1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description

The Light Metals Coloring company is a facility that performs metal finishing and plating operations. The property consists of the building facility, paved parking areas, grass areas, a wastewater treatment system, above-ground storage tanks (ASTs) containing process chemicals, and a capped lagoon area.

1.1.2.1 Location

Light Metals Coloring Facility is located at 270 Spring Street in Southington, CT.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

At around 1030 hrs on 24 August 2016, approximately 300-400 gallons of plating solution containing hexavalent chromium were released onto the roof of the Light Metals Coloring facility.  The release flowed from the roof through a downspout and onto the asphalt and into a storm drain adjacent to the building.  The storm drain flows into a creek leading to the Quinnipiac River.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The original NRC report indicated that approximately 50-75 gallons of boiler condensate with chrome contaminate had been released on the morning of 24 August 2016.  Once the CT DEEP responder and local fire department assessed the scene, they informed the EPA Phone Duty Officer that a larger and significantly more hazardous release had occurred and requested EPA on-scene regulatory oversight, presence and consultation. The EPA Response Duty Officer was mobilized, arrived on-scene at approximately 2030 hours on 24 August 2016 and integrated into a unified command consisting of the EPA, CTDEEP, PRP representatives and Local Hazmat/Fire Department.

 The Response Duty Officer reported the following from the scene:

• Facility Support Services (FSS) of Hampden, CT is contracted by the PRP as the Licensed Environmental Professional (LEP) for cleanup activity oversight, overseeing remediation activities being performed by Clean Harbors, and serving as the PRP's representative;
• The PRP's contractors have performed the following activities: recovered some of the released liquids that were puddled on the roof; began removal of a portion of the contaminated roof, excavated an area of contaminated soil/asphalt on the property and roadway, began flushing impacted storm drains; assessed contaminated riprap at the outfall pipe area as well as the impacted creek and Quinnipiac River areas.
• Water used for flushing of the drainage system was collected and vacuumed from outfall area; and subsequently transferred into frac tanks;
• At the time, the town and PRP did not have information regarding the permit status of the water treatment system and arrangements were being made to pump all liquids in the clarifier into frac tanks;
• As part of unified command, The EPA OSC determined response actions for the operational period that covered overnight activities as well as discussions on the need for a sampling plan to determine the extent of contamination.

2.1.1 Narrative

24 August 2016

At around 1030 hrs, approximately 300-400 gal of plating solution containing hexavalent chromium was released onto the roof of the Light Metals Coloring facility, traveled to through a downspout, onto the ground and asphalt and into a storm drain that empties into a small creek that flows into the Quinnipiac River. CT DEEP and the NRC were notified at 1230 hrs that only 50-75 gal of boiler condensate with chrome contaminate was released. The CT DEEP responder deployed to the incident and found that the spill was considerably larger (300-400 gal) and the contaminant was significantly more hazardous (Hexavalent Chromium).

CT DEEP called the EPA Region 1 Phone Duty OSC and provided the corrected details of the incident. The PRP's contractor arrived on scene with a vacuum truck to remove the contamination from the creek and river. The PRP's contractor is also excavating the contaminated soil and asphalt adjacent to the building and began removal of contaminated portions of the roof. The CT DEEP responder spoke to the Southington Fire Chief and found out that they had not been notified by Light Metals Coloring of the spill and that this facility had a treatment system that may not be permitted.  The Town of Southington did not have any records of the permit and the PRP, at the time, was not able to provide that information as well.

In light of these developments, on scene responders, the Fire Chief and CT DEEP requested EPA deploy to the scene. The EPA Response Duty Officer was deployed to the scene and arrived at approximately 2030 hours. Representatives from the USCG also responded to the incident location to provide assistance on evaluating potential impacts to the river. After integrating into the unified command with CT DEEP, the Southington Fire Chief and the PRP, EPA explained to the PRP that their contractor's response actions should continue under oversight of the unified command.   However, if at some point during the response action, it would be determined by the unified command that response actions are not adequate; the EPA could federalize the emergency response and would assume the lead role for response actions.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

