Pollution Report Profile - EPA OSC Response

Abrachem Chemical
Clifton, NJ - EPA Region II
POLREP #51

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On-Scene Coordinator - Paul L. Kahn, Michael Hoppe, On-Scene Coordinators	8/21/2009
Time-Critical - Removal Action	Pollution Report (POLREP) #51
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 action continues. ERRS used this week to finish preparing the drums for shipping next week and overpacking the few remaining damaged drums. ERRS also returned hundreds of lab samples of wastes to their respective drums.

Also during this time period ERRS discharged 8 55-gallon drums of dilute sodium permanganate solution to the local sanitary sewer, completing the discharge of all 15 drums of this waste stream.

Planned Removal Actions
Labeling drums for shipping will begin on 8/24. Shipping of drums will commence on 8/25 with at least 2 trucks per day being loaded.

Final arrangements for disposal of remaining contaminated wood pallets and used PPE underway.

ERRS will rent a floor washer/vacuum to clean the floors of all areas used to store waste drums in preparation for final demobilization of the Site on or about 9/9.

Next Steps
See above.

Key Issues
See above.

Disposition Of Wastes

Waste Stream	Quantity	Manifest #	Disposal Facility
Water solution of less than one percent (1%) sodium permanganate, drum # 720	55 gallons on 8/17 at 10 AM	n/a	Discharged to sewer [local POTW] in accordance with prearranged agreement between USEPA and POTW
Water solution of less than one percent (1%) sodium permanganate, drum # 740	55 gallons on 8/17 at 2 PM	n/a	Discharged to sewer [local POTW] in accordance with prearranged agreement between USEPA and POTW
Water solution of less than one percent (1%) sodium permanganate, drum # 725	55 gallons on 8/18 at 10 AM	n/a	Discharged to sewer [local POTW] in accordance with prearranged agreement between USEPA and POTW
Water solution of less than one percent (1%) sodium permanganate, drum # 743	55 gallons on 8/18 at 2 PM	n/a	Discharged to sewer [local POTW] in accordance with prearranged agreement between USEPA and POTW
Water solution of less than one percent (1%) sodium permangate, drum # 723	55 gallons on 8/19 at 10 AM	n/a	Discharged to sewer [local POTW] in accordance with prearranged agreement between USEPA and POTW
Water solution of less than one percent (1%) sodium permangate, drum # 724	55 gallons on 8/19 at 10 AM	n/a	Discharged to sewer [local POTW] in accordance with prearranged agreement between USEPA and POTW
Water solution of less than one percent (1%) sodium permangate, drum # 1072	55 gallons on 8/20 at 10 AM	n/a	Discharged to sewer [local POTW] in accordance with prearranged agreement between USEPA and POTW
Water solution of less than one percent (1%) sodium permangate, drum # 1469	55 gallons on 8/20 at 2 PM	n/a	Discharged to sewer [local POTW] in accordance with prearranged agreement between USEPA and POTW