The Site is located at 529 South Royal Avenue, Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama. The Site is located in a semi-densely populated inner city area surrounded by a mix of commercial, industrial, and residential development. The former electroplating facility electroplated bumpers and other automotive parts for distribution from its warehouse located on-site. A branch of Sweetwater Creek is located 10 feet from the building to the east.
On November 6, 2008, at the request of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Assessment Section, EPA, START, and the PRP met at the abandoned, former Richards Plating facility. The abandoned and former electro-plating facility was known to have operated for over 40 years at this location. ADEM expressed their concern about uncontrolled access to the site and the presence of unknown chemicals stored in numerous drums, totes, containers and old plating vats located within. Numerous chemical drums, plating vats, and numerous other containers with unknown hazardous substances are abandoned at the Site. Old plating wastes, plating solutions, sludges and other unknown wastewater was observed on the ground leading away from the dilapidated tin building. Leaking and overflowing drums and containers of hazardous waste and substances are scattered around the approximately 3 acre Site. The facility is unsecured and appears to be frequented by trespassers and vandals.
On Novemvber 17, 2008 EPA, START, and ERRS mobilized to the Site. On November 18, 2008, EPA OSCs Garrard along with START and ERRS personnel began collecion, segregation, and staging of drums and containers within the building.
24 vats were identified and 18 were sampled.
123 containers ranging in sizes from 55 gallon drums, 30 gallon drums, 5 gallon buckets, and 3 gallon buckets were collected and sampled.
Approximately 200 1 gallon flammable paint containers were collected from the building.
Approximately another 200 small unknown containers were collected from the building.
Approximately 30 pesticide containers were collected from the building.
Samples were grouped into waste streams for analytical analysis.
December 16th and 17th EPA OSC and START collected soil samples from soils surrounding the Richards Plating facility. Sediment samples were collected from the adjacent creek. Soil boring were attempted to be advanced inside of the Richards Plating building. Five borings were attempted to be advanced in the concrete surrounding the plating line. One soil sample was collected from a soil boring located west of the plating line, the remaining soil borings contained gravel under the concrete and no sample was collected.
• Secure the building and/or Site to prevent exposures to the environment and limit trespassers;
• Initial characterization, segregation and staging of all drums, and containers;
• Over pack or close leaking drums, or vats where feasible, to prevent releases or offsite migration;
• Removal or demo structures to obtain access to the wastes or provide a safer working environment;
• Sampling of waste to determine the specific nature of material;
• Sampling of surrounding soils and sediments;
• As part of this ER, EPA will continue to conduct an RSE for future removal action;
• Disposal of wastes, contaminated soils, and sediments;
• Transportation and offsite disposal of waste materials generated by this and subsequent removal actions in compliance with Federal regulations including the CERCLA off site rule.
Currently awaiting analytical results from the soil and sediment sampling.
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