State Painting is an inoperative industrial painting company that had a contract to scour municipal water tanks using a blast media. As part of this work, the spent blast media was transported to a mixed residential/agricultural property and spread across the property. This material is being blown into nearby residential properties and potentially being washed into an adjacent wetland.  There are also several hundred abandoned drums and other containers containing hazardous substances on the property.

The State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) collected samples and performed several site inspections.  The UDEQ sample results indicate that the spent blast media contains total chromium as well as hexavalent chromium and that, in particular, the levels of hexavalent chromium exceed EPA's residential screening levels.  These results have been subsequently confirmed by independent sampling by the EPA. The State has been unable to facilitate remediation of the property and contacted USEPA’s Emergency Response Program for assistance.  EPA dispatched a Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) to the Site on May 2, 2018 and initiated response activities.

1. Determine the volume and disposal requirements of hazardous substances at the Site.

2. Develop the operational tactics required to remove the spent blast media as well as all abandoned drums and other containers of hazardous substances.

3. Develop a work plan and obtain access to the property to remove the hazardous substances.

4. Initiate public outreach activities.

EPA deployed a field crew to identify the nature and extent of hazardous substances on the property and determine the necessary logistics and resources for the response. The Federal On-Scene Coordinator is working closely with UDEQ and has contacted City and County stakeholders as well as nearby residents. A website has been created to distribute public information: https://response.epa.gov/statepainting.

EPA plans to facilitate the removal of hazardous substances from the property once the objectives of this investigation phase of the response have been met. EPA also plans to offer sampling to nearby property owners.

1. Obtain access to the property.

2. Inventory and prepare abandoned drums and containers containing hazardous materials for shipment to a disposal facility.

3. Prepare the property to facilitate excavation of the spent blast material.

4. Begin excavation of the spent blast material.

Access to the property was granted by the property owner in residence and the United States District Court in Salt Lake City, Utah for the remaining property owner who lives elsewhere.

 USEPA's Response Team inventoried the abandoned containers and drums and packaged them for shipment to a disposal facility.

 The Team worked with the property owner to remove or relocate vehicles, equipment and other materials found in the areas to be excavated. The Team excavated and removed the material nearest to daycare facility and began similar work in the back of the property. The Team used water and fencing to suppress the dust generated during this excavation and real-time dust monitors were deployed at the daycare and on the property to insure the effectiveness of this dust suppression. 

USEPA's Response Team will arrange for disposal of the abandoned containers and drums, continue the excavation and removal of the spent blast material from the property and restore drainage and cover materials (mainly vegetation and road base) on all disturbed areas.

1. Complete excavation of the spent blast material.

2. Perform confirmation samples after spent blast media excavated.

3. Prepare abandoned drums and containers containing hazardous materials for shipment to a disposal facility.

4. Restore drainage and cover materials.

5. Continue air monitoring.

6. Demobilize equipment.

USEPA's Response Team prepared the abandoned containers and drums and packaged them for shipment to a disposal facility.

The Team worked with the property owner to remove or relocate vehicles, equipment and other materials found in the areas to be excavated. The Team excavated and removed the material nearest to daycare facility and in the back of the property first. The Team used water and fencing to suppress the dust generated during this excavation and real-time dust monitors were deployed at the daycare and on the property to insure the effectiveness of this dust suppression. USEPA performed confirmation samples after spent blast material was removed to ensure the remaining soil was not contaminated. Continuous air monitoring was performed while removing spent blast media to ensure protection of the public and workers on Site.

The Team worked to restore the property by building retaining walls, re-sloping areas for drainage, re-installing fences, added erosion control measures, and seeding areas disturbed by the excavation.

The equipment will be demobilized at the end of this Operational Period.