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CARIBE HOME CENTRE CHRISTINSTED, ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS ADMINISTRATIVE -RECORD FILE INDEX OF DOCUMENTS 8DM8 Document 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111 114874 1.0..: FACTUAL INFORMATION/DATA 1.3 POLREPs P. P. 100001- 100002 100003- 100005 Pollution Report Two (2), Removal Action, Caribe Home Center, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, prepared by Mr. Mark Pane, OSC, Removal Action Branch, U.S. EPA, Region II, Recipients: See Distribution List, April 10, 1990. Pollution Report One (1), Removal Action, Caribe Home Center, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, prepared by Mr. Mark P. Pane, OSC. Removal Action Branch, U.S. EPA, Region II, Recipients: See Distribution List, February 26, 1990. 2.0 DECISION DOCUMENTS 2.2 Action Memoranda & Amendments P. 200001- 200006 Request for Removal Action Approval at the Caribe Home Center Site, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Action Memorandum, to Mr. Stephen D. Luftig, Director, Emergency and Remedial Response Division, U.S. EPA, Region II, from Mr. Mark P. Pane, On-Scene Coordinator, Removal Action Branch, U.S. EPA, Region II, through Mr. Richard C. Salkie, Associate Director for Removal and Emergency Preparedness Programs, U.S. EPA, Region II, February 5, 1990. (Attached: Figure I, Location Map, Caribe Home Center, undated.) U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Region II, Removal Action Branch DATE: April 10, 1990 TO: S. Luftig, EPA R. Salkie, EPA W. Mugdan, EPA G. Pavlou, EPA G. Zachos, EPA POL REP NO.: SITE NO.: INCIDENT NAME: DELIVERY ORDER NO: POLLUTANT: LOCATION: POLLUTION REPORT Two (2) 5 G P. Gelabert, EPA A. Smith, DCCA J. Lee, DOl ERD, Washington, (E-Mail) TAT Caribe Home Center 7445-02-074 Flammable Solvents, Paint Waste Materials and Pesticides St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands AMOUNT: NPL STATUS: Approximately 740 containers (various sizes) NON-NPL RESPONSE AUTHORITY: CERCLA ACTION MEMORANDUM: Approved START DATE: March 13, 1990 I. RESPONSE INFORMATION A. Situation The Caribe Home Center (CHC) is an active facility located at the intersection of the Melvin Evans Highway and Route 70 on the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The main office and supply building were destroyed by Hurricane Hugo on September 19, 1990. Currently, the owners are operating out of a temporary work area until reconstruction is completed. The entire stock of warehouse materials were staged in the center of what was the warehouse floor. This area is an open lot with no protection from sunlight or additional rain. Many of the containers were leaking and mixing together. The materials were stabilized, and with the assistance of the owner, placed in a secure area of the facility for storage. EPA became involved with this site following its FEMA mission assignment to identify and provide technical assistance to real and potential hazardous waste problems in the Virgin Islands. Three other removal actions, numbers 5H, 5J and 5K, are being conducted simultaneously on St. Croix for the same reason. Waste materials from each of these sites will be combined, where possible, and disposed of for maximum cost efficiency. B. Actions Taken On April 13, 1990, EPA met with the V.I. Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner and obtained his permission utilize one of the buildings on the facility as a repository until final disposal is arranged. This building is secure and to removed from the working population at the facility. 10 001 On April 13, 1990, EPA met with the owner of the CHC and inspected the 4 overpack drums of material which had been secured there on 1/25/90. The overpacks were in good condition and ERCS transported them to the repository on the VIDA facility. C. ~ Steps Information and sampling analyses obtained during the removal assessment will be used to obtain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). The MSDS will in turn be used to complete the waste profiles necessary to dispose of these materials. Once a disposal firm has been selected, the material will be prepared for shipment and disposal. D. K.suL Issues On April 13, 1990, it was noted that other paint related material which CHC was trying to sell was still lying about the facility. These materials showed signs of leakage and were in areas of easy access. The owner was notified that this material should be secured or properly disposed of. Should this material remain in its current state when EPA undertakes its final removal, it may be included as part of that removal to prevent the owner