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 EPA's 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.
Removal activities continue. OSC continues to work with chemical suppliers to retrieve their chemicals for reuse or disposal.
ERRS continues bulking compatible chemicals for which no original supplier can be identified. They will be disposed of by ERRS as part of the removal action. Empty poly and steel drums are being processed and bulked for recycling.
ERRS has restaged drums into groups based on similar chemical hazards e.g. acids, bases, flammables, corrosives, etc.
On 6/23 reps from Exxon-Mobil visited the Site to view the 12 drums of resin with E-M labels and to take samples for TCLP.
On 6/26 the sole remaining drum of Monson Industries TDI was shipped for T & D at no cost to the government.
ERRS transmitted the second 'round of analytical results of samples of drums, soil, sumps, and wood pallets. The analytical shows most of the chemicals fall into the Flammable category, with the rest being acids, bases, and corrosives. There are comparatively few metals, reacitves or toxics. The sumps appear to be uncontaminated and the excavated soil shows high levels of metals that will warrant disposal. The entire 156-page report has been posted on the Abrachem web site at www.epaosc.net.
The Action Memo documenting the need for additional funds to complete the removal action has been drafted and is circulating for comments.
Regretably, Monsanto has reneged on it's willingness to pay for the T & D of 124 drums of it's orthonitrochlorobenzene. In an e-mail and phone call follow-up on 6/24 the Monsanto rep said that the company has not found a direct connection between Mosanto and Abrachem, and as such believes that the drums were sent to Abrachem by an unknown Monsanto customer. The rep stated that if Monsanto located the customer it will pass the information to EPA. As such the 124 drums will be integrated into the current waste streams that EPA will be shipping for T & D. ERRS T & D Coordinator will include the Monsanto drums in the forthcoming T & D bid package.
Ashland Chemical has scheduled 7/2 as the pickup date for it's 7 drums of waste ethers and amines.
ERRS will continue to bulk and group chemicals for T & D.
The Site will not be in operation on Friday, July 3rd in recognation of the 4th of July holiday.
See above.
See above.
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