eastern oregon hazardous waste cleanup report 2007

8/8/2019 Eastern Oregon Hazardous Waste Cleanup Report 2007

1/24


2/24

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program

Bend Office300 SE Reed Market Road, Bend, Oregon 97702

541.388.6146; Fax 541.388.8283

Pendleton Office700 SE Emigrant, Pendleton, Oregon 97801

541.276.4063; Fax 541.278.0168

Toll-free in Oregon 1.866.863.6668http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/hw/index.htm

January 2008

For the complete story regarding the cover photos release of fuel, please see page 23.


3/24

Table of Contents

A. The Eastern Region . Page 5

1. Regional Roles and Responsibilities Office Locations

Regional Coverage Regional Website

B. Hazardous Waste Program .. Page 5

1. Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance

Toxic Use Reduction & Pollution Prevention Telephone Technical Assistance Site Visit Technical Assistance Hazardous Waste Collection Events

Targeted Waste Collection and Recycling Hazardous Waste Trainings

2. Compliance Inspection Program Summary.. Page 8 Hazardous Waste Inspections

Treatment, Storage & Disposal (TSD) Inspections Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigations Hazardous Waste Enforcement Actions

Highlighted Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation

3. Statewide Permitting. Page 10 Hazardous Waste Permit Renewals and Modifications Other Regional Hazardous Waste Permit Work

4. Hazardous Waste Program Priorities for 2008... Page 12 Compliance Priorities Technical Assistance Priorities TUHWRP Priorities

Permitting Priorities

C. Emergency Response Program.. Page 13

1. Emergency Response Operations

OERS Response Reporting Highlighted Emergency Response Operational Incident New - Eastern Regions Emergency Response Overhead Team

2. Emergency Response Program Priorities for 2008 Page 15

D. Attachments Attachment I Technical Assistance Sites Visited Page 16 Attachment II HW Inspection Sites Visited.. Page 17

Attachment A Ha zardous Waste Complaint Investigation. Page 20 Attachment B Emergency Response Summary.. Page 23


4/24

EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE

& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT

____________________________________________________________________________________

5

A. The Eastern Region

The Departments Eastern Region encompasses eighteen counties with four staff

offices located in The Dalles, Bend, Hermiston and Pendleton. The DepartmentsHazardous Waste Staff ensure compliance with environmental regulations through

permits, technical assistance, periodic inspections, and enforcement actions againstviolators. Additional responsibilities include complaint investigations and response to

environmental emergencies from spills and accidents throughout the region. VisitEastern Regions Local Projects and Programs page to learn more about activities

within the Region (http://www.deq.state.or.us/er/localprojects.htm).

B. Hazardous Waste Program

The mission of the Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program is to protect public

health and the environment from adverse effects of improper handling of business-generated hazardous wastes. Since the adoption of the nations first pollution

prevention planning requirement in 1989, Oregons businesses are required tocontinuously reduce or eliminate toxic substance use, and therefore generate less

hazardous wastes.

The following Program results are for the period of January 2007 through December 2007

for the Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program and Emergency Response Operations.

1. Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance

The Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance Program for the Agency focuses ondeveloping and providing accessible, consistent, and specific information on

managing hazardous waste to the regulated community. The basis of theprogram is unique because of the strong educational, rather than regulatory

concentration designed to minimize businesses environmental liabilities.

Technical assistance is accomplished through announced visits at the request

of the generator, or through RCRA1

training seminars, phone consultations, andassistance in filing annual reports among other outreach efforts.

The Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program completed the year down one

complete hazardous waste technical assistance position.

1 RCRA stands for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations


5/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

6

Toxic Use Reduction & Pollution Prevention

The Nations first state law to mandate pollution prevention has undergone

recent streamlining changes. The Oregon State Legislature amendedOregons Toxic Use Reduction Act of 1989 in June 2005.

This past year brought the new reporting requirements to those businessesthat generate hazardous waste and must comply to minimize or reduce their

use of hazardous materials. For 2007 in the Eastern Region, 42 Oregonbusinesses were able to reduce their toxic use by 2,098,593 pounds and

their hazardous waste generation by 112,999 pounds. This was at a savings

of $670,815 to those businesses.

