United States E nvironmental Protection Agency Office of Enrergeney & Remedial Response WasMrgton, DC 20460 HW-8.17 May 1989^ DESCRIPTIONS OF 10 SITES IN PROPOSED UPDATE #8 TO THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST This document consists of descriptions, of 10 sites proposed in April 1989 as Update #8 to the National Priorities List (NPL). The size of the site is generally indicated, based on information available at the time the site was soored using the Hazard Ranking System. The size may change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. Sites are arranged alphabetically by State and by site name. Remedial Actions Under Superfund The Superfund program is authorized by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), enacted on October 17, 1986. Under SARA, the Hazardous Substances Superfund pays the costs not assumed by responsible parties tor cleaning up hazardous waste sites or emergencies that threaten public health, welfare, or the environment. The Superfund program is managed by the U.S.-Environmental Protection Ajency (EPA). Two types of responses may be taken when a hazardous substance is released (or threatens to be released) into the environment: o Removal actions, emergency-type responses to imminent threats.. Typically, these actions were limited under CERCLA to 6 months arid/or 51 million. Under SARA', they are limited to 1 year and/or •?2 million, with a waiver possible it the actions are consistent with remedial actions. Removal actions;can be undertaken by the private parties responsible for the releases or by the Federal Government using the Superfund. o Remedial responses, actions intended to provide permanent solutions at cbandoned or uncontrolled hazardous,waste sites. Remedial responses are generally longer-term and more expensive than removals. A Superfund remedial response can be taken only it a site is on the NPL. After publishing two preliminary lists and proposing a formal list, EPA published the first NPL in September 1983. The list must be updated at least annually. The ironey for conducting a remedial response or removal action at a hazardous waste site can comerfrom-several sources: o The individuals or comj^nies .responsible for tne probleffiS" can clean up voluntarily-with E^Pf^State- supervision. ------- o The responsible party or parties can be forced to clean up by Federal or State legal action. o A State or local government can choose to assune the responsibility to clean up without Federal dollars. o Stperfund can pay for the cleanup, then seek to recover the costs frcm the responsible party or parties. A rearedial response under Stperfund is an orderly process that generally involves the following steps: o Take any measures needed to stabilize conditions, which might involve, for example, fencing the site or removing above-ground drums or bulk tanks. o Undertake initial planning activities to scope out a strategy for collecting information and analyzing alternative courses of action. o Conduct a remedial investigation to determine the type and extent of contamination at the site. o Conduct a feasibility study to analyze various cleanup alternatives. The feasibility study is often conducted with the remedial investigation as one project. Typically, the two together cost $1 million and take from 9 to IB months to coi^lete. o Select the cleanup alternative that: — Protects human health and the environment — Attains Federal and State requirements that are applicable or relevant and appropriate — Makes maximum use of permanent solutions, alternative treatment technologies, or resource recovery technologies — Is "cost effective" — that is, the results achieved are proportional to the cost (tentative working definition) o Design the remedy. Typically, the design phase costs $750,000 and takes 6 to 12 months. o lupleirent the remedy, which might involve, for exanple, constructing facilities to treat ground water or removing contaminants to a safe disposal area away from the site. The iirplementation phase typically lasts 6 to 12 months. The State government can participate in a remedial response under Siperfund in one of two ways: -2- ------- o The State can take the lead role under a cooperative agreenent, which is much like a grant in that Federal dollars are trans- ferred to the State. The State then develops a workplan, schedule, and budget, contracts for any services it needs, and is responsible for iraking sure that all the conditions in the cooperative agreement are net. In contrast to a grant, EPA continues to be substantially involved and monitors the State's progress throughout the project. o EPA can take the lead under a Siperfund State Contract, with the State having an advisory role. EPA, generally using contractor support, manages work early in the planning process. In the later design and implementation (construction) phases, contractors do the work under the supervision of the U.S. Amy Corps of Engineers. Under both arrangements, the State must share in the cost of the inplementation phase of cleanup. EPA expects this phase to average out at about $13.5 million per site, plus any costs to operate and maintain the renedial action. -3- ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 EASTERN MICHAIJD FLATS CCMIftMENATICN Focatello, Idaho The Eastern Michaufl Flats Contamination Site covers 2,530 acres in Power County, Idaho, near Focatello. Tfte Michaud Flats are an the snake River Plain and are bounded on the north by American Falls Reservoir, on the east by the Portneuf River, on the west by the Rock Creek, and on the south by foothills of the Deep Creek Mountains and Bannock Range. Within the eastern part of the flats are two adjacent phosphate processing facilities. FTC Corp. has produced elemental phosphorus from phosphate shale ore on 1,400 acres since 1949. J. R. Simplot Co. has produced a variety of fertilizer products from phosphate ore on 1,130 acres since 1944. Waste water from both facilities has been stored or disposed of in unlined ponds. FM3 is phasing out the use of unlined ponds, and J.R. Simplot has implemented a waste water treatment system. In the sunmer of 1987, EPA detected elevated levels of heavy metals in sediments of the unlined ponds at both facilities and in waste water at J. R. Simplot. In addition, arsenic, cadmium, and selenium were detected in monitoring wells in the deep confined aquifer. Public and private wells within 3 miles of the area provide drinking water to an estimated 55,000 people and are also used to irrigate over 2,100 acres of forage crops. A private well is 800 feet from an on-site lagoon. In 1976, the State of Idaho closed a drinking water well downgradient of FTC due to elevated arsenic levels. Currently, no other private or public water supply wells are known to be contaminated, although elevated levels of arsenic were detected in a downgradient spring used for drinking. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Remedial Response Program ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 KERR M3GEE CHEMICAL CCRP. (SOER SPRINGS PLANT) Soda Springs, Idaho Kerr-McGee Oianical Corp. has produced vanadium pentoxide in southeastern Idaho l mile north of Soda Springs, Caribou County, since 1963. Uie 158-acre site is in a broad, flat valley near the western base of the Aspen Range. Significant agricultural crops in the area include wheat and hay. A number of other large industrial complexes are in the valley, including Monsanto Chenical Co., directly across State Highway 34 from Kerr-I-fcGee. Monsanto supplies by- product ferrous-phosphate solids, which Kerr-JfcGee processes into vanadium pentoxide. The Monsanto plant is also being proposed for the MPL at this time. Kerr-M^Gee fs plant generates a number of liquid wastes and stores than in on-site ponds. The two largest poods hold over 12,000 cubic yards of waste. On-site monitoring wells and the ponds contain vanadium, arsenic, copper, and silver, according to tests conducted as part of an EPA site inspection in the sumner of 1987. Within 3 miles of the site are public springs and private wells that provide drinking water to over 3,000 people and a private well that irrigates 165 acres. The plant receives drinking water from an on-site well 375 feet from a contaminated well. No unthreatened alternate source of water is available. The topography in the area prohibits migration of contaminants to surface water. U S Environmental Protection Agency/Remedial Response Program ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 MDNSANIO CHEMICAL CO. (SGDPi SPRINGS PLANT) Soda springs, Idaho Monsanto Chemical Co. has produced elemental phosphorus in southeastern Idaho l mile north of Soda Springs, Caribou County, since 1952. The 530-acre site is in a broad, flat valley near the western base of the Aspen Range. Significant agricultural crops in the area include wheat and hay. A number other large industrial complexes are in the valley, including Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp., directly across State Highway 34 frcm Monsanto. Hie Kerr-McGee plant is also being proposed for the NPL at this time. Monsanto's Soda Springs plant generates a number of process waste streams containing inorganic compounds. Most liquid and solid wastes are stored or treated in on-site ponds or piles. Slag constitutes the greatest quantity of waste. Molten slag is tapped frcm the base of the electric air furnaces producing phosphorus and poured out to cool in piles. The piles cover a large portion of the site and are more than 150 feet high. As part of a hydrogeological investigation conducted by a Monsanto contractor in 1984, 31 monitoring wells were installed around the facility in support of existing wells, and