company, and contractor personnel were advised to lay poly sheeting and begin removing and overpacking the leaking and unknown drums that were readily accessible.  Work commenced almost immediately, but at 2100 hours was halted due to lack of adequate lighting and inability to phyusically access the majority of the drums through the narrow doorway.

The Operator of Abrachem and the Owner of the property was issued a Field Expedient Notice, and in response the Operator stated he would initiate a removal action.  When his efforts to respond to the release, and threats of a release, proved to be inadequate EPA sought voluntary access to initiate a response action.  This access was denied on two occasions.  On 12/4/2008 EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) for access.  The Operator refused to comply with the UAO and EPA referred the matter to the Department of Justice for a legal remedy.  On 1/8/2009 a federal Magistrate issued an access warrant to EPA to initiate a response action at the Site.

Current Activities
During this reporting period two chemical companies retrieved chemicals from the Site.  On 3/17 Univar picked up 18 drums of acids, 3 drums of formaldehyde, 1 drums of paraformaldehyde, 1 drum of stannous sulfate, and 1 drum of synthetic oil.  This material was shipped to it's facility in PA and will be recycled back into commerce.  On 3/18 Specialty Chemical Products retrieved 18 drums and 6 cubic yard boxes of chemicals (totaling over 8,000 lbs.)that were shipped to Ohio for disposal at no cost to the government.

Aceto Corp. visited the Site on 3/18 to view their drums of waste chemicals.  They too have indicated a willingness to retrieve their chemicals for T & D purposes.

Bergerac Chemical is making arrangements for Clean Harbors to send its hi-hazard response team to the Site to render the two drums of nitrocellulose stable to ship the drums for disposal.

The sole remaining external storage container was emptied.  It contained 35 pallets of aged paint and paint-related chemicals, totaling more than 30,000 pounds.  There are almost 1,600 containers from this box trailer, and perhaps 500 of them are one gallon cans of paint that contain lead and cadmium compounds, both of which are D004 RCRA toxicity characteristic wastes.  The owner of this material, Decor Paints, has already agreed to ship and dispose of it at no cost to the government.

Planned Removal Actions
Now that all the ISCs have been emptied ERRS is concentrating on overpacking deteriorated drums, haz-cating and drum sampling to determine compatible bulking schemes. Additional containers of waste chemicals are in various stages of being prepared for their suppliers to retrieve them for T & D at no cost to the government.

Next Steps
Continue overpacking and haz-cating chemicals. Continue sampling and analysis for bulking compatible chemicals for disposal purposes.

Key Issues
See above, plus neutralizing the two drums of potentially explosive nitrocellulose and 5 drums of water reactive sodium methylate.

Disposition Of Wastes

Waste Stream	Quantity	Manifest #	Disposal Facility
drums of acids (nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric), formaldehyde, and synthetic oil	18 drums acids, 3 drums formaldehyde, 1 paraformaldehyde flakes, 1 drum oil, 1 drum stannous sulfate	n/a	Material was shipped under a bill of lading to the Univar USA facility, Morrisville, PA, as returned goods.
flammable mold release compounds and related waste chemicals	18 55-gallon drums, 6 cubic yard boxes (>8,000 lbs.)	001855065	Material was shipped under a hazardous waste manifest to Hukill Chemical Corp., Bedford, OH