Telephone Technical Assistance

Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program staff received over 1,087generator calls for hazardous waste technical assistance in 2007. An

additional 120 (estimated) phone calls were received relating directlyto spills of hazardous materials and/or for clean-up consultations.

Most phone calls resulted in callers avoiding unnecessary steps by

providing information on how to properly manage or dispose of

generated hazardous wastes. Technical assistance also providesinformation on toxic alternatives, pollution prevention, cross programregulatory requirements, and inter-agency information.

Site Visit Technical Assistance

With reduced staff, the region conducted 21 technical assistance (TA)visits, of which five (5) were conducted at Large Quantity Generators

(LQGs). LQGs are businesses that generate more than 2,200 lbs ofhazardous waste and/or generate greater than 2.2 lbs of acute

hazardous waste in a month.

Each technical assistance visit is conducted in the same manner asregional compliance inspections, except without enforcement penalty

repercussions.

For success stories, please see the Programs website:http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/hw/p2successstories.htm.

For a complete list of sites visited, please see Attachment I.


6/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

7

Hazardous Waste Collection Events

The annual Conditionally Exempt Generator (CEG) hazardous wastecollection events for the region included the following sites: Klamath

County Fairground, Boardman & Lexingtons County Road Department,and the annual Bend Knott Transfer station. The events, typically co-

sponsored by local affiliates, continue to be well received in the smallercommunities of the Region where disposal options are limited.

This years three events safely manage 14,116 pounds of CEG

hazardous wastes that would otherwise go to local landfills. This is an

increase of two-times last years collections. The Departments newprocedure for selecting sites has resulted in the Eastern Region receiving

fewer, and more remote sites in 2007.

Good News! The Deschutes County Landfill will open their new permanent

Household (HHW) and CEG waste facility in February 2008.

A draft agreement will allow out-of-county participants to bringtheir wastes to the new permanent HHW/CEG facility currently only

servicing Wasco, Sherman & Hood River. The agreement will befinalized in 2008.

A tri-county permanent HHW/CEG facility is expected to service the

Wallowa, Union & Baker counties by Fall 2008. Two portablecollection trailers will service outlying areas of the three counties.

Targeted Waste Collection and Recycling

A mercury initiative by the Department, which began for the state in

2003, continues to focus on businesses who generate mercury waste(i.e. electrical, medical and dental offices).

Over 1,492 pounds of mercury-containing materials were collected atthe regions three CEG events. This was a landmark for the region.

Mercury wastes such as auto switches, medical gauges, thermostats,thermometers, and elemental mercury, were collected at no charge to the

generator again this year. The vast majority of the mercury-containingitems were spent fluorescent tubes that were accepted for a small fee.


7/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

8

Hazardous Waste Trainings

The Eastern Region annually conducts trainings for the regulated

community on the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA) regulations and guidance. Five trainings were conducted

that reached over 132 individuals. The trainings included BasicHazardous Waste Management, Managing Common Wastes &

Universal Wastes, Pesticide Residue Management, Spills ResponseManagement, site-specific trainings focused on a facilitys specificwaste streams, as well as other requested customized trainings.

For 2007, the hazardous waste regulatory trainings were held at the

following locations within the region: Bend, Pendleton, and Ontario.

2. Compliance Inspection Program Summary

For 2007, a total of31 inspections and 67 complaint investigations were

conducted that resulted in 30 enforcement actions for the Eastern Region.Compliance visits increased by 30% for the region.

Hazardous Waste Inspections

Hazardous waste inspections are drop-in visits designed to view

businesses in their normal operation to determine if they are currentlyin compliance with state and federal hazardous waste regulations. The

Regions compliance inspections also focus on ways to reduce the useof hazardous materials and generated hazardous wastes through

product substitution suggestions or by recommending bestmanagement practices in handling their wastes.

The region accomplished a total of98 compliance inspections (includes

complaints)throughout the region, which comprised eleven LargeQuantity Generators (LQG) of hazardous waste, ten Small Quantity

Generators, and four Treatment, Storage & Disposal (TSD) complianceinspections.

The remaining facilities inspected were Conditionally Exempt Generators,

which make up 80% of the regions facilities (i.e. businesses that generateless than 220 pounds of hazardous waste a month).

For a complete list of inspections, please see Attachment II.


