&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
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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
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