At 1615 hours on 10/29/08 EPA received a phone notification from the NRC that a chemical release was occurring at Abrachem Chemical, a bulk chemical packaging facility that leases property in Clifton, Passaic County, NJ. The NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection requested EPA presence at the scene.
At 1730 hours OSC Ellen Banner and OSC Paul Kahn responded to the scene. The company was found to be storing drums and bulk storage containers of known and unknown chemicals in 17 56-foot long intermodal shipping carriers, stacked 3 tiers high (approx. 35 feet). Only 5 of the intermodals could be opened, and inside those it was observed that drums and bulk containers were staged behind tiers of new, blue poly drums which gave the impression that the intermodals were used only for new drum storage.
The owner of Abrachem retained the services of a remediation company which was on the scene, but waiting for EPA to arrived prior to starting work. Contractor personnel were advised to lay poly sheeting and begin removing/overpacking the leaking and unknown drums that were readily accessible. Work commenced almost immediately, but at 2100 hours work was halted due to lack of adequate lighting and the physical inability to access the majority of the drums. Work will resume on 10/30/08 when additional personnel and equipment arrive on-Site.
A meeting was held with the owner, EPA, state, and local authorities at 1000 hours on 10/30/08.
At that time a Field Expedient Notice was issued to Mr. Ted Frey, the owner/operator of Abrachem Chemical.
On 11/4/2008 OSCs Banner and Kahn met with the RP, his Plant Manager, and environmental consultant at the Site. In response to the Field Expedient Notice given to the RP at our previous meeting on 10/30/2008, the RP has stated in writing that he will undertake a response action with respect to the chemicals inside the 17 intermodal shipping containers at the Site.
The RP's contractor, GTI, has indicated that a contract will be awarded this week for a subcontractor who will do the actual clean-up work. Activities may start as soon as Friday, November 6th.
GTI provided EPA with a draft outline of a work plan. EPA will review and provide comments on this work plan to GTI. The timeframe for the completion of the removal action calls for 50% of the chemicals in the intermodals to be addressed by 11/15/2008, and the remainder not later than 12/31/2008.
EPA will allow the RP-lead removal action to go forward until such time as the response is complete or EPA determines that the RP is unable or unwilling to complete the work. At such time EPA will Federalize the Site and assume jurisdiction over the response action.
EPA will maintain daily contact with the RP's contractor and will have an on-Site presence on a daily basis, either by EPA OSCs or trained EPA contractor personnel.
Finalizing draft work plan and initiating daily monitoring of contractor and subcontractor activities.
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