8/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

9

Treatment, Storage & Disposal (TSD) Inspections

A comprehensive compliance Operation and Maintenance Inspection(OMI) was conducted at the Chemical Waste Management of the NW

facility as a joint inspection with the operator, the Departmentsregional hazardous waste staff and Department lab personnel.

Groundwater sampling procedures were observed to help determinecompliance with the facilitys Permit, and Sampling & Analysis Plan forgroundwater monitoring. The OMI compliance inspection found

Chemical Waste Management in Arlington to be in compliance.

In addition to the OMI, two Compliance and Enforcement Inspections(CEI) for Chemical Waste Management were also completed. CEI

inspections generally concentrate on compliance with the facilitys permitrequirements and current State and Federal hazardous waste regulations.

No violations were noted in either inspection. Onsite review addressed

the following areas: site security, container management, contingencyplanning, new cell unit construction, and status of wastes received.

Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigations

Many times the only Agency contact for some individuals is through ahazardous waste complaint investigation. Complaint investigations are

conducted as hazardous waste inspections, focusing on hazardousmaterial discharges and/or mismanagement of hazardous wastes.

The investigation may also address any obvious health and safety

hazards observed at the site. Cross program compliance issues, ifobserved will be included in the referrals and notification sent to the

appropriate programs.

Hazardous Waste Enforcement Actions

Like many states, the Department uses a compliance strategy that

includes both enforcement and non-enforcement tools. Permits,facility inspections, as well as technical assistance and trainings help toencourage compliance among the regulated community. However, for

those generators who choose not to comply with the hazardous waste

regulations, formal enforcement follows with possible penalties.


9/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

10

This years hazardous waste inspections and complaint investigations

resulted in: 22 warning letters (WL) of non-compliance , 8 pre-enforcement notification (PEN) referrals to the Departments Office of

Compliance & Enforcement for Civil Penalty and Consent Order (CPCO),and 4 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) referrals for non-state

authorized programs: Spills Prevention, Control and Countermeasures(SPCC), and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA).

Nine of the inspections included cross program violations (i.e. Solid

Waste, Tanks, Water Quality, and Air Quality) including two site referralsto the State Cleanup Program for follow-up site remediation.

Highlighted Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation Story

See Attachment: A HW Complaint Investigation: D.B. Western News Release

3. Statewide Permitting

The Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program has the responsibility for allstatewide hazardous waste TSD permitting activities with the exception of the

Umatilla Chemical Depot, which is managed through the DepartmentsChemical Demilitarization Program located in Hermiston, Oregon.

A hazardous waste or RCRA permit is required by all facilities that plan to

treat, store or dispose (TSD) of hazardous wastes, and are typically issued tofacilities specializing in commercial hazardous waste management services.

However, in Oregon there is only one current permit holder for the Statesonly hazardous waste management disposal facility, which is in Arlington.

The permit, once issued, is a legally binding site-specific document thatestablishes the waste management activities, facility design and operation.

Permits typically require facilities to develop emergency plans, providefinancial assurance, train employees proper management of hazardous waste,

and could include requirements such as ground water monitoring.

This past year the focus was on continued permitting of the Chemical WasteManagement site located in Arlington, and continued post-closure activities at

the following inactive sites: Lockheed Martin (The Dalles), Permapost ProductsCompany, Inc (Hillsboro), and Baron Blakeslee (Portland).


10/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

11

Hazardous Waste Permit Renewals and Modifications

When a permitted facility changes its hazardous waste managementprocedures, operations or the waste it handles, the facility is required to

obtain a permit modification.

For modifications that significantly change facility operations, the public mustreceive notice and have a chance to participate and comment on the permit

modification request. The following sites had recent hazardous waste permitwork:

Chemical Waste Management of the NW - Arlington

Since the reissue of the permit in August 2006, two significant permit

modifications have taken place, and are summarized below:

A permit modification requested changes to the groundwatermonitoring system and implemented groundwater protection

standards.

The new monitoring approach includes protecting groundwater quality

by minimizing well installation and monitoring activities near potentialvapor-phase sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while still

providing early warning of releases.

A permit modification requested the use of a groundwaterprotection standards (alternative concentration limits) be applied at

the facility to evaluate whether detected concentrations of one ormore hazardous constituents in the groundwater could potentially

pose adverse impacts to the local groundwater. The modification isexpected to be finalized in February 2008.