pump tests were performed on numerous monitoring wells and three on-site wells supplying water to the plant. Ground water contamination was detected at the site. The contractor identified the sources as a leaky hydroclarifier and several unlined ponds. Monsanto has discontinued use of the old ponds, installed new lined ponds, and replaced the old clarifier. On-site monitoring wells and sediments in an old unlined pond that received process waste water contain arsenic, cadmium, and chromium, according to tests conducted as part of a November 1987 EPA site inspection. Within 3 miles of the site are public springs and private wells that provide drinking water to an estimated 3,000 people. Water discharging frcm an on-site pond to Soda Creek 2,000 feet away is contaminated with cadmium, according to EPA analyses conducted in 1985. Water withdrawn frcm Soda Canal 1.2 miles downstream is used to irrigate 4,040 acres. U.S Environmental Protection Agency/Remedial Response Program ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 SHELLER-GLCBE CCRP. DISPOSAL Keokuk, Iowa Sheller-Globe corp. operated an industrial landfill and solvent burning area in Lee County 4 miles north of Keokuk, Iowa, from 1947 to 1970. The 5-acre site is in a heavily wooded, rural area. Die land was filled in and sold in 1980 to an individual who built a heme on the site and draws water from an on-site well. Sheller-Gldbe Corp. manufactured rubber products, including automobile weather stripping at a facility adjacent to the disposal area. Liquids and sludges frcrn the operation were deposited directly into a ravine with no system for diverting surface run-off. Among wastes deposited, according to the company, were at least 1,000 drums of paint sludge, methylene chloride, toluene diiso- cyanates, methyl ethyl ketone, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, and resins containing fluorocarbons. Solvents were periodically burned in the open. In December 1987 tests, EPA detected arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc, benzene and toluene in on-site soil, ground water, and surface water. An estimated 1,125 people obtain drinking water from private wells within 3 miles of the site. In December 1987, EPA also observed seepage and an oil sheen on an intermittent stream near the northeast edge of the site. The Mississippi River 2.8 miles downstream of the site is used for recreational boating and fishing. In March 1988, EPA observed 52 drums on the surface, as well as sera© rubber and polyurethane foam. U S Environmental Protection Agency/Remedial Response Program ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 ALLIED FAFER, INC./PCKIAGE CREEK/KALATtoZOO RIVER Kalamazoo, Michigan Hie Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River site involves PCB contamination of an Allied Paper, Inc., property, in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, plus a 3-mile stretch of Portage Creek from Kalamazoo to where the creek meets the Kalamazoo River, and a 3.5-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River. Allied Paper, Inc., has operated paper mills on a 80-acre site at 2030 Portage Road in Kalamazoo since 1925. The company, a subsidiary of SCM Corp., recycled and deinked paper, including carbonless copy papers, which contained 3.4 percent by weight of Aroclor, a PCB, frcm 1957 to 1971. In 1986, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MENR) detected PCBs in several places in the 80-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River between Kalamazoo and Lake Michigan. Contamination is primarily in the sediments, although the water column and fish are also contaminated. According to MENR, the contamination begins at the point were Allied's Bryant Mill Pond discharges to Portage Creek. MCNR tests conducted in October 1985 also found PCBs (Aroclor 1242 and 1254) in monitoring wells around a landfill on the Allied property, two seeps from a sludge disposal area, and a discharge to Portage Creek. An estimated 142,000 people obtain drinking water frcm public wells within 3 miles of the site, the nearest 1.1 miles frcm the site. No alternate unthreatened sources of water are now available. In 1977, the Michigan Department of Public Health issued an advisory warning against eating fish in the river because they were contaminated with PCBs. In 1984, MENR began a long-term project to clean up the river after it was listed in the Michigan Environmental Response Act. MENR has conducted extensive sampling to determine the extent of contamination. On December 2, 1987, the State filed a complaint under CERCLA Sections 107 and 113, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and three Michigan laws. The complaint called for Allied Paper and SCM Corp. to stop the release of hazardous substances into the environment and pay cleanup costs. In response, the companies