Pollution/Situation Report Profile

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Eastern Plating Fire
Baltimore, MD - EPA Region III
POLREP #1
Responsible Party Voluntary Cleanup at Eastern Plating Fire Site

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Eastern Plating Fire - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III

Subject:

POLREP #1
Responsible Party Voluntary Cleanup at Eastern Plating Fire Site
Eastern Plating Fire

Baltimore, MD
Latitude: 39.2790181 Longitude: -76.5677062

To:

From:

Gregory Ham, On Scene Coordinator

Date:

4/25/2012

Reporting Period:

4/23-25/2012

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:		Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:
Response Lead:	PRP	Incident Category:
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:		Start Date:	4/23/2012
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency response due to a fire at an anodizing facility.
1.1.2 Site Description
Former anodizing operation in a small brick building located within a residential community.
1.1.2.1 Location
1200 South Bayliss Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Primarily sulfuric, chromic, and nitric acids in open vats.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
During the fire large volumes of water were poured on the site. Since the acids were in open vats, the water mixed with the acids and flowed out of the building into two adjacent alleys. The fire department put hoses on each alley to dilute the acid, which flowed down the alleys, into storm drains, and eventually to the harbor. Tests at the outfall into the harbor indicated that the liquid was approximately neutral pH at the discharge.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative
The Baltimore City Haz Mat unit, the Maryland Department of the Environment Emergency Response Division, and EPA are overseeing the cleanup of the site.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
The company owner hired a response contractor on Monday, 4/23/2012, who brought in equipment and personnel and began clearing the debris from the front of the building. Once access to the two sulfuric acid tanks was cleared, these tanks were pumped out, and approximately 1,300 gallons of sulfuric acid/water mixture was hauled offsite to be characterized and properly disposed of. On Tuesday another contractor was brought in to continue clearing debris so that the vats could be accessed to remove the acid liquids. On Wednesday, 4/25/2012, a waste hauler tanker arrived to pump out the chromic acid vats. 2,300 gallons of chromic acid/water was removed from the site.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Work is currently being done voluntarily by the PRP.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics

*Waste Stream*	*Medium*	*Quantity*	*Manifest #*	*Treatment*	*Disposal*
Acid wastes, sulfuric	liquid	1,300 gal
Acid wastes, chromic	liquid	2,300 gal

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Continued oversight of PRP activities by MDE and EPA.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Removal of all acid wastes from the site, neutralization of all rinsewaters with eventual discharge to POTW after approval under existing permits, transfer of usable materials to another facility owned by the company, removal of debris, securing of building site.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section