SITE ENTRY PLAN FOR WHITNEY BARREL CO. INC.SITE ENTRY PLAN
Woburn, Massachusetts
Submitted to: Robert Young, FITL Ecology and Environment, Inc. Fit Team, Region I
Submitted by: David Cook, Project Leader Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E &E) FIT Team, Region I
Date Submitted: · November 4. 1980
c:r.c ::1 • z Ico 0 !!.!:!:CD'=! ;::;:~ • nl~'< • • !'!'
-o-na ..,. .... __...............1 a..:r ., ....
)
Address: 256 Salem Street Woburn, MA. 01801
Telephone: 933-4520
6 - 1
I I
~ I I
1. Purpose of Inspection:
To gather information necessary to determine the potential for RCRA and/or 311/104 Clean Water Act actions regarding Whitney Barrel Company, Inc., Salem Street, Woburn, Massachusetts operations.
2. Objective:
To conduct an on-site investigation of Whitney Barrel Company, Inc. property in order to locate evidence of contamination, identify possible contaminants and collt t appropriate samples for screening and analysis.
3. Background:
3.1 Description:
Whitney Barrel Company, Inc. is located on the northern side of Salem Street in East Woburn, on lot #37, and comprises 2.67 acres of land. The property is bordered by Murphy's Waste Oil Company to the west, Aberjona Auto Parts, Inc. and the MDC/City of Woburn sewer easements to the east, Salem Street to the south, and property owned by J. J. Riley, Inc. to the north. Figure I depicts the site from an aerial photograph taken in 1966. Vegetation bordering the site does not appear to be stressed.
The site is characterized by one large building where reconditioning takes place. The building is surrounded by randomly scattered trailers, drums and tanks up to 5,000 gallon capacity as well as a wide variety of machinery. Housekeeping on site is very poor.
6 - 2
im age
is less clear than this notice. it Is due to the quality of the docum
ent belna film
o •
• 014
!!.
~ '. ,_, .
·' ro
& 'ia
~· .....,.11 ,"'>:.~'
• 'f: ,..., .... ~:-··f-..~ , ' ,~1
~~:A.~ ,...... .
.. :1'~,_\.~J r
· Ji..~ .. ): .~~~~~~·-~~·~" ·t)···; J ·~· .Ji~tt~.~:.:::~~\ ~~,,r.~:\t~• : , 0~- ~·~':";\ {\~''(rl~~~a~~~\~r~.i~:~~~~. • • '
. ..a'i"l
- f11111
,, ,.-.. ,~...,.J ..c. o........
'""0·~· · • · . "l 'c~--, ,
~;~~1.~· ~ l~~~ ~ , .. ~"~~~
·~
r.{ .. . {
I ~ :
3.2 Primary Site Activity:
A telephone interview between Richard DiNitto of Ecology and Environment, Inc. and John Whitney, the owner of Whitney Barrel Company was conducted to gather information about the site. Mr. Whitney said that he bought the property in 1,49 for the purpose of operating a drum, boiler, tank, and machinery reconditioning company. Today, as in the past, their main source of material comes from the food industry. All barrels, tanks, boilers, etc., are washed out on-site, using boiling water and a scouring agent, trisodium phosphate (TSP). Mr. Whitney stated that his company once used caustic soda in addition to TSP, but could not recall how long . ago it was since they last used caustic. The TSP used in the washing is bought in 100-pound bags and stored _in 55-gallon steel drums. Mr. Whitney also stated that he does not store any containers on his property other than' those which undergo reconditioning. All barrels and drums, etc. received contain no 1iquid or solid materials according to Mr. Whitney.
3.3 Secondary Site Activity:
3.4 Hazards Identified or Alleged:
No complaints have been received either by the Woburn Board of Health or by the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering's (DEQE) Division of Enforcement concerning on-site activity. However, the Attorney General's office is currently investigating a case against Whitney Barrel Company for dumping waste water into the Metropolitan District Conrnission (MDC) sewer manhole that abutts the northern portion of Whitney Barrel's property. They have also been sited for storing various chemicals, and for various chemical and oil spills on site.
6 - 4
3.4 Hazards Identified or Alleged - continued
During two perimeter surveys carried out by E &E personnel on October 13, and 20, 1980, it was noted that the property owned by Whitney Barrel Company takes on the appearance of a junk yard {See Figures 2 and 3). There are many containers on-site that are stacked three to four containers high and are severely rusted. There are also numerous pieces of machinery and trailers in various stages of deterioration. It was noted on October 13 that a strong volatile smell was emanating from the property.