Chemical Waste Management of NW - Other Permit Work

Other permit work submitted for the Chemical Waste facility included:

Use of landfill leachate as a dust suppressant within the landfill wassubmitted and final modification approved in July.


11/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

12

Operation of a new wastewater treatment unit (WWTU) was

submitted and conditionally approved in November. TheDepartment requested review prior to operational start up. The

former WWTU is in the formal closure process currently.

The upgrading of Pond Liner B was submitted and temporaryauthorized in October. The upgrade is completed and certification

is pending Departmental approval.

Other Regional Hazardous Waste Permit Work

Safety-Kleen Clackamas

Ability to manage F004 hazardous wastes was reviewed and issued. Past inspection issues were discussed, and paperless manifest resolved.

Permapost Products Company Inc Hillsboro Post Closure Permit renewal is in the final stages of completion.

The permit issuance is projected for early 2008.

Baron Blakeslee (aka Honeywell) Portland Permit renewal is targeted to be completed fall of 2008.

Lockheed Martin The Dalles Authorization granted on innovative bio-treatment, which injects nutrients

into the ground water to break down the cyanide-containing wastes.

Coordinated discussions with EPA and landowners regarding thedecommissioning of neighboring Northwest Aluminum and landfill.

Financial Assurance Permit Work

EPA conducted reviews of financial assurance for Oregons hazardouswaste facilities, which resulted in DEQ issuing three deficiency letters

to bring the facilities into compliance.

4. Hazardous Waste Program Priorities for 2008

One of the challenges that face the program through the years is identifying thelevel of risk resulting from improper hazardous waste management, and

measuring the impacts the program has made in reducing such risk. This datahas lead to the refinement of the 2008 program priorities.


12/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

13

Compliance Priorities

Large Quantity Generators, Small Quantity Generators and SignificantNon-compliant facilities will continue to be a priority within the region.

Complaints will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Technical Assistance PrioritiesSite visits, group training and outreach mailings will focus on auto

body shops. As time allows, the following sectors will continue to beaddressed: medical and dental labs, as well as medical clinics.

TUHWRP Priorities

Toxic use reduction program will continue to focus on new generators,

and utilization of the on-line TUR reporting tool.

Permitting PrioritiesPermit modifications, renewals and new hazardous waste permit work

will continue throughout the state. Sites where permit work is inprogress include Chemical Waste Management of the NW, Permapost

Products, Baron Blakeslee and Lockheed Martin, Inc.

C. Emergency Response Program

Typically, the Department receives almost half of all statewide incident calls reported

to all state agencies via the Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS). TheDepartments Statewide Spill Program staff provide on-site oversight to about a third

of all spills reported through OERS. The rest, typically minor spills, are monitoredthrough telephone contacts with the responsible party and responders.

Prevention and preparedness are also critical Response program activities. Large

amounts of hazardous materials are routinely transported throughout Oregon,making the potential for spills very high. Spills can pose a major threat to Oregon's

land, air, water, and wildlife.

Subsequently, the Departments Program coordinates unified drills throughout theyear with other state and local agencies to further increase incident readiness. In

addition, the program also coordinates removal of drug lab materials, which wouldotherwise present a risk to the general public.


13/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

14

1. Emergency Response Operations

OERS Response

A noted increase in reported tanker spills (13%) for 2007, with mostinvolving tractor-trailer fuel spills averaging 150 -300 gallons per incident.

Reporting

For this reporting period, the Eastern Region spill staff responded to107 incidents. Notable responses included the following sites:Seimans Power Windmill failure, Taylor Aviation plane crash in Malheur,

Think Link Daycare mercury removal in Baker, PCB transformer release

in Hood River, Cinder Lakes Ranch formaldehyde cleanup in Powell

Butte, and Harris & Reinhards gasoline tanker fires in Crescent Lake andKlamath Falls simultaneously. Two near misses of train derailments

involved 22 train cars.

Highlighted Emergency Response Operational Incident

An example of the Departments Emergency Response actions and the

coordination that takes place between the responsible party,contractors, and State and Federal agencies is best described in

Attachment: B Hazardous Emergency Response Spill Harris Tanker.