25 August 2016 

At approximately 0800hrs, a tactical meeting was held to discuss response actions that needed to be performed during the upcoming operational period. Attendees of the meeting included representatives from EPA, CT DEEP, Southington FD, Southington Board of Health, FSS, and Clean Harbors. The incident objectives for this operational period include the following:

• Complete the removal of contaminated roof area and provide temporary poly cover onto the roof to prevent potential rainfall infiltration onto the plating tanks from the anticipated rain event that was forecasted for later in the evening;
• Continue transferring liquids from the clarifier into frac tanks;
• Excavate contaminated soils and rip rap at the outfall pipe area adjacent to the creek;
• Establish a pumping system to divert potential non-impacted run-off water from the impacted discharge area;
• Collect groundwater samples from nearby existing monitoring wells;
• Arrange for water and sediment sample collection in the creek and in the Quinnipiac River;
• Arrange for subsurface soil and groundwater collection along impacted roadway utilizing a GeoProbe; and
• Expedite turnaround times for analytical services.

CT DEEP responders also coordinated internally with other program offices within the department including the fisheries and permitting offices.  The CT DEEP has published a press release concerning this incident. The press release states that CT DEEP strongly discourages fishing on the Quinnipiac River between Queen Street and Route. 10 in Southington until the extent of contamination is known. In addition, the Town of Southington has stopped using water from two wells that are part of the public drinking water system until tests verify that they are unaffected by the release. Representatives from CT DEEP's permitting office arrived onsite to review the facility's discharge permit and it appears the facility does have a permit to discharge treated wastewater into the POTW.  CT DEEP also mobilized their communications vehicle to provide GIS mapping capabilities and their site assessment staff to support documentation and sampling activities.

EPA's EPRB coordinated with Region 1’s Office of Environmental Stewardship (OES) regarding notification and potential stormwater discharge and EPCRA concerns expressed by the Unified Command.

26 August 2016

At approximately 0745 hrs, a tactical meeting was held to discuss response actions that needed to be performed during the upcoming operational period. Attendees of the meeting included representatives from EPA, CT DEEP, Southington FD, Southington Board of Health, and FSS.  The incident objectives for this operational period include the following:

• Install a new roof cover;
• Continue transferring liquids from the clarifier into frac tanks;
• Collect water and sediment samples from the creek and Quinnipiac River;
• Maintain pumping system to divert potential non-impacted run-off water from the impacted discharge area;
• Collect drinking water samples from nearby properties operating on private wells;
• Arrange for sampling of clarifier after it has been emptied and undergone gross decontamination to ensure residual contamination is not present;
• Arrange for flushing of boiler and process lines and post decon sampling to ensure residual contamination is not present;
• Perform subsurface soil and groundwater collection along impacted roadway utilizing a GeoProbe; and
• Update sample location map with new sampling points and analytical results when they become available.

 The EPA responding OSC demobilized from the scene at the end of the day on 8/26/2016, but continues to coordinate on the response and with other program offices on follow-on actions.  

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

Light Metals Coloring, 270 Spring Street, Southington, CT.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Unified Command will continue response actions to address the imminent hazards.  Some analytical results are expected later in the day on August 26th and will continue to become available on a rolling basis. Unified Command will evaluate sampling results and determine next steps based up analytical results.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Continuation of coordination with Unified Command.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Upon completion of response actions, FSS will generate an after action report to document the incident, response actions taken, and analytical results.

2.2.2 Issues

2.5.1 Safety Officer

N/A
2.5.2 Liaison Officer

N/A
2.5.3 Information Officer

3.1 Unified Command

CT DEEP, Southington Fire Department, Southington Health Department, FSS, USEPA

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

EPA OSC

CT DEEP

Southington FD

Southington Health Department

Southington PD

FSS

Clean Harbors

Light Metals Coloring Company

USCG

CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

CT DEEP - Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPRB - Emergency Planning and Response Branch

FSS - Facility Support Services

NRC - National Response Center

OSC - On-Scene Coordinator

POTW - Publicly Owned Treatment Works

PRP - Potentially Responsible Party

Southington FD - Southington Fire Department

Southington PD - Southington Police Department

USCG - U.S. Coast Guard

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

www.epaosc.org/LightMetalsColoringChromeRelease

6.2 Reporting Schedule