On 7/3/2019, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) received a report from Angel's Attic thrift store (in north Kansas City, MO) that two 55-gallon drums had been abandoned on their property. On 7/15/19, MDNR personnel investigated the drums and found that they contained approximately 110 gallons of oily liquid waste. Initial screening for volatile organics indicated that the contents were potentially flammable. Samples were collected by MDNR and submitted for analyses. The samples results revealed that one of the drums possessed the waste characteristic for ignitability and both drums contained a variety of regulated compounds including: lead, barium, xylenes, ethylbenzene, naphthalene, acetone, and toluene among others. Visual evidence indicated that the drums had leaked some material on to the concrete near the drums causing stains. No container marking or security camera footage could be found that could identify the responsible parties. The MDNR requested assistance by EPA Region 7 to remediate the threats of the unsecured containers.
On 9/27/2019, On-Scene Coordinators Joe Davis and Doug Ferguson responded to the Site to conduct assessment and removal activities. Using the EPA Response Truck and auto-crane, the drums were carefully raised and lowered into 90-gallon poly overpack drums, sealed, and loaded onto the truck for transport to a local qualified hazardous waste handling facility for proper disposal.