have undertaken studies of the extent of the PCB contamination, the quantities of PCBs in Bryant Mill Pond, and possible remedial actions. U.S Environmental Protection Agency/Remedial Response Program ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 ST. LOUIS AIRFC&T/HftZEXJWDOD INTERIM STORAGE/FUIURA COMINGS 00. St. Louis County, Missouri The St. Louis Airport/Hazelwood Interim Storage/Futura Coatings Co. Site is in St. Louis county, Missouri. It consists of three areas used for storing radioactive and other wastes resulting from uranium processing operations conducted in St. Louis by the Atomic Energy Canmissian (AEE) and its successor, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE). None of the three areas is now owned by the Federal Government. Hie St. Louis Airport area covers 21.7 acres immediately north of Lambert St. Louis International Airport, approximately 15 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis. It is bounded by a railroad track, Coldwater Creek, and McDonnell Boulevard. Radioactive metal scrap and drums of waste were stored in the airport area in uncovered and unstabilized piles from 1947 to the mid-1960s, when they were transferred 0.5 mile northeast to ABC's Hazelwood Interim Storage (HIS) area. Buildings in the airport area were razed, buried, and covered with clean fill after 1967. Contaminated soil was removed to the Weldon Spring Quarry in St. Charles County, Missouri, which was placed on the NFL in July 1987. In 1969, the land was conveyed to the St. Louis-Lambert Airport Authority. HIS and the Futura Coatings Co. plant cover 11 acres adjacent to Latty Avenue, coldwater Creek, and Hanley Avenue. In 1966, Continental Mining and Milling Co. acquired the property and recovered uranium from wastes purchased from ABC's St. Louis operations. In 1967, the company sold the property, and by 1973 most processing residues had been removed, under the direction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the present owner excavated contaminated soil and is storing it in two large piles in the eastern portion of the 11 acres. Since the 1970s, Futura Coatings, a manufacturer of plastic coatings, has leased the western portion. High levels of uranium, thorium, and radium are present in surface and subsurface soils and ground water near the airport area, according to tests conducted by NEC (1976), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1977), and a USDOE contractor (1986). Radon-222 was present in the air near the airport area in the USDOE tests. A McDonnell Douglas Corp. office building with 24,000 employees is within 0.5 mile of the airport area. USDOE has investigated the site under its Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). In 1982, USDOE conducted preliminary studies of radioactive contamination of the ditches along the sides of the roads leading to and from the areas. In 1986, boreholes were drilled to continue the con- tamination study and collect geological information. In 1984, USDOE cleared the HIS and Futura Coatings areas, constructed a vehicle decontamination facility, installed a perimeter fence, excavated and backfilled the edges and shoulders of Latty Avenue, and consolidated the resulting contaminated soils into one storage pile. In 1986, during a city road improvement project, contaminated soil from roads leading to and from all three areas was excavated. USDOE plans further studies in all areas, which will lead to additional remedial actions. U.S Environmental Protection Agency/Remedial Response Program ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 IKE-CITIES BARREL CO. INC. Port Crane, New York Tri-Cities Barrel Co. Inc., Has reconditioned used barrels since 1955 on a 3-acre site on Old Route 7 in Port Crane, Broome county. New York. Barrels are cleaned by washing with strong caustic solution or by incineration. Until 1980, waste water frcni the process was discharged into unlined lagoons and allowed to evaporate. This practice was discontinued, and the lagoons were cleaned out and backfilled. Waste water is currently stored in a holding tank and hauled off-site for disposal. On-site monitoring wells are contaminated with a PCB (Aroclor 1242) and chlordane, according to tests conducted in 1986 by the New York State Department of Environmental control. Soil sanples contained high concentra- tions of several organic compounds. An estimated 3,550 people obtain drinking water from wells within 3 miles of the site. Osborne Creek borders the site on the north. Surface water within 3 miles downstream of the site is used for recreational activities. •Hie site is unfenced, making it possible for people and animals to come into direct contact with hazardous substances. In 1984, EPA. fined Tri-Cities Barrel under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for failure to label hazardous waste properly. This