Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Abrachem Chemical
Clifton, NJ - EPA Region II
POLREP #45

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On-Scene Coordinator - Paul L. Kahn, Michael Hoppe	7/2/2009
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #45
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 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.

Current Activities
Removal activities continue.  OSC continues to work with chemical suppliers to retrieve their chemicals for reuse or disposal.

On 6/30 the rep from the company that purchased the heavy lift crane completed dismantling the machine and shipped it off-Site.

On 7/7 Huls America shipped 19 55-gallon drums of sodium methylate, methyl methyacrylate, and formic acid for T & D at no cost to the government.  Huls estimates that the cost to the company for the
T & D of these drums will be in excess of $8,000.

On 7/10 ERRS shipped 30 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated wood pallets and like debris.

ERRS continues to bulk partial drums and to stage drums in discreet waste streams for T & D.

ERRS has issued the request for proposals for the transportation and disposal of approximately 800 to 1,000 drums of waste chemicals which EPA was not able to return to original chemical suppliers.  There are 80 individual line item entries for bidding, and it is expected that the subcontracting award for T & D will occur by the end of July.

The Action Memo for additional mitigation funding has been completed and is circulating for concurrence. It is expected to be signed in 7 to 10 days.  The additional funds will be used primarily for T & D  and other direct costs such as personnel and disposable protective equipment.

Shaw E & I informed the OSC that it would not accept responsibility for the 10 drums of sodium permanganate solution that was found at the Site. OSC is in contact with the manufacturer of the material and efforts are underway to have the manufacturer take responsibility for disposal or reuse.

Planned Removal Actions
EPA will continue to work with the remaining three chemical companies to get them to retrieve or dispose of their chemicals at no cost to the government.

Bulking and segregation of compatible chemical waste streams is almost complete. The OSC anticipates a two week temporary site demobe during the period of time while T & D bids are being reviewed. Remobe will occur days in advance of the first scheduled shipment of drums for Superfund T & D.

Next Steps
See above.

Key Issues
See above.

Disposition Of Wastes

Waste Stream	Quantity	Manifest #	Disposal Facility
PCB-contaminated wood pallets and similar debris (#1)	1 30-cubic yard roll-off (1,329 lbs.)	004216048 JJK	CWM Chem Services, Model Cities, NY
Huls America (Degussa, Rohm America, Nu-Ex)sodium methylate, formic acid, methacrylic acid	19 55-gallon drums	000259591 FLE	Heritage-WFI East Liverpool, OH