Good News! Eastern Regions Emergency Response Overhead TeamLast summer the Eastern Region had two major tanker spills that

proved the region did not have the essential trained staff or thenecessary resources to respond to two large spills simultaneously.

As a direct result, the region has newly formed the Eastern Regions

Emergency Response Overhead team. Currently in development, it willensure the region has trained staff and the capability to respond to allincidents in the region as needed.

The team comprises of volunteering employees who with training, willserve in specific roles on large spill responses. Those roles include on-scene commander, back-up commander, documentation unit,

environmental unit, trailer operations, and cleanup technician amongothers.

Training for the staff will include HAZWOPER training, First Aid,

Emergency Response Trailer operations, tribal & cultural training,clean-up project manager, and incident command systems training.


14/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

15

The Departments Emergency Response trailer on location for a regional spill response.

2. Emergency Response Program Priorities for 2008

The Spills Program will continue to respond to each notification forwarded by theOregon Emergency Response System, as well as direct phone calls to assure

incident response meets Oregons regulatory standard.

The program will continue to establish outreach objectives with local

emergency response agencies for transparent lines of communication, datamanagement priorities, and consistent enforcement.


15/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

16

D. Attachments

Attachment I -

Technical Assistance Sites Visited

Generator Location Status

American Pine Products Prineville CEGBend Metro Park & Recreation District ** Bend CEGBend Research Pharma Process Dev, Inc Bend LQGCentral Oregon Regional Pathology, LLC Bend SQG

Chucks Auto Shop, Inc Bend CEGDeschutes County Department of Solid Waste Bend CEGGrande Ronde Hospital La Grande CEGJeld-Wen, Inc Klamath Falls LQG

Keith Manufacturing Company Madras CEGKingsley Field Air National Guard Klamath Falls LQGMarlette Homes Hermiston CEG

Marlow Pounds Ontario CEGNorthland Furniture Co LLC Bend CEGNorthwest Aluminum Company The Dalles LQGODOT Fleet Maintenance Shop ** Bend CEG

Omnicut, Inc. Elgin SQGRhino Enterprises Klamath Falls CEGSafety-Kleen Clackamas LQG

USDOE BPA Celilo Converter Station The Dalles CEGWaste-Pro La Grande CEGWoodgrain Millwork Prineville CEG

CEG = Conditionally Exempt Generator (Generates 220 lbs or less a month; or less than 2.2 lbs acute waste)SQG = Small Quantity Generator (Generates more than 220, but less than 2,200 lbs month)LQG = Large Quantity Generator (Generates more than 2,200 lbs a month; more than 2.2 lbs of acute waste)TSD = Transfer, Storage, and Disposal Permitted Facility** Voluntary Eco-logical Business Certification


16/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

17

Attachment II -

Hazardous Waste Inspection Sites Visited

Site City Status Affordable Auto Repair Madras CEG Aqua Glass Klamath Falls LQG Armer Residence Bend Not a Generator

Atherton Property (BNRR) Gateway CEGB. H. Workman & Sons, Inc Prineville CEGBaker Garage Inc. Baker City CEGBarone Holding LLC Hood River SQG

Beatty Residence Beatty Not a Generator

Beko Membrane Technology Bend SQGBi-Mart Ontario CEG

BNSF Railway Company Klamath Falls CEGBobs Excavation Klamath Falls CEGBonanza Property Bonanza Not a GeneratorBorello Jr. Property Sumpter CEG

Borello Property* Sumpter CEGBosen Carpet Cleaning Bend CEGBreeding Residence Milton-Freewater CEGCardoza Trucking Hermiston CEG

Carson Oil Company Hood River CEGCentral Oregon Electrostatic Refinishing Bend CEGChemical Waste Management of the NW(4)* Arlington TSD

City of Irrigon Irrigon CEGClarke Residence Redmond Used Oil GeneratorCollins Products LLC Klamath Falls SQGComposite Technologies Inc Hines LQG

Computerized Property Management Bend CEGCourt Street Motors, Inc. Pendleton CEGCPM Development Corporation Klamath Falls CEG

Culver Residence Culver Not a GeneratorD.B. Western/Cinder Lakes Ranch (2)* Powell Butte LQGDeMasters Residence Madras CEG