facility obtained Interim Status under RCRA Subtitle C when it filed a Notification of Hazardous Waste Activity and Part A of a permit application to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. Later, it withdrew its Part A and converted to generator-only status. Hence, it satisfies a component of EPA's NPL/RCRA policy. U.S Environmental Protection Agency/Remedial Response Program ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 Goldsboro, North Carolina Hevi-Duty Electric Co. operates on about 125 acres just off U.S. 117 in an industrial-residential area about 2 miles south of Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina. Since early 1968, Hevi-Duty, which is owned by General Signal Corp., has manufactured dry and liquid power transformers on the southern part of the property; the northern two-thirds is leased to local fanners. Oil containing FCBs was used in the transformers until the mid 1970s. In 1979 or 1980, about 1,000 gallons of PCB-containing transformer oil was spilled from an underground storage tank. The company removed the soil from this spill and buried it in an unlined pit an the north end of the property. In about 1976, PCB-contaminated soil from an underground storage tank area was removed and buried in a plastic-lined pit under supervision of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development (NRCD). In August 1985, EPA and Hevi-Duty signed a Consent Agreement under which the company paid a civil penalty of $7,800. On January 30, 1986, a cracked pipeline on a tanker truck resulted in a spill of approximately 1,400 gallons of transformer oil. According to Hevi- Duty, this oil, which contained approximately 4 parts per million PCBs, ran into culverts and an open drainage ditch. The majority of the oil was recovered by skinning from the water, then filtered and reused. The saturated soil and material used to soak up sane of the spill were disposed of in #1 Wayne County Landfill. Hevi-EXity also stated that the spill was contained on its property and did not reach any open water. On March 18, 1986, Hevi-Duty reported to NRCD that a crack in an underground oil line resulted in the loss of approximately 1,500 gallons of transformer oil. During a State inspection on May 28, 1986, Hevi-Duty was cleaning up the spill by pumping water underground, thus flushing the oil out of the ground. A sanple of the oil being forced out was collected from a mud puddle. Analysis by the State indicated that it contained 227 parts per million PCB (Aroclor 1254). On-site ground water also contained Aroclor 1254. An estimated 4,600 people obtain drinking water from public wells within 3 miles of the site, the nearest 1,900 feet from the site. EPA in 1977 and 1978 and the North Carolina Division of Health Services in 1985 found elevated levels of Aroclor 1254 in ambient air at the site. An estimated 15,000 people live within 4 miles of the site. The site drains to the Neuse River approximately 4,650 feet north of the plant building. The river is used for fishing within 3 miles downstream of the site. Hevi-Duty recently hired a contractor to study the environmental status of the site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'Remedtal Response Program ------- National Priorities List Superftnd hazardous waste site listed '.merer the _ ^ Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Uabtoiy Act tCERCLA) as amended in T98^ PUBLICKEH INDUSTRIES INC. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hie Pufclicfcer Industries inc. Site occupies 37 acres along the Delaware River, adjacent to the Walt Whitman Bridge in southeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fran the early 1900s until 1986, the facility produced various alcohols by fermentation and distillation. As production declined In the late 1970s, the company used same of its tanks to store fuel oils for other companies. Ill 1986, Owerland Corp. purchased the facility. Siortly after starting demolition operations, Overland declared bankruptcy and abandoned the facility. A bankruptcy trustee was appointed for the estate of ewer land corp. in February 1987. When Overland abandoned the site, it contained over 400 tanks, rail carsj, end tank cars holding approximately 2 million gallons of hazardous materials; approximately 1,200 drums; four chanical laboratories with an estimated 7,000 containers of Jtnown content iincluding acids, explosive ccnpounds, and flammable carfounfisj and 5,000 containers of unknown content; ISO cylinders holding toxic, flantreble, and reactive gases; 150 pieces of electrical equipment, seme containing PCBs; several hundred miles of above- and below-ground transfer lines, some covered with asbestos; reaction vessels; production buildings; and two power houses, Most of the vessels and transfer lines apparently held hazardous materials and were leaking or in