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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE

& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM


REPORT 2007
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program

Bend Office
300 SE Reed Market Road, Bend, Oregon 97702
541.388.6146; Fax 541.388.8283

Pendleton Office
700 SE Emigrant, Pendleton, Oregon 97801
541.276.4063; Fax 541.278.0168

Toll-free in Oregon 1.866.863.6668


http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/hw/index.htm

January 2008

For the complete story regarding the cover photo’s release of fuel, please see page 23.
Table of Contents

A. The Eastern Region ……………………………………………………………………….… Page 5


1. Regional Roles and Responsibilities
 Office Locations
 Regional Coverage
 Regional Website
B. Hazardous Waste Program …………………………………………………….…….…… Page 5
1. Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance
 Toxic Use Reduction & Pollution Prevention
 Telephone Technical Assistance
 Site Visit Technical Assistance
 Hazardous Waste Collection Events
 Targeted Waste Collection and Recycling
 Hazardous Waste Trainings
2. Compliance Inspection Program Summary……………………………..……… Page 8
 Hazardous Waste Inspections
 Treatment, Storage & Disposal (TSD) Inspections
 Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigations
 Hazardous Waste Enforcement Actions
 Highlighted Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation
3. Statewide Permitting…………………………………………………………….……… Page 10
 Hazardous Waste Permit Renewals and Modifications
 Other Regional Hazardous Waste Permit Work
4. Hazardous Waste Program Priorities for 2008….…………………………..… Page 12
 Compliance Priorities
 Technical Assistance Priorities
 TUHWRP Priorities
 Permitting Priorities
C. Emergency Response Program………………………………………………………..… Page 13
1. Emergency Response Operations
 OERS Response
 Reporting
 Highlighted Emergency Response Operational Incident
 New - Eastern Region’s Emergency Response Overhead Team
2. Emergency Response Program Priorities for 2008…………………………… Page 15
D. Attachments
 Attachment I – Technical Assistance Sites Visited……………… Page 16
 Attachment II – HW Inspection Sites Visited………………….…. Page 17
 Attachment A – Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation.… Page 20
 Attachment B – Emergency Response Summary……………..… Page 23
EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
____________________________________________________________________________________

A. The Eastern Region

The Department’s Eastern Region encompasses eighteen counties with four staff
offices located in The Dalles, Bend, Hermiston and Pendleton. The Department’s
Hazardous Waste Staff ensure compliance with environmental regulations through
permits, technical assistance, periodic inspections, and enforcement actions against
violators. Additional responsibilities include complaint investigations and response to
environmental emergencies from spills and accidents throughout the region. Visit
Eastern Region’s Local Projects and Programs page to learn more about activities
within the Region (http://www.deq.state.or.us/er/localprojects.htm).

B. Hazardous Waste Program

The mission of the Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program is to protect public
health and the environment from adverse effects of improper handling of business-
generated hazardous wastes. Since the adoption of the nation’s first pollution
prevention planning requirement in 1989, Oregon’s businesses are required to
continuously reduce or eliminate toxic substance use, and therefore generate less
hazardous wastes.

The following Program results are for the period of January 2007 through December 2007
for the Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program and Emergency Response Operations.

1. Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance

The Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance Program for the Agency focuses on
developing and providing accessible, consistent, and specific information on
managing hazardous waste to the regulated community. The basis of the
program is unique because of the strong educational, rather than regulatory
concentration designed to minimize businesses’ environmental liabilities.

Technical assistance is accomplished through “announced visits” at the request


of the generator, or through RCRA1 training seminars, phone consultations, and
assistance in filing annual reports among other outreach efforts.

The Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program completed the year down one
complete hazardous waste technical assistance position.

1
RCRA stands for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations
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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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Toxic Use Reduction & Pollution Prevention

The Nation’s first state law to mandate pollution prevention has undergone
recent streamlining changes. The Oregon State Legislature amended
Oregon’s Toxic Use Reduction Act of 1989 in June 2005.

This past year brought the new reporting requirements to those businesses
that generate hazardous waste and must comply to minimize or reduce their
use of hazardous materials. For 2007 in the Eastern Region, 42 Oregon
businesses were able to reduce their toxic use by 2,098,593 pounds and
their hazardous waste generation by 112,999 pounds. This was at a savings
of $670,815 to those businesses.