Deschutes Valley Equipment Terrebone CEGDisselbrett Property Hermiston CEGEagan Property Madras CEGElectro Scientific Industries Klamath Falls SQG

Epic Air LLC Bend CEGFontana Wood Products of Oregon, Inc. Redmond CEGFossil Body & Paint Shop Fossil CEGGriggs Auto Refinishing Bend CEG


17/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

18

Attachment II - continued


Site City StatusHertz Car Care Center Bend CEG

Home Depot 4031 Hermiston SQGHuey Property Sumpter Not a GeneratorJerrys Furniture Refinishing Klamath Falls CEG

JJs Auto Body Repair & Paint Alfalfa CEGJoe Floyd & Sons Prineville CEGKathryn Nicholoson DMD Klamath Falls CEGKeno Wrecker Keno CEG

Klamath Algae Products Klamath Falls CEGKlamath Cascade Group Klamath Falls CEGKolbe & Kolbe Millwork Oregon Division Bend SQGKralman Farms Milton-Freewater CEG

LaMoine Brant Powell Butte CEGLarrys Sandblasting Bend CEGLockheed Martin Corporation The Dalles SQG / TSD / OMI

Marks Auto Repair (Formerly Buds Auto) Madras CEGMartin Industrial Park Long Creek CEGMike Mitchel Homeowner Bend CEGMooneyham Residence La Pine Not a Generator

Mount Hood Forest Products Hood River CEGNegrete Property Bend Not a GeneratorNorthland Furniture Co LLC Bend CEG

Omnicut, Inc (2)* Elgin SQGPacific Power Products Redmond SQGParone Property (Dee Forest) Hood River CEGPoeskes Property La Pine CEG

Purcell Painting & Coatings (Public Works) The Dalles CEGRedmond Tallow Redmond CEGRick Davis La Pine CEGRick Digesti La Pine CEG

Ritchey Property Sumpter Not a Generator

Rivergate Farms Hermiston CEGRobert Brooks Painting & Contracting La Grande CEG

Roy Houck Construction Hampton CEGSandys Auto Repair Madras CEGSeaswirl Boats Inc. Madras CEGShell & Food Mart Klamath Falls CEG

Shevlin Sand & Gravel Bend CEG


18/24



____________________________________________________________________________________

19

Attachment II - continued


Site City StatusSisters Disposal Site Sisters CEGSmith Equipment & Welding Prineville SQGSmith Property Sumpter Not a Generator

Sprague River Property Sprague River CEGSuckay Property Redmond CEGThe Cabinet Shop Bend CEG

Toms Wrecking Yard Christmas Valley CEGToomies Tai Cuisine Bend CEGTreasure Valley Community College Ontario CEGUmatilla Chemical Disposal Facility Hermiston TSD

US Umatilla Chemical Depot (4)* Hermiston LQGWarfield Property La Pine CEGWash & Lube Bend CEG

CEG = Conditionally Exempt Generator (Generates 220 lbs or less a month; or less than 2.2 lbs acute waste)SQG = Small Quantity Generator (Generates more than 220, but less than 2,200 lbs month)

LQG = Large Quantity Generator (Generates more than 2,200 lbs a month; more than 2.2 lbs of acute waste)TSD = Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Permitted FacilityOMI = Operation and Maintenance Inspection

* = Multiple visits


19/24

Attachment A

Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation D.B. Western Inc. News Release

News ReleaseFor release: January 2, 2008

Contacts:Jeff Ingalls, Hazardous Waste Program, Bend, (541) 388-6146, ext. 238Jeff Bachman, Compliance & Enforcement, Portland, (503) 229-5950Phil Hodgen, Communications & Outreach, Pendleton, (541) 278 -4609

DEQ Issues Pre-Enforcement Notices for Multiple

Environmental Violations at Powell Butte Property

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

has issued two Pre-Enforcement Notices to North Bend residentDennis Beetham, owner of D.B. Western Inc., a company that

owns and operates formaldehyde and urea-formaldehydemanufacturing plants, for hazardous waste, solid waste, air

quality and water quality violations that occurred on his CinderLake Ranch property at 1299 NW McDaniel Road in Powell Butte.

