Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Abrachem Chemical
Clifton, NJ - EPA Region II
POLREP #46

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On-Scene Coordinator - Paul L. Kahn, Michael Hoppe	7/17/2009
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #46
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
On 7/13 Sybron Chemicals shipped 23 containers of mixed organics, ammonium bisulfite, ethyl and methyl acrylate for T & D at no cost to the government.

On 7/14 the 2nd 30-cubic yard roll-off of PCB-contaminated wood pallets was shipped for T & D.

On 7/16 the 3rd roll-off of PCB-contaminated wood pallets was shipped for T & D, thus completing the removal of that waste stream of accumulated contaminated material.  One empty roll-off is staged at the Site for future use during the process of replacing any damaged and/or contaminated pallets prior to shipping the remaining drums for disposal.

A sample from one drum of the CBW-Chemie/Shaw E & I 40% sodium permanganate solution was shipped to a laboratory for chemical assay, pH, and specific gravity analysis.  This was done at the request of CBW, the manufacturer, which thinks it may have a legitimate end-user for the 10 drums.  The analytical results will be used by CBW to determine the commercial value of the chemicals for reuse.

The Action Memo requesting additional mitigation funds for this Site has been finalized and is circulating in EPA for concurrence.

The last $40,000 of the original funding for this Site has been procured and is in the process of being added to the mitigation funds ceiling.

On 7/17 a meeting was held at the Site with reps from the Clifton FD and EPA.  The discussion centered around the CFD getting reimbursement from EPA for the costs it incurred to support the removal action.  Topics discussed included the reimbursement process, covered expenditures such as disposable PPE, fire-suppression foam, overtime etc.  EPA will assist the CFD with the application process.

Planned Removal Actions
Plans are underway for a temporary crew demobe for 10 days effective with COB on 7/24. Remobe will take place on 8/10, at which time the remaining drums of waste chemicals will begin to be shipped for T & D.

Next Steps
See above.

Key Issues
See above.

Disposition Of Wastes

Waste Stream	Quantity	Manifest #	Disposal Facility
Sybron/LanXess Chemical organics, ammonium bisulfite, cresol flush, ethyl & methyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, propriatary non-haz	23 7-gallon and 5-gallon pails	Haz: 002695346 FLE; Non-Haz: 002695345 FLE	Haz: Clean Harbors, El Dorado AR ARD069748192 Non Haz: Clean Harbors, Chattanooga, TN TND982141392
PCB-contaminated crushed wood pallets (#2)	1 30- yard roll-off (approx. 1,350 lbs.)	004216326 JJK	CWM Chemical Services, Model City, NY NYD 049835679
PCB-contaminated crushed wood pallets (#3)	1 30- yard roll-off (approx. 1,350 lbs.)	004216325 JJK	CWM Chemical Services, Model City, NY NYD 049835679