ecology and environment, IncInternational Specialists in the Environment

Cloverleaf Building 3, 6405 MetcalfOverland Park, Kansas 66202Tel: (913) 432-9961. Fax: (913) 432-0670

MEMORANDUMI

TO: Roy Crossland, EPA/DPO

FROM: Andrea Bond, E & E/TATM

THRU: Joe Chandler, E & E/TAIL'.

DATE: October 17, 1995

SUBJECT: Trip Report: Bio-Sure siteTDD: T07-9510-048PAN: EKS0416SCAEPA OSC: Jim Kudlinski

158946SUPERFUND RECORDS

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INTRODUCTION

The Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E & E), Technical Assistance Team (TAT) was tasked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region VII Emergency Planning and Response (EP&R) Branch, under Technical Direction Document (TDD) T07-9506-016, to assist with a preliminary removal assessment, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment) (KDHE), at the Bio-Sure site located at Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas. The trip report was completed under TDD T07-9510-048. TAT member (TATM) Andrea Bond was assigned as project manager. The EPA on-scene coordinator was Jim Kudlinski.

BACKGROUND

The Bio-Sure site is located at Forbes Field in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas (Figure 1: Site Location Map). The site is located in the SE 1/4, Section 6, Township 13 South, Range 15 East, in the south half of a warehouse. The site is approximately three blocks east of KDHE's office building 740 at Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas. The building is leased by the Metropolitan Transport Airport Authority (MTAA) to Million Air (owned by Robert and Wanda Zibel), which subleases to Ken Halbert, who is the sole owner of ChemCo and 70 percent owner of Challenger Products. Both ChemCo and Challenger Products are operated out of the building. Challenger Products formulates and sells Bio-Sure, a septic tank cleaner. ChemCo owns all of the chemicals located in the building. Halbert purchased the chemicals from high school labs and other organizations/individuals interested in liquidating unwanted chemicals, with the intent to re-sell them for profit. Challenger Products was investigated by EPA and TAT in November 1990, when KDHE requested assistance with assessment of possible Resource Conservation

AB/LJD 1 EKS0416SCA/9510048/F

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and Recovery Act (RCRA) storage violations. At that time Challenger Products had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and was in the process of moving from its former location at 3500 E. Seward to the current location at Forbes Field.

KDHE requested assistance from EPA in documenting and assessing the condition of chemical products/wastes at the Forbes Field location. KDHE was concerned that incompatible chemicals were being stored together 'at the warehouse.

SITE ACTIVITIES

June 21. 1995: TATMs Bond and Eric Nold, along with On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Jim Kudlinski, arrived at KDHE's main offices at Forbes Field to conduct a preliminary removal assessment and site reconnaissance at the Bio-Sure facility. KDHE personnel participating with the inspection included Ron Smith, Carol Misora and Paul Belt. KDHE briefed TAT and EPA on recent developments related to the site prior to touring the facility.

Air monitoring was conducted by TAT upon entry to the facility, but no concentrations above background were noted. TAT also inventoried the number of chemical containers stored in the large storage room and bermed solvent areas of the warehouse and in a small fenced in area south of the warehouse (Figure 2: Site Sketch Map). The inventory is listed in the table below.

TABLE Is INVENTORY

Fenced AreaLarge Storage RoomSolvent Area

55 gal. - 25 55 gal. - 6 ' 830 gal. - 1 >30 gal. - 40 --5 gal. - 2 <30 gal. - 30 17

23 boxes w/misc. smaller bottles and containers

In the chemical storage room, the chemicals were found to be stored alphabetically. Halbert estimated that most of the chemicals were 15-20 years old. He was unsure what chemicals were stored there, but said he believed the labels were accurate. An inventory of the chemicals had been conducted previously and a copy of that information was provided to the OSC by KDHE.

SUMMARY

TAT was tasked to assist EPA with a preliminary removal assessment at the Bio-Sure site located at Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas. TAT conducted air monitoring, inventoried large chemical containers, and photographically documented site conditions. EPA's legal staff is currently reviewing site information. Further action will depend on their findings.

AB/LJD 2 EKS0416SCA/9510048/F

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ATTACHMENTS

Figure 1: Site Location MapFigure 2: Site Sketch MapAttachment A: Photographic Record

AB/LJD 3 EKS0416SCA/9510048/F

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ecology and environment, IncOVERLAND PARK. KANSAS

Source:USGS 7.5 minute series, 1983

Wakarusa, KS Quad.

Prepared by Mark Mayo

Figure 1: Site Location Map September 1995

Garage

Door

MiscellaneousStorage

Area(no chemicals)

Large Storage Room

Miscellaneous Drums & Containers of Chemical

Fenced Storage

Area South of Building

ChemicalStorageRoom

Shelves filled with

Empty Office Cabinets

Containers Area

Counter

Formulating........Area for

Bib-SureCabinet

___with i

FlammableSolidsj

Several Corroded and

Material Spilled

on Floor

Bio-Sure Septic Tank Treatment

Containers

Other 1/2 of Building is Rented by

Another Business

a □Main Entrance Garage

Door

NOTTO SCALE

ecology and environment, inc.OVFRIAND PARK, KANSAS

BIO-SURETOPEKA, KS

Ecology & Environment Inc./TAT TDD# T07-9510-048 PAN# EKS0416SCA Prepared by TATM Mark Mayo September 1995

bsss.cdr Source: TAT Field LogbookANDREA BOND #2

Figure 2: Site Sketch

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