from improperly disposing of it. The logistical problems with conducting any type of action on St. Croix are numerous due to the long term damage caused by hurricane Hugo. As a result, EPA anticipates that disposal may take 6 months to execute. II. G.Q.S.T. INFORMATION Amount Cost Amount Budgeted To Date Remaining (%) ERCS Contractor $ 39,000 $ 1, 160 $ 37,840 (97%) TAT $18,000 $ 1,972 $16,028 (89%) EPA $ 29,000 $ 900 $ 28,100 (97%) Contingencies $ 8,550 $ 0 $ 8,550 (100%) TOTAL $ 94,550 $ 4,032 $ 90,518 (96%) FURTHER POLREPS M AJ 4 FINAL POLREP ____ FORTHCOMING X SUBMITTED BY r rW~ DATE RELEASED N(l\L lO Iq~Q I Mark Pane, OSC Removal Action Branch BY ____________________ _ Joseph Rotola, OSC Removal Action Branch 100002 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Region II, Removal Action Branch DATE: February 22, TO: S. Luftig, EPA R. Salkie, EPA W. Mugdan, EPA G. Pavlou, EPA G. Zachos, EPA POLREP NO.: SITE No.: INCIDENT NAME: DELIVERY ORDER NO: POLLUTANT: POLLUTION REPORT 1990 P. Gelabert, EPA \ A. Smith, DCCA J. Lee, DOI One (1) 5 G ERD, TAT Caribe Home Center 7445-02-074 Washington, Flammable Solvents, Paint Waste Materials and Pesticides (E-Mail) LOCATION: AMOUNT: NPL STATUS: st. croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Approximately 740 containers (various sizes) NON-NPL RESPONSE AUTHORITY: CERCLA ACTION MEMORANDUM: Approved by Division Director I. INCIDENT INFORMATION A. TY2..§. of Incident The Caribe Home Center (CHC) is an active facility located at the intersection of the Melvin Evans Highway and Route 70 on the island of st. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The main office and supply building were destroyed by Hurricane Hugo on September 19, 1990. Currently, the owners are operating out of a temporary work area until reconstruction is completed. EPA became involved with this site following its FEMA mission assignment to identify and provide technical assistance to real and potential hazardous waste problems in the Virgin Islands. The entire stock of warehouse materials are staged in the center of what was the warehouse floor. This area is now an open lot with no protection from sunlight or additional rain. Many of the containers are leaking and mixing together. B. Preliminary Assessment Results EPA and TAT conducted a detailed site assessment on 1/25/90. A complete inventory was generated of all hazardous materials requiring disposal. Present on-site are over seven hundred (700) cans and bottles of various sizes containing flammable liquids, pesticides and waste paint related materials. Many of the containers showed signs of rust. 10000 C. situation The material was stabilized and with the assistance of the owner was placed in a secure area of the facility for storage. II. RESPONSE INFORMATION: A. Status of Actions The action memorandum requesting funds to undertake this removal action was approved by the Division Director on February 5, 1990. The NYCCB and ORC have been notified, however no enforcement activities are known to be under way at this time. The VI DPNR has provided logistical support during EPA activities and has offered to continue doing so as required. B. Next Steps Label information obtained during the preliminary assessment will be used to obtain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). The MSDS will in turn be used to complete the waste profiles necessary to dispose of these materials. The ERCS contractor has been activated and logistical plans to conduct the removal action are being formulated. The removal is scheduled for 2 phases. Phase I will be the stabilization of the material and preparing it for off site disposal. Phase II will be the actual shipment of material to the appropriate disposal facilities. Phase I should begin in early March, 1990. C. Key Issues The logistical problems with conducting any type of action on st. croix are numerous due to the long term damage caused by hurricane Hugo. As a result, EPA anticipates that Phase II may take 6 months to execute. III. COST INFORMATION Amount Cost Amount Budgeted To Date Remaining (%) ERCS contractor $39,000 $ 0 $39,000 (100%) TAT $18,000 $ 500 $17,500 (97%) EPA $29,000 $ 300 $28,700 (99%) Contingencies $ 8,550 $ 0 $ 8:550 (100%) TOTAL $94,550 $ 800 $93,750 (99%) 10 004 FINAL POLREP FURTHER PO LRE P S 1IltJ.. to l'IJ FORTHCOMING X SUBMITTED BY r.r~ Mark Pane, OSC Removal Action Branch DATE RELEASED fe.&~Uf\R'I 2.