*>EPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

For more information

If you have questions, comments or
need more information about the
Plating Inc. site cleanup, contact
these EPA team members:

For technical questions:

David Morrison
On-Scene Coordinator
651-706-4116
morrison.david@epa.gov

For general questions:

Ruth Muhtsun
Community Involvement
Coordinator
312-886-6595
muhtsun.ruth@epa.gov

EPA Chicago Office address:

U.S. EPA Region 5
77 W. Jackson Blvd.

Chicago, IL 60604

For additional information:
Jim Stockinger
Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency
651-757-2164

j im. stockinger@state .mn .us

Aaron Chavez

Solid and Hazardous Waste
Compliance
Ramsey County
651-266-1182'

aaron.chavez@co.ramsey.mn.us

EPA to Begin Cleanup of
Hazardous Waste

Plating Inc.

St. Paul, Minnesota	August 2017

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will begin a hazardous waste
cleanup and local community outreach around the Plating Inc. site at 888
N. Prior Ave.in St. Paul. The former industrial facility specialized in zinc
and chromate plating of aluminum and is now abandoned.

EPA calls the cleanup a "time-critical removal action." Federal law allows
EPA to step in and remove hazardous waste from a private business when
the pollution poses an imminent health threat if released into the
environment. Starting in August, EPA staff will begin door-to-door
outreach to notify residents living close to the site about the removal
action and answer any concerns.

Currently, EPA officials have secured the building to reduce the threat of
any chemical releases. EPA will be conducting air monitoring in the
building and at the perimeter to ensure that residents and nearby business
occupants are not exposed during the removal process. EPA will also
develop a contingency plan to notify all state, county and local officials
and residents if there is an emergency.

During the cleanup, the federal Agency will combine and package
hazardous materials for off-site disposal. The abandoned facility houses
more than 80 chemical vats containing hazardous waste such as cyanide,
caustics and chromium. It also contains nearly 80 drums and totes with
various chemicals. Asbestos-containing material was also found to have
broken off tanks and piping due to deteriorating building conditions.
Cleanup of the hazardous waste will be conducted during normal business
hours to minimize disturbance to the neighborhood. The cleanup is
expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Site history

The Plating Inc. site was in use as a plating shop since around 1938. The
site consists of a 21,100 square-foot commercial building with several
homes and businesses sitting close to the structure. In 2013, state of
Minnesota officials discovered compliance issues during a routine
hazardous waste inspection.

In April 2016, the owner/operator of the facility abandoned the facility
after incomplete efforts to return to compliance. In response, the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency conducted a site visit last December.
MPCA staff discovered that many of the open process vats and vessels
were left full, and there were large quantities of hazardous substances
remaining in the building.


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