The DEQ Eastern Oregon Hazardous Waste Programissued an initial notice to Beetham and D.B. Western on Sept.21, 2007 following DEQ inspections of the property in late

August and early September. DEQ then issued a second notice

to the parties on Nov. 28, 2007 after documenting additionalviolations during remediation activities at the property that tookplace beginning in October.

Remediation of formaldehyde reactors and burial pits.

20
http://www.deq.state.or.us/


20/24


21/24

Attachment A continued

Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation D.B. Western Inc. News Release

The notices stipulated corrective action timelines that D.B. Western has cooperatedin meeting. The remediation activities have corrected the majority of the violations;

however, DEQ has asked for D.B. Westerns continued cooperation to assurecontinued compliance. For additional information, contact Jeff Ingalls at DEQs Bendoffice, 300 SE Reed Market Road, Bend, OR 97702-2237 or (541) 388-6146, ext.

238.

D.B. Western will host a public meeting in Powell Butte to discuss the

issues in an open forum. Although a specific date has not been determined, themeeting is planned for early to mid-February 2008. For updated informationconcerning this meeting, contact attorney Rick Martson, the D.B Western

representative, at (503) 802-2005.

(Note: When DEQ identifies a serious violation of state laws or regulations, it issues a Pre-Enforcement Notice to

inform the responsible person or business that a civil penalty will likely be issued.)

Urea-formaldehyde embankment pit: Remediation activities at the ranch were completed with

confirmatory sampling in all excavations resulting in non-detect analytical sampling results.

22


22/24

Attachment B

Emergency Response Harris Transport Fuel Tanker Accident

The tanker erupted into flames, triggering a forest fire on both sides of Highway 58.

Want to know more about how DEQ responds to spill events?

By Jeff ChristensenThe recent Crescent Junction tanker truck incident exemplifies a DEQ success story in respondingto a fiery spill event and demonstrates the potentially severe impacts that can result from releases

of petroleum products and other hazardous substances.

On Thursday, July 26, a tanker truck carrying 10,300 gallons of gasoline burst into flames andexploded near Crescent Lake, Oregon in northeast Klamath County. Although the Harris TransportCompany driver involved in the incident escaped without injury, the vehicle explosion triggered aforest fire on both sides of Highway 58. Quick action by a local fire department and USFS FireCrews prevented the fire from impacting the surrounding residents and community.

23

Inside DEQEmployee Newsletter - Issue #79

September 2007

DEQ Employs Multi-Regional Response to

Crescent Lake Tanker Spill


23/24

Attachment B continuedEmergency Response Harris Transport Fuel Tanker Accident

Most of the fuel burned during the fire; however, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 gallons ofgasoline seeped into soils adjacent to the highway. DEQ staff responded quickly to beginthe process of assessing potential environmental and economic impacts and to begin theprocess of excavating contaminated soils.

The presence of a fiber optic cable made the excavation extra challenging.

The on-site team succeeded with no disruption to fiber optic communications.

DEQ's On-site Response

Eastern Regions David Anderson (Bend office), Wes Gebb, and Geoff Brown fromthe Western Regions Eugene office arrive Thursday afternoon.

Initial State On-Scene Coordinator, Wes Gebb, holds an incident briefing Thursdayafternoon to establish an incident response Unified Command and a plan for Fridaysoperational activities.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and private contractors hired byODOT and Harris Trucking continue to arrive throughout the evening.

The truck wreckage is removed around 11 p.m. Thursday evening.

DEQs emergency response trailer is dispatched from Portland and arrives earlyFriday to support the growing Unified Command Structure and technical supportstaff. Jeannette Freeman and Mike Renz from the Eastern Regions Bend office also

arrive Friday morning.

Excavation activities begin around 5:30 a.m. Friday. The soils are placed in a USFS-owned gravel pit four miles north of the wreck site. Sample analysis received on daythree of the incident documented that the soils were not hazardous waste and couldbe managed as typical solid waste.

DEQ Western Region resources (Gebb and Brown) are demobilized from the site Friday

evening. For the balance of the response, Mike Renz serves as State On-SceneCoordinator, with technical assistance from David Anderson (environmental unit) andJeannette Freeman (trailer and communications support and documentation specialist). 24


24/24

eastern oregon hazardous waste cleanup report 2007

Documents