The Site consists of a 4-acre parcel bordered by industrial properties to the south and west, wooded and open land to the north, agricultviral land to the east, and residential properties to the northeast. The Site is the former location of Pickens Plating, an electroplating business specializing in zinc plating. The Site includes one main building with multiple additions.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located at 1000 Industrial Boulevard in Albion, Calhoun County, Michigan, 49224, in a mixed residential/industrial/agricultural area. Coordinates for the Site are 42.2551 degrees north and -84.7753 degrees west.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The building at the Site was found to contain uncontrolled hazardous wastes (containers labeled chromic acid, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrofluoric acid). Numerous vats, drums, and small containers of various sizes were found opened and unlabeled both inside the buildings and around the grounds. U.S. EPA quantified containers on-site that could potentially contain over 100,000 gallons of uncontrolled and unidentified liquid wastes. Four waste liquid samples were collected yielding pH results that are characteristically hazardous or TCLP levels that are characteristically toxic.  The site has over 40 open vats of plating chemicals that had pHs which are considered characteristically hazardous. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

U.S. EPA conducted an assessment at the Site on June 4, 2010. The site assessment entailed the collection of four liquid samples and one solid sample. Both the solid and liquid samples were analyzed for pH.  Corrosive substances in drums, containers and vats were sampled and returned with pHs as low as 0.8 standard units (su) and as high as 12.5 su. Both levels are considered characteristically hazardous. Numerous drums labeled "hydrofluoric acid" were also present in the building. These drums were not opened during the Site Assessment due to the extreme hazard they present for inhalation and skin absorption. Fumes from stainless steel drums labeled as "nitric acid" produced a pH of 0.0 su on field equipment.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On 1/24/2011, ERRS resumed decommissioning the plating vats to render them usless. ERRS continued removing hazardous solids from trenches below plating lines.  ERRS completed content removal of non-hazardous material from nickel plating line vats. ERRS continued dismantling the waste water treatment system. Hazardous solids were placed in a lined roll-off box for disposal EQ in Detroit, MI.  Non-hazardous solids from other areas of the Site were placed in a roll-off box for disposal at C&C Landfill in Marshall, Michigan.  Two roll-off boxes of non-hazardous solids were transported to C&C Landfill in Marshall, Michigan for disposal.  Mercury switches and thermometer were shipped off-site for disposal at WM-Mercury Waste. 

On 1/25/2011, ERRS continued decommissioning the plating vats to render them usless. ERRS continued removing hazardous solids from trenches below plating lines.  ERRS continued dismantling the waste water treatment system. Hazardous solids were placed in a lined roll-off box for disposal at EQ Detroit, Inc in Detroit, MI.  Non-hazardous solids from other areas of the Site were placed in a roll-off box for disposal at C&C Landfill in Marshall, Michigan.

On 1/26/2011, ERRS continued decommissioning the plating vats to render them usless. ERRS continued removing hazardous solids from trenches below plating lines.  ERRS completed dismantling the waste water treatment system. Hazardous solids were placed in a lined roll-off box for disposal at EQ Detroit, Inc in Detroit, MI.  Non-hazardous solids from other areas of the Site were placed in a roll-off box for disposal at C&C Landfill in Marshall, Michigan.

On 1/27/2011, ERRS continued decommissioning the plating vats to render them usless. ERRS continued removing hazardous solids from trenches below plating lines.  Hazardous solids were placed in a lined roll-off box for disposal.  Non-hazardous solids from other areas of the Site were placed in a roll-off box for disposal at C&C Landfill in Marshall, Michigan.  The cyanide solids and flammable liquid waste streams were transported off-site for disposal at EQ Detroit, Inc in Detroit, MI.  One roll-off box of non-hazardous solids and one roll-off box of RCRA empty containers were shipped off-site for disposal at C&C Landfill in Marshall, Michigan.

On 1/28/2011, ERRS continued decommissioning the plating vats to render them usless. ERRS continued removing hazardous solids from trenches below plating lines.  Hazardous solids were placed in a lined roll-off box for disposal at EQ Detroit, Inc in Detroit, MI.  Non-hazardous solids from other areas of the Site were placed in a roll-off box for disposal at C&C Landfill in Marshall, Michigan.

On 1/29/2011, ERRS continued decommissioning the plating vats to render them usless. ERRS completed removing hazardous solids from trenches below plating lines.  Non-hazardous solids were placed in a roll-off box for disposal at C&C Landfill in Marshall, Michigan. 

Throughout the week, USCG Atlantic Strike Team performed health and safety oversight and conducted work zone air monitoring with a MultiRae and DataRAM.  No readings elevated above background were reported and no safety incidents were noted. 

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

The title search report and information obtained from Calhoun County indicate that the current owner of the Site is the Calhoun County Treasurer's Office.  U.S. EPA will obtain an appraisal of the property to ascertain its value. Depending on the value of the property (and whether Calhoun County has Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser (BFPP) status under CERCLA), U.S. EPA may place a lien on the property, pursuant to CERCLA sections 107(1) or 107(r).  A 104(e) information request may also be sent to a representative of the dissolved corporation, to discover whether assets were transferred from the corporation within the clawback period established by relevant Michigan law. If substantial assets were transferred from the corporation within the clawback period, U.S. EPA will attempt to capture those assets to offset the costs of the response action.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

a)  Inventory and perform hazard characterization, in compliance with a site-specific QA/QC Plan, on all substances contained in containers, drums, and vats;

b)  Consolidate and package all hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants for transportation and off-site disposal;

c)  Dismantle and/or decontaminate contaminated structures as necessary;

d)  Transport and dispose of all characterized or identified hazardous substances, pollutants,wastes, or contaminants that pose a substantial threat of release at a RCRA/CERCLA approved disposal facility in accordance with U.S. EPA's Off-Site Rule (40 CFR §300.440).

e)  Decontaminate or remove highly contaminated facility flooring.

f)  Take 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.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

N/A

2.2.2 Issues

Wildlife that has inhabited portions of the Site building.