The manhole at the rear of the property is very accessible for the dumping of wastes. Exfiltration from the associated sewer may be responsible for groundwater contamination.
As no information .is available regarding specific chemicals stored or disposed of on-site, one must assume that toxic and hazardous materials are present. This must be accounted for in the site safety plan.
The general lack of housekeeping will result in physical hazards which must be carefully considered during an on-site inspection.
4. Concept of Operation:
Background information for this report and the preliminary assessment was gathered and prepared by Richard DiNitto of Ecology and Environment, Inc.
A five-person team will enter the site to identify the nature of materials stored on-site, investigate possible sources of contamination
and take appropriate samples for analysis. The following instruments will be used during the visit to delineate potentially hazardous areas
6 - 5
. --....
Figure 2: Photograph taken on October 13, 1980 of Whitney Barrel's operation looking north from the west side of the property
E m r­ 0 0..
Figure 3: Photograph taken on October 13, 1980 of Whitney Barrel's operation looking north from the east side of the property
recycled paper "'olo11~ and ~nvlronm~nt . lnr.
"
- -. )
and screen samples:
2. Explosimeter
Suggested sampling points for this site are:
1. Any full or partially full drums or tanks from which a sample ' can be taken without forceable entry,
2. Any standing liquid,
3. Soils which appear to be saturated with any unknown substance,
4. The liquid and sediment from the manhole at the rear of the property.
All sampling locations should be screened with the Century organic vapor analyzer (OVA) to reduce the number of analyses required. Any
locations found, upon screening, to contain volatiles or chlorinated hydrocarbons should be sampled by taking three 40 ml. VOA vials (two
full and one headspace). The vials will be taken to the EPA regional Lab in Lexington, Massachusetts for further screening and analysis.
5. Logistics and Site Set-Up:
No specialized logistical requirements are necessary for entry
into this site. Figure 4 shows the location of the command post,
6 - 7
.. Fiaure-4: Locations of hot line, \·----­
\ '
" - -)
5. Logistics and Site Set-Up - continued
decontamination station and hot line for the site. Arrangements have been made with Mr. William Boutwell, co-owner of Aberjona Auto Parts, for the location of the decontamination area a~d command post on his property. All disposable materials and decon solutions will be placed in a ~5-gallon drum labelled "E & E decon" and left on site. Arrangements are being made with a local carrier for the pick-up and disposal of the drum and its contents.
6. Team Organization and Task Assignments:
6.1 Site Entry Team:
The site entry team will consist of the following five people:
David Cook Richard DiNitto Lori Fucarile Glenn Smart Paul Clay
Site Entry Team Leader Assistant Team Leader/Work Party Safety/Documentation Equipment/Work Party Work Party/Sampling
I '
6.2 Schedule of Events:
The site entry team will be briefed on the day before site entry. The briefing will include review of appropriate data obtained during the preliminary site assessment, for the purpose of making the team aware of any potential hazards. The briefing will focus the team's attention on questions raised by the preliminary site assessment. Following the briefing, there will be an equipment check-out.
6 - 9
6.2 Schedule of Events - continued
The following is a proposed schedule of events for the site entry:
0900 - Arrive at site, establish command post, set up decon and final equipment checkout. Site entry team leader conducts interview with site representative and determines requirements for duplicate samples and/or photographs.
0945 - Site entry team leader gives final briefing, checks hot-line set-up, work party equipment and wind direction.
1000 - Work party enters site and investigates barrel washing and· reconditioning process inside main building. Sampling of rinse water. Work party will monito~ explosivity, oxygen content, and volatile content of the air continuously.
1030 - Work party begins inspection of property surrounding the main building to locate illegally stored materials, spills, leakages, contaminated soils and manholes. Appropriate samples will be taken, and the team will continue to monitor explosivity, oxygen content and volatile content of air enroute.
1130 - Work party discusses findings, and team evaluates the need for further on-site measurements or additional sampling.
1145 - Work party re-enters site, if necessary, for additional characterization and/or sampling.
1215 - Equipment decontamination and breakdown of hot line.
1245 - Site inspection complete - team returns to headquarters.
7. Site Safety Plan:
See Append ix A.
Im age
Ia le11 cliar than thla notice. It Ia due to the quality of the docum
ent belna film