U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Scott Auto Sales - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region II
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Subject:
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POLREP #11
Scott Auto Sales
Northumberland, NY
Latitude: 43.1768633 Longitude: -73.6539510
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To:
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Andrew Raddant, Department of Interior
Dennis Farrar, NYSDEC
Mike Dipietro, NYSDEC
Richard Colozza, Town of Northumberland
Kurt Haas, Gansevoort Fire Department
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From:
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Paul L. Kahn, OSC
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Date:
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10/4/2013
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Reporting Period:
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
A22K |
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Contract Number: |
EP-S2-10-01 |
D.O. Number: |
063 |
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Action Memo Date: |
7/22/2013 |
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
8/26/2013 |
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Start Date: |
8/26/2013 |
Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Abandoned drums of automotive chemicals including waste oil and other lubricants.
1.1.2 Site Description
The Site is a former automotive supply store and repair shop.
1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located in Northumberland, Saratoga County, NY, a semi-rural area amidst residential and light commercial properties. It is bordered on County highway #50 on the south and an un-named brook on the north
There are private residences on the east and west sides of the Site.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The threats are twofold: one is a release of oil-based automotive chemicals and substances overland into the brook and thence into the Hudson River, approx. 2 miles to the east. The second threat is the release of chemicals and waste oil inside the premises in the event of a fire. The building is unoccupied, has no operating smoke or fire detections systems, and is readily accessible to anyone seeking access. In the event of a fire or act of vandalism there could be a release of chemicals or the by-products of combustion into the environment.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Preliminary observations of the Site revealed the presence of approx. 200 containers of what appears to be waste oil. Containers vary from 5-gallons up to 250 gallon home heating oil tanks. In addition there are some containers of automotive chemicals and other chemicals. The Site is owned but has been abandoned by the owner. There is no electricity in the building and no functioning fire or smoke detectors. There is no business being conducted so there is no one present to monitor fire or flood conditions.
In addition, there is evidence of drums and other containers having been buried in a filled-in area adjacent to the brook.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
CURRENT ACTIVITIES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD LETTERS:
A brief walk-thru assessment was conducted by an EPA OSC and a rep with the NYSDEC.
On 10/17/2012 the OSC used a magnetometer to survey the site for suspected USTs. Based on information obtained from a relative of the former owner the OSC surveyed the front and rear of the Site. A large UST, possibly 2,000 capacity, was discovered in front of the garage where gasoline pumps had been located. The magnetometer also located a metallic anomaly, possibly a buried pipeline, leading from the large tank off at an angle to the rear of the property to a 4-bay car garage. A large anomaly was located to the left of the garage where the relative stated he recalled was another UST.
The OSC entered the 4 car garage and observed 4 additional full 55-gallon drums. Two of the drums bore labels/stenciling, but from appearances the drums seem to contain waste oil. Also inside the garage were boxes of bank statements for Scott Auto Sales and merchandize display stands identical to those inside the main garage building.
The Action Memo for this Site was signed by the ERRD Division Director on July 22, 2013. A Task Order was subsequently approved and initial funding has been allocated to initiate Phase I of the EPA response action. The chosen Emergency Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor and the OSC will deploy to the Site on Monday, August 26th. At that time all damaged and/or leaking containers of chemicals and waste oil will be overpacked as needed and all containers will be moved inside the main building. The contents of partially filled waste oil storage tanks will be bulked into new containers which will be moved inside the main building. Four 55-gallon drums of waste oil will be moved from an adjacent detached garage and also moved inside the main building. ERRS will secure doors and windows and assess the condition of the buried drums and truck saddle tanks in the adjacent wetlands in the rear of the property. This phase will conclude with the initial stabilization of all chemical containers. Phase II of the removal is pending completion of off-Site arrangements for additional sampling (if necessary) and preparation of bulking/disposal plans followed by actual shipping all chemicals off-Site for disposal.
On 8/26/2013 the removal action was initiated when the ERRS contractor (Kemron Environmental) was mobilized to the Site. ERRS strung temporary lighting and cleared debris from the repair bays in preparation for staging drums and other containers inside the building. ERRS posted the site sign and cleared brush from the drums and the main building.
There were indications that someone had entered the main building and the adjacent detached garage but none of the containers of chemicals had been compromised. ERRS installed new locks on the passage doors and secured the numerous overhead doors with chains.
The OSC notified the State Police that EPA was working on the Site and gave the Gansevoort NY Fire Chief a tour of the Site. The OSC will provide the FD with a floor plan showing the staged drums at the end of this week when the ERRS crew will temporarily demobe.
