On July 13, 2021, a representative with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) notified the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) of an abandoned tank on a residential property in Amazonia, Missouri. The tank was suspected to have been displaced as a result of flooding during June 2021. On October 21, 2021, MoDNR conducted a site investigation to further assess the abandoned tank. The field investigation identified a metal tank, approximately 300 gallons in size, located on the aforementioned residential property. Sampling determined the tank to contain about 75 gallons of material. Field analysis, utilizing Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technology, identified the material to be bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is a CERCLA hazardous substance. MoDNR did not identify any potential owners of the tank.
On November 1, 2021, MoDNR formally requested the EPA’s assistance with the removal and proper disposal of hazardous substances associated with the abandoned tank. EPA On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) conducted a site visit on November 8, 2021, and met with MoDNR personnel and the property owner where the tank was located. On December 1, 2021, EPA transferred the contents of the tank into two 55-gallon drums and prepared the abandoned tank for reuse or recycling. On December 9, 2021, EPA transported the 55-gallon drums to Clean Earth in Kansas City, Missouri, for proper disposal. Based on the completion of these site activities, no additional removal activities are planned.
