epa cleans up ozark circuits superfund site in springfield, mo

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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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...

epa cleans up ozark circuits superfund site in springfield, mo

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