U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 75 Hawthorne Street (WST-4) San Francisco, CA 94105 Attn: Cynthia Ruelas Official Business Penalty for Private Use, $300 Address Service Requested Version en Espanol incluida FIRST-CLASS MAIL POSTAGE & FEES PAID U.S. EPA Permit No. G-35 vi-EPA COMMUNITY INFORMATION FACT SHEET; Veolia Environmental Services Technical Solutions Version en Espanol incluida Contact Information: Cynthia Ruelas, EPA Project Manager U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 75 Hawthorne Street (WST-4) San Francisco, CA 94105 You are receiving this Community Information Fact Sheet regarding Veolia Environmental Services Technical Solutions, LLC (Veolia), in Phoenix, Arizona, because you are either an owner or ten- ant of a property located in the vicinity of the Veolia facility. The Veolia facility stores and processes polychlorinated biphenyls (RGBs) for later off-site disposal. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reviewing a Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) PCB commercial storage renewal permit application from Veolia. As EPA reviews the renewal application for PCB storage, we are interested in hearing your questions and comments about the facility and the permit application. EPA will only make the decision to grant the facility a permit if it demonstrates that PCB operations do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment. Phone number: (415) 972-3329 Fax number: (415) 947-3530 Email: ruelas.cynthia@epa.gov http://www.epa.aov/region9/pcbs/storaae/veolia/ All comments received will be considered in making a final permit decision. £EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Pacific Southwest/Region 9 Waste Management Division RCRA Facilities Management Office 1' ^ 1 1* 1 February 2013 Serving Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands and 148 Tribes 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 866-EPA-WEST • www.epa.gov/region9 COMMUNITY INFORMATION FACT SHEET: Veolia Environmental Services Technical Solutions 5736 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona Polychlorinated Biphenyl Waste Permit Project Purpose of Permitting Action Veolia Environmental Services Technical Solutions (Veolia) has submitted a permit renewal application to continue to manage polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). The PCB activities con- ducted at the Veolia facility include receiving, storing, processing, and shipping for disposal PCB waste; and recovery of metals from PCB equipment. Federal regulations require a permit for PCB activities to help ensure that PCB storage and disposal facilities operate in a manner that protects human health and the environment, and otherwise comply with federal regulations. The current permit that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued to Veolia has expired, and they have requested a renewal of their permit. Until a permit decision has been made, they can operate under their current permit. EPA is reviewing Veolia's permit application, and will be proposing a permit decision covering PCB activities at the facility. Buifdlng 2 Bu.il(iHi9 4 Aerial View of Facility Where is the Veolia Facility? The facility address is 5736 West Jefferson Street in Phoenix, Ari- zona, and is located within the Westgate Industrial Center. The facil- ity is located approximately six miles west of downtown Phoenix and one mile south of Interstate 10 (1-10). The property is on 2.67 acres and consists of four approximately 8,000 ft2 buildings, an approximately 1,000 ft2 hazardous waste storage building to the north- west, and an outdoor storage yard on the northern part of the site. FACILITY FACTS • PREVIOUS LAND USE: Prior to devel- opment, the property and surrounding area was used for agriculture for many years. • PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT: The property was first developed in 1991, and is currently owned by Jewell Investments, who leases the facility to Veolia. • PROPERTY ZONING: The property is zoned by the City of Phoenix as A-l: Light Industrial. • RCRA ACTIVITIES: Hazardous waste activities conducted at Veolia primarily include managing mercury-containing waste. These activities are permitted under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and are overseen by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. RCRA activities take place in Buildings 1, 2, 4, and the hazardous waste storage building. • TSCA ACTIVITIES: The PCB activities described in this fact sheet are permitted under TSCA and are overseen by EPA. TSCA activities currently take place in Buildings 2, 3, and 4. ------- What is in a permit application? Among other things, a permit application includes the following components/information: • Standard Operating Procedures - These cover a variety of facility operations including: inspections, logging incoming/outgoing shipments, waste