&EPA CES Environmental Services, Inc. Site United States Proposed Removal Action Environmental Protection 1 Agency Harris County Houston, Texas August 2014 This Fact Sheet will tell you about... • Background Information • Potential Threats to Public Health and Welfare • What to Expect • For More Information Background Information The CES Environmental Services Site ("Site") is a former chemical recycling facility that is located at 4904 Griggs Road, Houston, Harris County, Texas. Other contiguous properties associated with the Site are 4900 Griggs Road and 5910 Wayland Street. The Site is surrounded by residential, educational, and commercial properties. CES Environmental Services filed for bankruptcy in 2010. The property is part of the CES Bankruptcy Estate, which is being managed by a Trustee appointed by the Bankruptcy Court. The Trustee's job is to liquidate assets of the Estate for the benefit of the creditors. There are numerous chemical containers located on-site that have not been actively managed or secured to prevent releases to the environment since August 2010. The Site has recently experienced two incidents of vandalism, which occurred in March and July 2014. These incidents resulted in the spillage of chemicals and waste to the facility property and the adjacent residential neighborhood. These spill responses were addressed by the Estate, the City of Houston, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ("TCEQ") and the EPA. Although lacking adequate funding, the Trustee has been and continues to address waste issues at the Site. The EPA and TCEQ will begin the process of addressing the waste issues on the property. At the same time, the Estate will complete its ongoing cleanup actions at the Site, which include the disposal of 1 vacuum box, 1 roll-off box, and waste piles. The Estate's actions for these items are being coordinated with both EPA and TCEQ. The Site consists of approximately 11 vacuum boxes, 2 roll-off boxes, 12 frac tanks, 2 Tanker Trailers, 20 above ground storage tanks (ASTs), 15 waste water treatment tanks, waste piles, and numerous totes, vats, drums, and smaller containers. Potential Threats to Public Health and Welfare In addition to the numerous chemical containers located on-site that pose a risk to Public Health and Welfare, the soil areas of the Site have not been investigated. However, due to historic operation, as well as the recent chemical spills from vandalism, the soil is expected to be contaminated. The contaminants within the containers include: benzene, cresols, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, methyl ethyl ketone, 1,2-dicholorethane, and corrosive and ignitable wastes. The Site fencing has been repaired to remove open access to the facility; however, the fencing will not prevent those intent on criminal mischief from entering to vandalize the facility. These vandals have contributed to releases from the containers on-site, thereby, creating a risk to themselves and public health. Additionally, these individuals have previously compromised the security fencing by stealing fence panels and undermining the basic security of the facility. The EPA, TCEQ, and the City of Houston will work together to eliminate the threat this Site presents to your neighborhood. We need your support to make sure that those intent on vandalism and theft are kept away. Please be vigilant and notify the Houston Police Department of suspicious activity in or around the facility. What to Expect During the Next Month and Beyond The EPA anticipates activities beginning the week of August 18, 2014. The actions will begin with Site setup activities, and sampling and evaluating chemical containers. Upon receipt of ------- analytical data and waste acceptance by the off-site disposal facilities, waste will begin being shipped off-site for proper disposal at an approved disposal facility. Expect to see an almost daily presence on the site by EPA, TCEQ, or the City of Houston and our contractors until this current action is complete. It should be expected that this cleanup may take several months or more to complete. Federal, and State funding will be utilized for actions on the site. The City of Houston will work closely with EPA and the TCEQ and provide needed local support. This current response action will include: • Removal/disposal of chemicals on the facility • Removing/disposing of visible chemical spillage to soil and other surfaces on the facility. For More Information If you would like more information about the CES Environmental Services Removal Action, contact: Gary Moore, EPA On-Scene Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 6 Phone: 214.665.6609 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) moore.gary@epa.gov Bill Little, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 6 Phone: 214.665.8131 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) little.bill@epa.gov Terry Andrews, TCEQ Project Manager Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Phone: 713.767.3560 terry. andrews@tceq. texas. gov All inquiries from the news media should be directed to: EPA Region 6 Press Office Phone: 214.665.2200 &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 1445 Ross Ave. (6SF-VO) Dallas, TX 75202 ------- |