On 8/29/2013 ERRS completed Phase I of the removal action and demobed the crew and rental equipment. During the 3 days of Phase I ERRS moved and/or bulked 49 full drums of waste oil and automotive chemicals from areas around the Site into a prepared staging area inside the main building. ERRS emptied 300+ gallons of waste oil from storage tanks into poly drums and staged them inside the building. In addition to the full drums, ERRS moved 150 containers of chemicals 5 gallons or less into the staging area. Thirty five empty metal/poly drums and ASTs were staged at the rear of the main building pending arrangements for recycling. A floor plan of the drum storage area was prepared and e-mailed to the Gansevoort FD.
The Site was placarded and all doors were secured. The Site was demobed at 1300 hours on 8/29/2013.
With the history of a massive junkyard having been operated on and around the Site until the mid-1980s, on 9/18 and 9/19 the OSC and two techs with the EPA START team sampled 10 residential drinking water wells within one mile of the Site. A background sample was also acquired from a residence approximately 3 miles west and up-gradient of the Site. The samples will be analyzed for metals, volatile organic compounds and semi-organic compounds.
On 10/1/2013 the OSC and ERRS contractor personnel mobilized to the Site to acquire samples for disposal analysis and to lab-pack all chemical containers 1 gallon and less. ERRS provided split samples to reps with the NYSDEC.
ERRS chemist haz-cated 50 drum samples, resulting in 3 samples testing positive as ignitable, one sample was bi-phased with the top layer being flammable and the lower layer having a pH of 2.5. Top layer was pumped into an acid drum and lower layer was bulked into drum of used gasoline. ERRS techs bulked approx. 40 gallons of waste oil from two small oil tanks into a drum. ERRS also moved 3 drums and 20 1-gallon paint cans hidden in weeds into chemical staging area. Samples will be used to bulk compatible waste streams for disposal profiling.
On 10/4 ERRS lab-packed 174 small containers of chemicals into 2 55-gallon drums and 2 85-gallon overpack drums.
ERRS discovered an undeployed Ford air bag component, complete with air bag initiator which contains a mixture of sodium azide and potassium nitrate. After contacting Ford Motor Company, the OSC learned that the initiator contains between 200 - 250 grams of chemicals. DOT regulations classify air bags as Class 1.6 explosives. The OSC learned that Ford has a free recycling program for undeployed air bags and the OSC will pursue recycling as a disposal option for this waste.
ERRS inventoried the fluorescent light bulbs (RCRA "U" waste) inside the Site. There are a total of 87 bulbs which will be bulked and shipped, postage paid, for free disposal at a licensed recycler.
Local resident with recollection of the former gasoline station at the Site stopped at CP and confirmed the location of the gasoline UST as well as a smaller Diesel fuel tank at the rear of the main building.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
There is one identified RP, the owner of the Site, Scott "Skip" Biss, Jr. who is believed to live in nearby Greenwich, NY. Efforts to contact Mr. Biss have been unsuccessful. Mr. Biss Sr. passed away in 2007 and the company of record that owned the property, Biss Holdings, is defunct.
Based on a telephone conversation with Joseph Biss, cousin to Skip Biss, Mrs. Iris Biss, widow of Mr. Biss Sr., lived in Schuylerville, NY. The OSC went to the Schuylerville Post Office to get an address for Mrs. Biss and was informed that she had moved but did not leave a forwarding address.
The bank which holds a mortgage on the property (TD Bank, Portland ME) informed the OSC that the bank did now own the property. There are no other known PRPs for this Site.
On 4/18/2013 the OSC obtained a deed and related documents for the Scott Auto Sales property from the Saratoga County Clerk's office and visited the residence of the owner, Scott Biss. The local mailman confirmed that Scott Biss indeed lived at that address.
The OSC has contacted the property owner and has obtained written access to the property.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
Used motor oil |
liquid |
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Lab pack chemicals |
liquid |
4 drums |
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Antifreeze |
liquid |
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Aged fuel |
liquid |
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Used Diesel fuel |
liquid |
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Auto body filler |
semi-solid |
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Caustic parts cleaner |
liquid |
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Undeployed air bag |
solid |
1 |
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recycling |
Fluorescent light bulbs |
solid |
87 |
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recycling |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
See below.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Empty containers (tanks and drums) are staged pending recycling or disposal.
Disposal samples will be acquired from compatible waste streams.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Use analytical data from RST and newly acquired data to profile waste streams and begin process of T & D.
Arrange for recycler to pick up approx. 2,000 used tires piled against the main building and along the rear of the property near and in the wetlands. These tires present a fire hazard to the chemicals currently secured inside the main building.
2.2.2 Issues
None
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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No information available at this time.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
n/a
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
NYS DEC
NYS Police
Gansevoort Fire Dept
Town of Northumberland
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4. Personnel On Site
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No information available at this time.
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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