various stages of disrepair due to neglect or vandalism. Security measures were inadequate. In June 1987, a portion of the facility was destroyed in a muitialarm fire during which numerous explosions and fire flares were reported. On September 4, 1987, EPA ant3 Publicker entered into a Consent Order under CEKCLA Section 106. From than until Deosnber 7, 1987, when EF& initiated a rasovai action, the company conducted a site assessment under the order. Daring the removal, which is still underway, EF& has significantly stabilized conditions at the site by addressing the fire and explosion threats on the surface. Wherever possible, solid and liquid waste streams were bulked and stored on-site for future disposal. Highly reactive laboratory wastes and gas cylinders were transported to facilities regulated under the Resource conservation and Recovery Act. Ita date, EF& has spent $6.5 million in CERCLA emergency funds. Shallow on-site ground water is contaminated with to Inane, according to tests conducted in 1986 by a contractor to a subsidiary of Overland Corp. Xn May 19&B, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources found toluene and xylene in deep on-site ground water in the Karitan-Jfegotfty ftquifer. An estimated 184,000 people obtain drinking water from public wells drawing from this aquifer within 3 miles of the site, the nearest within 1.4 miles. The Delaware River is used for recreational activities within 3 miles downstream of the site. Tides coming into the river can carry contaminants into Delaware Bay. The peregrine falcon, designated as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, nests on the Walt Whitman Bridge. In January 1938, EF5\ detected n-butylchloride in routine air monitoring at the site. The ccsrtaminant was traced tc a leaking tan): holding the chemicals, to estimated 3,600 people live within 1 mile of the site. U S Environmental Protection Agency'Remedial Response Progr&m ------- -2- Otn July 7, 1988, EF7\ and Bruga corp. entered into a Consent Order under CERCEA Section 106. Under the order, Bruga is dismantling and decontairiinating personal property in two porxicr^ of trie site it fcad par chased from the estate in bankruptcy. On December 8, 1968, EPA. and WA Warehousing, Inc., entered into a CERCLA Section 106 Consent Order, Under the order, AAA is removing seme stainless steel tanks and rail tank cars it owned from the site. ------- National Priorities List Superfund hazardous waste site listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended in 1986 UIWi POWER & LIGHT/AMEKICMJ EftRREL CO. Salt Lake City, Utah Hie Utah Power & Light/American Barrel Co. Site covers about 2 acres east of 600 West Street and north of South Tenple Street in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. Hie site is in an industrialized area, with Union Pacific Railroad property to the west and Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad property to the inmediate southeast. A residential area is within 400 feet to the west, and downtown Salt Late City within 0.5 mile to the east. Hie property is owned by Utah Power & Light (UP&L), which operated a pole and tie creosote treating facility on the land during the early 1900s, according to records of the Utah Bureau of Solid and Hazardous Waste. From the 1950s to 1988, American Barrel Co. leased the land for storing drums. In 1986, Meyers Container Corp. purchased from American Barrel all drums fit for reconditioning and removed them to a recycling plant a block south of the site. Meyers also purchased the recycling plant from American Barrel. In mid-1987, an estimated 50,000 mostly empty 55-gallon barrels retained onsite, stacked on their sides to heights up to 20 feet and supported by stones on the ground. Seme drums still contained wastes, and soil staining suggested that they may have leaked. During 1987-88, American Barrel removed the barrels, emptied the contents into drums, and transported the materials to disposal facilities regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. In July 1988, ETA issued a OEBGLA Section 106 Administrative Order on Consent to secure the site. The site is now fenced, locked, and posted. According to EPA tests conducted in 1987, soil 16 feet beneath the site and on-site monitoring wells are contaminated. Among the compounds in shallow ground water are styrene (attributable to the barrel yard activities) and poly- arcmatic hydrocarbons and phenolic compounds (attributable to the creosote operations of the early 1900s). Shallow ground water is connected to deeper water that within 3 miles of the site provides drinking water to the Salt Lake City Water System, which serves an estimated 377,000 people. An additional 4,000 people are served by private wells within the 3-mile radius. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Remedial Response Program ------- |