1.1.1 Incident Category

Time Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description
The site is a former chemical plating facility, currently owned by the Kent County Land Bank. When the property tax reverted, historically accumulated plating wastes were abandoned in the building, and discovered by the Land Bank. 

1.1.2.1 Location

The site is located at 1516 Blaine Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan 49507. The site totals approximately 1/4 acre, and contains a one story industrial building and an open lot. The site was recently occupied by the Hard Chrome Plating and HCP Finishing LLC companies, and tax reverted to the Kent County Land Bank in 2014.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

See POLREP 1.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

See POLREP 1.

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

2.1.2.1 Actions During Reporting Period

Over the reporting period, work focused primarily on the following activities:

- Remobilized on 4/12/16.

- Arranged disposal of staged containerized waste, and shipped waste offsite for proper disposal.

- Completed removal of vats. The one vat remaining onsite was shipped offsite for recycling.

- Completed final decontamination of the site to decontaminate building floors and walls, and encapsulate remaining dust on walls.

- Continued to implement air monitoring program.

- Demobilized from site on 4/25/16. 

- Returned to site on June 13 and June 17, 2016 to oversee shipment of last drum of waste offsite for proper disposal, then demobilized. 

Security was on site 24 hours a day 7 days a week through 4/12/16 while we were off-site arranging disposal. After we remobilized on 4/12/16, security was present during non-working hours. Security was discontinued on 4/22/16.

2.1.2.2 Air Monitoring
Every day that cleanup activity work was ongoing, air monitoring was conducted to ensure public and worker safety. Please see the air monitoring plan and POLREP 2 for details.

A website was established to view the current and past air monitoring data for the site. To view the data go to the web address: viper.ert.org. You have to create a login on your first visit to the site. Once logged in, go to the R05 Hard Chrome Metals Deployment to view site data. 

Particulate Air Monitoring:

Over the reporting period, no exceedances of the perimeter or work zone action levels (calculated as work day averages) for particulates were detected. 


MultiGas Air Monitoring:

Over the reporting period, no exceedances of the perimeter or work zone action levels were verified.

Hydrochloric Acid Monitoring

Over the reporting period, no exceedances of the perimeter or work zone action levels were detected. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
General notice letters were issued to former owners of the property. Investigation is ongoing.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

See POLREP 1.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

All actions planned as part of this removal have been completed.

-  2.2.2 Issues

There is a known hex chrome groundwater plume that was attributed to the Hard Chrome facility. The plume location was last examined in 1993. When we started this project, we were told that the neighborhood surrounding the facility was on City water, but were not aware that the City does not require property owners to hookup to City water. We found that out recently. In light of that finding we examined the area around the 1993 plume location for drinking water wells – we identified 1 drinking water well (State then sampled it and it tested non-detect for hex chrome); and two other properties with no record of connection to City water (1 is abandoned, 1 does not use drinking water). Additionally, there are numerous properties that did not abandon their wells after they hooked up to City water.

We subsequently worked with state and local agencies to attempt to identify other potential wells in a larger area still being utilized in the area. On May 23, 2016, the City of Grand Rapids completed a review of an additional 935 parcels in the area, downgradient of the Hard Chrome facility, and did not identify any additional parcels with buildings that are not served by City water. The areas checked in both evaluations are depicted in a figure located in the documents section of the EPAOSC.ORG website for this response.  

We also requested that the state pre-remedial program assess this site for potential future action related to the groundwater plume.

3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

Kent County Land Bank

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Kent County Health Department

City of Grand Rapids 

4/13/16-4/15/16
EPA: 1
START: 1
ERRS: 7

4/18/16
EPA: 1
START: 1
ERRS: 5

4/19/16-4/22/16
EPA: 1
START: 1
ERRS: 6

4/23/16
ERRS: 6

4/25/16
ERRS:1

6/13/16 

EPA: 1

 ERRS: 1

6/17/16

ERRS:1