epa cleans up ozark circuits superfund site in springfield, mo
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8/13/2019 EPA Cleans Up Ozark Circuits Superfund Site in Springfield, MO
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EPA Cleans Up Ozark Circuits Superfund Site in
Springeld, MO
By Shannon Bond
(Lenexa, Kan., Jan. 17, 2014) When the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR) referred the Ozarks Circuits site to the EPA in July of
2013, it was essential that the time-critical removal action begin as soon as
possible. After evaluating the site on July 18, and Aug. 8, 2013, EPA Re-
gion 7 initiated a 5 week removal process in Sept. that included not onlyhazardous waste removal, but debris cleanup as well.
Abandoned facilities like Ozark Circuits are usually found in poor condition, with a lot of de-
bris and sometimes structural damage that makes the cleanup complicated, at least initially. You
have to manage the cleanup carefully and systematically due to the risks of chemical exposures
or chemical reactions, said EPA On Scene Coordinator (OSC) Mike Davis.
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8/13/2019 EPA Cleans Up Ozark Circuits Superfund Site in Springfield, MO
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The circuit board manufacturer led a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in March of 2011, before
abandoning its 25,000 square footbuilding. The abandoned site was lled
with hazardous material that if spilled
or mixed, could have resulted in violent
reactions and the
release of toxic gases. This posed a
threat to businesses and residential
housing in the immediate area.
We appreciated the support of Springeld Public Works for helping us understand and prop-
erly assess and cleanup the wastewater treatment system at the facility, and the Springeld FireDepartment who brought decontamination water and checked on us whenever they had a call in
the area, Davis said.
EPA OSCs found over 150 drums, and more than 300 smaller containers full of hazardous
chemicals. Open process vats containing a variety of electroplating and electroless plating solu-
tions were spread throughout the building. In these containers, the OSCs found strong oxidiz-
ers; strong caustics; strong acids including commercial grade sulfuric, nitric, and phosphoricacids; ammables and ignitable waste; and water-reactive waste. There was also an on-site wastewater
treatment system comprised of several 1,000 gallon process tanks and one 3,000 gallon process tank,
EPA OSCs found over 150 drums, and
more than 300 smaller containers full
of hazardous chemicals.
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as well as large sub-slab concrete pits. Each tank contained liquids and sludge. EPAs removal
action ensured that aAll of this hazardous waste was safely contained and shipped off site for
proper disposal.
In addition to addressing the chemicals, the removal action also involved cleaning up and re-
moving all of the contaminated process equipment and vats, the wastewater treatment tanks and
pits, and disassembling the network of pipes
running throughout the building. After the
cleanup was nished, EPA OSCs met with
representatives from MDNR for a nal walk
through, and the site was turned back over to
the state for further soil and groundwater sampling.
Davis explained that abandoned sites like these pose a real threat to the community, especially
with neighborhoods right next door.
Plating shops are very similar, but what stands out about this one was the sheer volume of
hazardous waste. Im glad that MDNR brought this to EPAs attention, and that we
were able to work together to get the place cleaned up before someone got hurt in
there, Davis said.
...abandoned sites like these pose a
real threat to the community...