~ 'ClClO I BY ________ ~----~----------- Joseph Rotola, OSC Removal Action Branch o 0 DATE: CT: FROM: TO: 1HRU: UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY JAN 2 2 1990 REGION II Request for Removal Action Approval at the Caribe Horne center site, St. Croix, u.s. Virgin Islands - ACTION MEMORANDUM Mark P. Pane, On-Scene Coordinator ~~ Removal Action Branch Stephen D. Luftig, Director E~J:~nd Remedial Response Division ~~hard C. Salkie, Associate Director for Removal and Emergency Preparedness Programs Site/Spill-ID: 5G category of Removal: Time critical National Significance: Non-NPL I. ISSUE 5i)..J l/; On October 28, 1989, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a mission assignment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide technical assistance in responding to the Presidentially declared disaster in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This declaration was issued on September 20, 1989, as a result of damages caused by Hurricane Hugo. Unlike previous mission assignments with FEMA, this assignment tasked EPA to provide technical assistance to other Federal and Territorial Agencies.' To date, assistance provided has included such areas as: water supply and distribution, sewage treatment, air quality and general operations at debris burns, the cleanup of oil spills and the sampling of downed and damaged electrical transformers. While in the process of carrying out this broad range of responsibilities, EPA discovered that there was a need to investigate several locations suspected of handling small quantities of pesticides and hazardous substances. Upon visiting these locations, EPA confirmed the presence of several CERCLA designated hazardous sUbstances. After assessing the types, quantities and condition of materials present, it was determined that these sites were removal eligible, thereby meeting the criteria stipulated in Section 300.65 of the National Contingency Plan (NCP). This Action Memorandum requests authorization of $94,550, of which $39,000 is for mitigation contracting, to conduct removal activities at the Caribe Horne Center (CHC) site located on Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The CHC site is one of four sites determined to be removal eligible. Action Memoranda for the three other locations are being submitted under separate cover. REGION" FORM 132<r-1 (9/85) 00001 II. BACKGROUND A. site Description The CHC is located at the intersection of the Melvin Evans Highway and Route 70 on the island of st. Croix, U.s. Virgin Islands. The facility occupies approximately 120,000 square feet in a heavily populated section of the island (See Figure 1). The boundaries of the facility are outlined by a chainlink fence which has been breached in the northwest corner. Directly across from the site is the Sunny Isle Shopping Center which is normally crowded with tourists and natives as well. A service station and apartment building border the site on the west side and some 30 private homes are within a quarter mile radius of the site. The CHC facility was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo. The material which remains is currently scattered on a concrete pad which was originally the facility floor. Inspections of the facility confirmed that several containers of known hazardous sUbstances were leaking. The material is stored haphazardly and is exposed to direct sunlight and any rainfall which occurs. The material has no value as reusable product. The site is not on the NPL and has not received an HRS rating. Proposal for inclusion on the NPL is not anticipated. B. Incident/Release Characteristics The incident at the CHC facility occurred as a result of the 200 mile per hour winds of hurricane Hugo. These winds tore down the entire facility and exposed the materials contained within. The containers holding these materials were damaged by the rain water causing several of them to leak or break open. Many other containers, although not leaking, were seriously compromised from the rain. The winds which accompanied the rain scattered the containers about the facility resulting in various mixed piles of material. C. Quantities and Types of Substances Present The hazardous materials located at the CHC site are consistent with the materials used in the day to day operations of such a facility. The majority of the materials consist of acids, ketones and other solvent type waste. Substances identified at this' site which are designated as hazardous substances under CERCLA include, phosphoric acid, acetone and benzene. D. State and Local Authorities' Roles The current inability of the U.S. Virgin Islands government to 2 0002 mitigate the threat at the CHC facility is due in part to the emergency status which resulted from the hurricane. Additionally, the territorial government's shortage of financial and technical resources precludes their future involvement in any portion of the removal