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 arrive 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.
At 16:30 hours on 11/17/2008 the NJDEP informed EPA that in the course of moving an ISC, the drums inside the ISC shifted and/or burst, resulting in a release of what was initially thought to be ortho-nitro-chlorobenzene. It was subsequently determined to be phenol, a CERCLA listed hazardous substance, or a phenol compound. The NJDEP and Clifton FD were on scene at the time of the release and responded accordingly. The FD ordered the evacuation of Abrachem employees and the premises were closed for the day. Clean Venture was called and at the time of the call to EPA was en route to the scene. The Passaic County Health Department initiated air monitoring at the scene.
The cover photo shows the spill residue that soaked into the floor inside the ISC. The actual point of the release from the ISC onto the ground occurred at the lower left-hand side of the dark stain on the floor, towards the foreground of the photo.
Clean Venture responded later in the evening, removed the remaining drums from the leaking ISC and staged them on plastic. An indeterminate volume of contaminated soil was left in-place.
Continue monitoring activities at the Site on a daily basis, and continue to press RPs for access to the Site.
See above.
Safeguarding the chemicals currently inside the ISCs; monitoring response efforts on the part of Abrachem; access for EPA to conduct the response action.
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