1.1.1          Incident Category

CERCLA Incident Category:  Inactive Metal Fabrication/Finishing/Coating Facility

1.1.2 Site Description

1.1.2.1 Location

The Indiana Brass Site is located at 800 W. Clinton Street in Frankfort, Clinton County, Indiana, 46041.  The geographical coordinates for the Site are Latitude 40.2806° North and Longitude 86.5198° West.  The Site is approximately 5 acres in size, and contains the remains of a 85,000 square foot plating shop and foundry.  The Site is located in a residential and industrial area of Frankfort, approximately 0.2 miles west of the downtown area.  Approximately 3400 people live within 1 mile of the Site.  Residences are located approximately 250 feet from the east property boundary, 800 feet from the north property boundary, and 600 feet from the south property boundary.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The Site is a former foundry and plating shop that caught fire on June 3, 2010.  The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) responded to the fire.  The state On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) observed pits and drums relating to former plating operations.  IDEM referred the Site to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).

During a Site visit on July 1, 2010 and a Site Assessment on July 7-8, 2010, the U.S. EPA documented numerous drums, plating vaults with unknown liquid contents, uncontained foundry sand, and other debris scattered across the Site. Numerous 55-gallon drums containing burnt and unknown contents were documented inside the building.  The Site was vacant and open to trespassing.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The Site Assessment included documenting Site conditions; conducting a structural inspection of the building; conducting air monitoring; conducting soil monitoring using an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) detector; and collecting samples from drums, soil, ash, and plating pits.

Laboratory results indicated that the there are total metals`concentrations above the preliminary remediation goals (PRG) for industrial soil for lead, arsenic, and copper.  Concentrations of leachable lead (D008) and cadmium (D006) were above the Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure (TCLP) regulatory limits.  Methylene chloride and trichloroethene (TCE) were detected in the pits, and methylene chloride was also detected in two drums.  Additionally, chrysotile asbestos was detected in 5 of the 9 samples collected.

2.1.1 Narrative

The site is an abandoned foundry and plating shop located in Frankfort, Indiana. During the Site Assessment, the U.S. EPA documented numerous drums, plating vaults with unknown liquid contents, uncontained foundry sand, and other debris scattered across the Site. Numerous 55-gallon drums containing burnt and unknown contents were documented inside the building. The Site was vacant and open to trespassing.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

During this reporting period, U.S. EPA completed the following activities:

• Began excavation;
• Conducted dust suppression; 
• Continued perimeter sampling and monitoring;
• Segregated brick, concrete and scrap metal for recycling; and
• Continued shipping scrap metal, brick, and concrete off-site for recycling. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
EPA has identified the PRP and the information is in the site file.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

During the next reporting period, U.S. EPA will conduct removal actions to complete the following tasks:

• Continue shipping construction and demolition debris to the Clinton County Landfill;
• Continue excavation of impacted materials;
• Begin treatment of impacted soil;
• Continue dust suppression activities; and
• Continue air sampling and monitoring.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA will continue removal activities to include:

• Transporting and disposing off-site any hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants at a CERCLA-approved disposal facility in accordance with U.S. EPA’s Off-Site Rule (40 CFR § 300.440); and, 
• Taking any other response actions to address any release or threatened release of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant that the EPA OSC determines may pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health or the environment.

2.2.2 Issues
There is a warehouse adjoining the Site that belongs to another property owner.  The warehouse shares two walls with the Site building.  Demolition on the Site building may impact the adjoining structure.  As such, discussions are under way with the adjoining property owner regarding repair of his building that may be damaged during cleanup activities.

The Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor is providing logistical support.