The Belcher/Robinson Foundry, located in Alexander City, is an abandoned ductile iron/grey iron foundry. EPA ERRB responded to a request from ADEM to address releases emanating from leaking drums and tanks on site. Initial reports from ADEM indicate the presence of an AST containing oil, several dozen drums containing hydraulic oil and sulfuric acid, plastic totes of various sizes, and paint cans. OSCs Alyssa Hughes and Stephen Ball deployed with START contract resources to assess the extent of contamination and ensure stabilization.
The site consists of 3 parcels of land totaling approximately 10 acres. There are 2 large warehouses, one smaller storage building, and one office building. A fence surrounds the property, but there are several locations where the fence line is breeched. The facility is located in a mixed residential/commercial area. There is an unnamed small creek that leads to the Carlisle Branch located along the northeastern border of the Site. A group of drums labeled Sulfuric Acid are located approximately 20 feet from the Creek. There is substantial staining along the runoff pathway leading to the creek.
The facility filed for bankruptcy in 2006. The county took ownership of the three parcels of land composing the property following failure to pay taxes.
On June 8, 2009 OSCs Alyssa Hughes and Stephen Ball arrived on-site and met with Tallapoosa County EMA Director Joe Paul Boone, ADEM Emergency Responder Scott Hicks, ADEM Superfund Chief Dave Davis and county appraiser Billy Ray Wall. The group conducted a site walk-thru and identified several areas of concern, including: several dozen 55-gallon drums, approximately 40 275-gallon totes, a large above ground storage tank containing some petroleum product. Most of the labels identify the contents as sulfuric acid and quenching oil.
START contractor TetraTech arrived on-site at approximately 1400 central daylight time in order to assist in addressing the site issues. OSCs and START contractors reviewed the health and safety plan and developed a scope of activities for the week. A radiation survey was performed throughout the facility and indicated no levels above background. XRF readings were taken at several locations in order to get an indication of metals levels in the sand around the facility for purposes of determining PPE needs. The XRF indicated elevated levels of lead and chromium, but not substantial enough to warrant respirator usage.
The Site will be stabilized under an Emergency Action Memorandumm, and evaluated for a future Removal Action to address all site concerns.
ERRS contractor WRS was mobilized to the Site to assist with stabilization efforts. All of the containers will be staged at a secure location indoors. Those containers requiring overpacking will be addressed. The fencing around the facility will be repaired and signage indicating hazards will be placed around the fence.
START contractors will create an inventory of all containers above 5 gallons. Hazard categorization will be conducted on a representative number of containers and analytical samples will be collected to determine waste streams. A more in depth XRF survey will be conducted in order to determine the extent of elevated levels of metals in surface soils.
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