process- ing, laboratory testing, waste handling procedures, and marking requirements. • Description of Storage Areas - PCB storage areas must meet proper engineering standards and regulatory requirements to prevent chemical releases. • Spill Prevention and Cleanup Procedures - Any measures taken to clean up spills within the facility must be carried out in accordance with the TSCA regu- lations. • Closure Plan and Financial Assurance - Owners and operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities must demonstrate that funds will be available to properly close the facility. Truck staged in the truck-bay for PCB equipment and material unloading PCB Activities at Veolia Veolia receives PCB-containing equipment and contain- erized PCB liquid waste, regulated under TSCA, by truck. The PCB contaminated equipment received is inspected and then processed at the facility. Processing involves draining the equipment of all PCB liquids, flush- ing the emptied equipment, and then storing the liquid and solid waste in designated areas within the facility. Liquid waste received is combined in storage contain- ers based on PCB concentrations. Finally, the materials are sent off site for appropriate disposal. Metals to be recovered from the equipment are cleaned with a performance-based solution (diesel/kerosene detergent mixture), and then shipped to an off-site recycling facil- ity. Other non-recoverable solids are stored in bins in the yard, and later shipped to an appropriate disposal facility. Schedule Roll-off bins staged in the outdoor storage yard EPA issued the facility a TSCA PCB Commercial Stor- age Approval for PCB-related operations in 1994. Veolia is currently operating under this 1994 Approval. EPA is currently reviewing Veolia's revised permit application. Once the permit application review is completed, EPA will propose a permit decision and will notify the public of the proposed permit decision through a fact sheet and public notice. This will initiate a 45-day public comment period, including a public meeting and hearing. The public meeting will help answer any questions expressed by community members. The schedule for making the final permit decision is depicted below. £ O <0 1- to 8 8 DlO- < c © £ £ .Q © 3 > Q. O > c Veolia Submits Revised Permit Application EPA Proposes Draft Permit Decision EPA Final Permit Decision Application Review 45-day Comment Period T T t Informational Community Mailing EPA Issues: • Public Notice „ • Fact Statement o t . asis Public Meeting Response to and Hearing Comments Issued What are PCBs? PCBs are not known to occur naturally. They are man- made organic chemicals that were manufactured from 1929 until their manufacture was banned by EPA in 1979. PCBs range in consistency from crystalline to solids to sticky resins. \\\\v\\\v\v ^ nAiiTinu ™ CAUTION PCBs Drums in PCB storage area PCB Profile Characteristics Previous Uses PCBs do not degrade at high temperatures. This is why PCBs were suitable for use in electrical equipment subject to heat, and in heat transfer and hydraulic equipment. PCBs are highly soluble in oils and oil-like solvents. This is why PCBs are often found mixed with mineral oil for use in electrical equipment. PCBs remain stable over time. This is one reason for the widespread use of PCBs as well as for their persistence in the environment. PCBs in Products When PCBs were manufactured, they were generally used in the following products: • Adhesives • Carbonless copy paper • Construction materials • Dedusting agents • Electrical cable insulation • Fuel tank coatings • Inks • Paint pigment • Pesticides • Gaskets • Cutting oils Lubricants Vacuum pump fluid Sealants (caulk) Flame retardants Casting wax Why Worry about PCBs? PCBs are a class of toxic chemicals that are cancer- causing and may cause harmful effects on the body. Once released into the environment, PCBs can last for decades. How is EPA Working with Veolia to Reduce Risk? The main concern from a risk perspective is how to pre- vent spills and properly address spill cleanup and con- tainment. Secondary containment units, in the form of steel containment pans, are available for totes and drums storing PCBs as well as PCB equipment, preventing any PCB liquid from escaping the facility. The PCB pro- cessing area is surrounded by a six-inch curb. The pro- cessing area has dedicated equipment and restricted access. To ensure proper containment, appropriate con- crete surfaces are sealed with a layer of epoxy coating to prevent PCB liquids from leaching through porous concrete. Workers assigned to PCB processing areas currently undergo TSCA training. EPA inspectors separately visit the site and review all documentation submitted as part of the permit applica- tion. EPA conducts unannounced inspections at facil- ities like this to ensure the facility is complying with federal regulations and their current permit. Tote containing PCB liquid ------- |