Five abandoned 55-gallon steel drums and one abandoned 15-gallon steel drum were discovered in Affton Missouri on March 1, 2016 by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The drums were situated between Union Road and a drainage ditch which discharges to Gravois Creek and ultimately to the Mississippi River. The Missouri Department of Transportation requested assistance from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources with management of the abandoned containers.
On March 2nd, 2016, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources requested EPA assistance with assessing the abandoned drums. EPA dispatched an On-Scene Coordinator to the scene. The drums were found to be full, on their sides, publicly accessible and leaking oil from the bungs. An immediate action was taken to stabilize the drums and stop the leaking oil. The drums were righted, overpacked in salvage drums and removed from the scene of abandonment.