operation. E. other Actions to Date with the exception of the mitigative action recommended herein, no other action by any private or governmental organization is under way or planned. III. THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR WELFARE OR THE ENVIRONMENT At its present location, the hazardous material at the CHC site is no more than 100 - 200 feet away from an active shopping area which is heavily populated throughout the day and night. The material is in close proximity to the public and is not properly secured. Known hazardous substances have been identified to exist at the site, some of which are leaking. These materials are exposed to frequent rainfall and pose a significant threat to the public health and welfare as well as the environment. with the factors as described above, this site meets the criteria for a CERCLA response as listed in 300.65(b) (2) (i) (iii) (v). IV. ENFORCEMENT The present conditions at the CHC site make it imperative to stabilize as soon as possible. The EPA-RAB plans to undertake this removal action immediately following authorization of this request. Both the New York/Caribbean Compliance Branch (NY/CCB) and Office of Regional Counsel (ORC) have been notified on the status of this site. Should information become available that warrants enforcement activities, the NY/CCB and ORC will investigate it. Should timely and appropriate actions be undertaken by the Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs), all or any unused portion of the funds requested herein may not be utilized. V. PROPOSED ACTIONS AND COSTS The overall objective of this project will be to eliminate the threat of exposure to the surrounding population and environment. This objective will be best accomplished by first reducing the risk of exposure to the hazardous material through direct contact. Once these risks are reduced to an acceptable level, the ultimate disposal of the material can then be executed. 3 0000 The logistical problems associated with a removal being conducted in such a remote, and resource strained region, necessitate this removal action be conducted in two phases. Phase I will commence immediately upon approval of this memorandum and will serve to reduce the immediate threat of all hazardous material. Phase II will be the actual removal and disposal of the hazardous materials. B. Estimated Costs Summary of Costs Extramural Costs Extramural Cleanup Contractor (includes ERCS, Mini-ERCS, Subcontractors, Letter Contracts, Alternative Technology Contracts, lAGs with other Federal agencies, etc.) 20% contingency of ERCS Costs TAT costs CLP Analytical Services ERT/REAC subtotal Extramural Cost 15% Contingency of above costs (rounded) Total Extramural Cost Intramural Costs Intramural Direct Labor (HQ, ERT, Region) Intramural Indirect Costs TOTAL PROJECT CEILING ESTIMATE Estimated Costs $ 32,500 $ 6,500 $ 18,000 $ 57,000 $ 8,550 $ 65,550 $ 29,000 $ 94,550 VI. EXPECTED CHANGE IN THE SITUATION SHOULD NO ACTION BE TAKEN OR ACTION DELAYED The material is in a state of abandonment with no plans for proper disposal. Should the proposed actions be delayed, the risk of exposure to the nearby population via direct contact or groundwater contamination will increase. Except for the action proposed here, no other government agency plans to properly mitigate this Site. 4 o 004 VII. RECOMMENDATION The present conditions at the CHC site meet the criteria for a removal action as specified in the NCP section 300.65(b) (2). I, therefore, recommend your approval of this memorandum so as to provide timely initiation of response actions for mitigation of the threat described herein. The estimated project ceiling for this removal is $94,550, of which $39,000 is for mitigation contracting. There are sufficient monies in our current Advice of Allowance to fund this project. Please indicate your approval and authorization of funding, per current Delegation of Authority, by signing below. APPROVAL: ~(~ ]) . ( v I Stephen ~ Luftig, Directcpr r Emergency and Remedial Response Division Z (\' /,- DATE: / (G DISAPPROVED: DATE: __________________ _ Stephen D. Luftig, Director Emergency and Remedial Response Division cc: (after approval is obtained) C. Sidamon-Eristoff, RA W. Muszynski, DRA K. Callahan, ERR-DD R. Salkie, ADREPP G. Zachos, ERR-RAB G. Pavlou, ADNYCP J. Marshall, 20EP E. Schaaf, ORC-NYCSUP R. Gherardi, OPM-FIN S. Anderson, PM-214F (EXPRESS MAIL) H. Crumpt OS-210 A. Smith, VIDPNR C. Moyik, 2ERR-PS L. Guarneiri, OS-210 (R2G) J. Rosianski, OEP P. McKechnie, IG D. Henne, TATL 5 o 005 l\:) o o o o OJ FIGURE I: LOCATION MAP CARl BE HOME CENTER ~KISlAND ST. CROIX CHRISTIANSTED .~ " CARIBE HOME CENTER