On June 30, 2003 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was notified by the Washington Department of Ecology and the King County Sherrif's Office of a suspected methamphetamine lab waste dump along the entire 800-ft length of 55th Place S, a paved, single-lane, one-way inter-connector between the West Valley Highway and S 368th St., near the 5500 block of S 368th St. in Federal Way, Washington. The incident site was located 5 miles Southwest of Federal Way, King County, Washington, and just East of Algona, Washington.
Upon notification at approximately 2100 hours, the EPA OSC, Michael Boykin, tasked the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START-2) to mobilize to the site. The EPA OSC and three START-2 personnel, arrived on site at approximately 2240 hours and was escorted around the site by two King County Sheriff's Department detectives. During the reconnaissance EPA documented 28 trash bags and a foot-locker filled with methamphetamine drug lab wastes that had been dropped at six discrete locations along the length of 55th Place S. Eight of the 12 bags dropped near the eastern end of the road were damaged and had leaked corrosive materials onto the road surface. The 16 bags at the west end of 55th Place S. were located together and not damaged or leaking.
START-2 immediately began collecting and staging the waste bags near the intersection of S 368th St and 55th Avenue S. At 0100 hours on July 1, 2003 the response team began to open the bags to inventory and characterize the contents. To ensure the safety of site personnel and the surrounding community, the team conducted air monitoring using a combustible gas monitor. Measurements on this instrument did not exceed background levels at any time during the response. The inventory found 32 containers of liquids, which were segregated from contaminated solid wastes for further chemical characterization. Samples were taken from each container and given to the START-2 chemist for field screening. At approximately 0420 hours, field characterization of the liquid wastes was completed and the START-2 began consolidation of the liquids into three hazard classes, corrosives, caustics and flammables.
During waste consolidation and site clean-up, the EPA OSC requested assistance from the Federal Way Fire Department's HAZMAT team to neutralize the corrosive materials, spilled on the road, with water and foam. Approximately 500-gallons of this mixture was applied to the road surface on the lower portion of the hill to eliminate the remaining hazards. Once the road surface had dried, a visual inspection indicated that staining of the road appeared to had been mitigated.
Upon completion of waste consolidation and site clean-up, all bulked liquid waste containers were overpacked in 55-gallon drums and loaded into the Level A/ minor containment vehicle with the remaining non-hazardous solid wastes and transported to a secure location pending proper disposal. The EPA OSC notified the King County Sherrif's Department that the road could be reopened to traffic at approximately 0630 hours. The START-2 and EPA OSC demobilized from the site at 0630 hours.
During the response all waste material was removed from the site and transported to a secure location pending arrangements for disposal with the Washington State Department of Ecology. No further removal actions are anticipated at this time.
Transfer liquid waste material to the Washington State Department of Ecology for disposal.
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Upon completion of hazard categorization, the following waste materials were consolidated on-site into three liquid waste streams. These wastes will be transferred to the Washington Department of Ecology for disposal.
5-gallons of caustic wastes, including sodium hydroxide solutions.
10-gallons of corrosives, including sulfuric and hydrochloric acids.
15-gallons of flammable organic liquids, including toluene, acetone, denatured alcohol and naptha (white gas) solvent.
Additionally, approximately 210 pounds of solid wastes were disposed of as non-hazardous waste.
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