Chrome Plating is located at 5491 Powder Springs Road, Austell, Georgia. On September 24, 2009, this area experienced high flood waters reaching the roof of the facility as evidenced by water marks and a drum on the roof of the building. Sweetwater Creek is adjacent to the property. The site includes two open warehouses and an office trailer, which were severely damaged by the flood. Outside of the warehouses there are two concrete pits, one circular and one rectangular, both containing liquid. These pits are believed to be part of the facility’s waste water treatment system.
Today, ERRSs mobilized a vacuum truck to the site and removed pools of standing water identified by START as containing chromium. Although at a pH of 4-5, the pools were a characteristic oxidizer (presumably from chromic acid contamination). The water was placed into temporary storage tanks. ER also pumped waste from outdoor treatment pits and placed it into additional storage tanks. By the end of the day, all waste was secured in a covered area of the building or inside temporary tanks, alleviating the effects from adverse weather. This includes two intact totes of waste oil apparently deposited on the rear of the property during the flood. The original generator of the waste oil is unknown, but EPA decided the treat the oil as if it were native to the site.
Based on conversations between OSC Nattis, START, and ERRSs, the 12 chemical waste streams identified through hazcat testing were concatenated into 8. Additionally, some of the containers from the wastewater treatment area were segregated until the applicability of certain waste codes was determined. A total of 3 rolloff boxes of non-hazardous debris have been generated.
Silt deposited by the flood in and around the building has been impacted by the release from the building. START collected soil samples from a grassy area around the main building and another grassy area around a satellite building. Additionally, today’s sun and wind have dried out much of the silt in the parking lot. START sampled this to determine if there is a potential for fugitive dust emissions into the neighboring area. START also collected a sample of the dirt from the floor of the now empty building.
At the end of the day, all waste was secured in containers beneath a stable roof, out of the weather, and under the security of the City of Austell Police Department. Samples of potential impacted site soils have been collected to determine any possible impacts to human health in the vicinity.
Disposal profile samples will be analyzed with quick turn-around. ERRSs will use these results to determine disposal profiles and eventual disposal options. EPA expects to return to the site within 2 weeks to carry out off-site disposal.
ERRS will be installing a temporary fence to help with any potential trespassers.
The soil and dust samples will be used by the removal branch to determine the need to further assess potential impacts to human health in the nearby population.
Security on site prior to disposal
Possibility of further migration of materials off site during heavy rains and dry windy days.
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