SECTION ONE
Introduction
REGULATORY HISTORY
Slippery Chemical was cited many times by state and federal agencies for violating
environmental and health and safety regulations. In 1982, after Slippery Chemical failed to
respond to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) request to clean up the site,
the USEPA initiated an emergency removal action during which drums, surface sludges, and
storage tanks were removed. During this removal action, USEPA removed 1,700 exposed drums
and drained and neutralized approximately 10 large tanks used for bulk storage of acids, bases,
and fuel oil. Access to the site was controlled using an 8-foot fence, and warning signs were
posted.
A Superfund remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) was initiated in 1983. The first
two phases of the RI/FS led to interim remedial actions, specifically: Operable Unit (OU) -1
the remediation of a leachate stream that was discharging to an off-site area; and OU-2 the
removal of the two lined wastewater treatment lagoons and the on-site structures. Phase I was
completed in 1987. Phase II was completed in 1988.
The September 1988 Record of Decision (ROD) addressed both soil/sludge/sediment
contamination and groundwater contamination at the SCS site; however, OU-3, the subject of
this report, only addresses soil/sludge/sediment.
The Phase III RI/FS was initiated in January 1987. During Phase III field investigations,
samples of soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment were collected. Forty-one test pits
were excavated to characterize contaminated soil and sludge at the site. Each test pit was
excavated to the water table or to a depth of 15 feet below ground surface (bgs), whichever was
more shallow.
NATURE AND EXTENT OF CONTAMINATION
During the Phase III RI/FS, soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment contamination was
observed throughout the site. OU-3 addressed all of these contaminated media. The degree of
contamination varied throughout the study area. In general, the frequency of occurrence and
concentrations of contaminants were greatest on the Slippery Chemical property and
immediately off-site, particularly on the Oily Chemical property, which is located immediately
north of the Slippery Chemical property. Based on local groundwater patterns, the Oily
Chemical property is considered to be down gradient of the Slippery Chemical Property.
Chemical sludge and contaminated soil were observed in all of the open area on the SCS Site.
The soil and sludge were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile
organic compounds (SVOCs), Fenac, β -naphthylamine, and metals. Organic contaminants (i.e.,
Fenac) were consistently observed in samples collected throughout the site. Field screening
revealed that the vadose zone at the site was contaminated to varying concentrations with
chlorinated solvents and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). Substituted
chlorinated phenols and alkyl phenols were also present. These compounds occurred throughout
the site regardless of sampling depth; therefore, no one particular area of the Slippery Chemical
property or the adjacent Oily Chemical property could have been considered the most likely
1-2
Slippery Chemical OU 3 Final RA Report
Previous Page
