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EPA: Hazardous waste site
cleaned up
By Michael V. Hannigan
Monitor Staff Writer
MALAKOFF–A representative with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
told Malakoff City Council members the cleanup of the hazardous waste
site on West Mitchum Street should be complete by early next week.
The report came during the council’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday
night.
EPA On-Scene Coordinator Mike McAteer told the council, “We’re just
about ready to finish up. We’ll probably have all the contaminated soil
out by Saturday and by next Tuesday be all done.”
McAteer also praised the city staff, including Director of Public Works
Tim Whitley, for their cooperation in cleaning up the site.
The site, at 312 West Mitchum St., is the former location of Triple B
Bumper Manufacturing, a metal plating business. A preliminary report by
the EPA in 2008 showed the building contained as many as 60 55-gallon
drums many containing unknown chemicals, and open vats containing
chemicals. According to the federal report, labels on the drums indicate
they originally contained chemicals used in the metal plating process,
including “nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nickel
chloride, chromium plating reagent and calcium hypochloride.”
Tuesday, McAteer told the council that approximately 38,000 gallons of
hazardous liquids and approximately 48,000 pounds of solid hazardous
materials and debris were taken away from the site. In addition, 28
truckloads of non-hazardous waste material were also taken out.
“The vats in there were in bad shape and everything went right through
the bottom and into the soil,” he said.
McAteer said that more than 550 samples were taken from the soil and the
concrete floor of the building, and “quite a few came up hot.”
McAteer said that what was mainly found were chromium and nickel, both
known carcinogens.
The site first came to the attention of general public in April after
Malakoff Fire Marshal Garris Strange declared the building to be
“immediately dangerous to life and health.”
Strange’s action spurred the EPA to come look at the site, but not for
the first time.
According to reports obtained by The Malakoff News, the EPA and the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) conducted an inspection
of the building on March 18, 2008. The reports state, “The exterior of
the facility building showed signs of heavy deterioration with open
drainage pathways allowing for offsite migration of contaminants.
Stained soils were visible around the perimeter of the building. During
the course of the investigation, EPA observed vehicle and pedestrian
traffic including small children in the shopping center and roads
adjacent to the facility.”
The reports go on to say, “The interior of the building shows further
signs of deterioration and poor housekeeping. The building houses 15
open top vats utilized in the metal plating process. These vats contain
various liquid and/or solid materials of unknown composition and are all
showing extensive signs of corrosion.”
The report was filed by EPA On-Scene Coordinator Eric Delgado. In April,
Delgado said the conditions at the site did not reach the level of “an
emergency response.”
A possible cleanup was also delayed by confusion over ownership of the
building; a problem that was later cleared up.
Man charged in Tool
fatality
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–Police have charged Jackie Ray Keith, 33, with
manslaughter in connection to a hit-and-run that resulted in a Tool
man’s death Nov. 30.
An evidence tampering charge was also added. Keith’s bonds total
$500,000.
District Attorney investigator Balde Quintanilla has been assisting the
Tool Police Department in working the case.
A 2000 model champagne-colored Chevy pickup that matched a witness’
description was located last week.
As the truck was processed for evidence, authorities found they could
link the pickup to evidence found near the spot where Hubert Oxendine
Jr., 52, was struck while walking on State Highway 274 just south of
Towering Oaks subdivision.
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Dale Blaylock ordered an autopsy.
A partial fingerprint was found matching that of Keith when run through
the Department of Public Safety’s database.
The manslaughter charge is a third-degree felony, as is tampering with
evidence.
The Texas Transportation Code directs drivers involved in an accident
that causes a death or injury to “immediately stop the vehicle at the
scene, or close to it as possible.”
Sounds of Christmas
Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
The Mabank High School Choir perform a very moving rendition of “Mary
Did You Know?” during its Evening in December concert Dec. 11 at the MHS
auditorium. The evening included the singing of many favorites and a
special performance by the Avanti Singers, ending with the audience
invited to join in singing a number of Christmas carols.
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