1.1.1 Incident Category

EPA-lead removal action at a defunct electroplating facility.

1.1.2 Site Description

 The site is a large, defunct plating shop, which was shut down by the East Bay Municipal Utility District in 2012, when the utility revoked ED-Coat's permit to discharge wastewater from their operations.  The facility has been idle since that time.  In the interim, plating tanks full of corrosive solutions have degraded and many of them are now in very poor condition, presenting the threat of a release of toxic, corrosive liquids.

1.1.2.1 Location

 715 4th St, Oakland, CA 94607 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Large plating tanks in very poor condition present the threat of a release of toxic, corrosive liquids. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

EPA and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) have conducted several sampling operations at the facility over the last few years.  This sampling has confirmed the presence of thousands of gallons of corrosive liquids, both acids and bases, many of them with high concentrations of toxic metals.  These liquids are stored in badly corroded steel tanks of various sizes.  On many of the tanks there are also extensive deposits of corrosive sodium hydroxide crystals, and some of the tanks show evidence of past leaks of contents, including hydroxide crystals on the floor or on adjacent piping. 

2.1.1 Narrative

EPA mobilized to the site on August 31, 2021 to begin removal operations. 

During the week of October 18, 2021, ERRS contractors removed and cut tanks the final tanks, with work this week primarily being done on the F plating line. Today, all tanks on site have now had their contents removed and been cut up. Final RCRA Debris on site is staged for packaging and transport to the disposal facility. Additionally, all  small containers have been lab packed or bulked and are staged for transport and disposal. This week ERRS shipped approximately 160 CY of RCRA debris and 4,200 gallons of RCRA Wastewaters (sludge). START continued air monitoring and sampling throughout the week and will demobilize from the site next week once all waste is containerized. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

ED-Coat and the various members of the Rossi family, as owners of the property and former operators of the facility, are the only identified PRPs at the Site.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste sent out for disposal from the E-D Coat Site:
CY = cubic yards
gal = gallons