Telephone Technical Assistance

Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program staff received over 1,087


generator calls for hazardous waste technical assistance in 2007. An
additional 120 (estimated) phone calls were received relating directly
to spills of hazardous materials and/or for clean-up consultations.

Most phone calls resulted in callers avoiding unnecessary steps by


providing information on how to properly manage or dispose of
generated hazardous wastes. Technical assistance also provides
information on toxic alternatives, pollution prevention, cross program
regulatory requirements, and inter-agency information.

Site Visit Technical Assistance

With reduced staff, the region conducted 21 technical assistance (TA)


visits, of which five (5) were conducted at Large Quantity Generators
(LQGs). LQGs are businesses that generate more than 2,200 lbs of
hazardous waste and/or generate greater than 2.2 lbs of acute
hazardous waste in a month.

Each technical assistance visit is conducted in the same manner as


regional compliance inspections, except without enforcement penalty
repercussions.

For success stories, please see the Program’s website:


http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/hw/p2successstories.htm.
For a complete list of sites visited, please see Attachment I.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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Hazardous Waste Collection Events

The annual Conditionally Exempt Generator (CEG) hazardous waste


collection events for the region included the following sites: Klamath
County Fairground, Boardman & Lexington’s County Road Department,
and the annual Bend Knott Transfer station. The events, typically co-
sponsored by local affiliates, continue to be well received in the smaller
communities of the Region where disposal options are limited.

This year’s three events safely manage 14,116 pounds of CEG


hazardous wastes that would otherwise go to local landfills. This is an
increase of two-times last year’s collections. The Department’s new
procedure for selecting sites has resulted in the Eastern Region receiving
fewer, and more remote sites in 2007.

Good News!
 The Deschutes County Landfill will open their new permanent
Household (HHW) and CEG waste facility in February 2008.

 A draft agreement will allow out-of-county participants to bring


their wastes to the new permanent HHW/CEG facility currently only
servicing Wasco, Sherman & Hood River. The agreement will be
finalized in 2008.

 A tri-county permanent HHW/CEG facility is expected to service the


Wallowa, Union & Baker counties by Fall 2008. Two portable
collection trailers will service outlying areas of the three counties.

Targeted Waste Collection and Recycling

A mercury initiative by the Department, which began for the state in


2003, continues to focus on businesses who generate mercury waste
(i.e. electrical, medical and dental offices).

Over 1,492 pounds of mercury-containing materials were collected at


the regions’ three CEG events. This was a landmark for the region.
Mercury wastes such as auto switches, medical gauges, thermostats,
thermometers, and elemental mercury, were collected at no charge to the
generator again this year. The vast majority of the mercury-containing
items were spent fluorescent tubes that were accepted for a small fee.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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Hazardous Waste Trainings

The Eastern Region annually conducts trainings for the regulated


community on the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) regulations and guidance. Five trainings were conducted
that reached over 132 individuals. The trainings included Basic
Hazardous Waste Management, Managing Common Wastes &
Universal Wastes, Pesticide Residue Management, Spills Response
Management, site-specific trainings focused on a facility’s specific
waste streams, as well as other requested customized trainings.

For 2007, the hazardous waste regulatory trainings were held at the
following locations within the region: Bend, Pendleton, and Ontario.

2. Compliance Inspection Program Summary

For 2007, a total of 31 inspections and 67 complaint investigations were


conducted that resulted in 30 enforcement actions for the Eastern Region.
Compliance visits increased by 30% for the region.

Hazardous Waste Inspections

Hazardous waste inspections are “drop-in” visits designed to view


businesses in their normal operation to determine if they are currently
in compliance with state and federal hazardous waste regulations. The
Region’s compliance inspections also focus on ways to reduce the use
of hazardous materials and generated hazardous wastes through
product substitution suggestions or by recommending best
management practices in handling their wastes.

The region accomplished a total of 98 compliance inspections (includes


complaints) throughout the region, which comprised eleven Large
Quantity Generators (LQG) of hazardous waste, ten Small Quantity
Generators, and four Treatment, Storage & Disposal (TSD) compliance
inspections.

The remaining facilities inspected were Conditionally Exempt Generators,


which make up 80% of the region’s facilities (i.e. businesses that generate
less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste a month).
For a complete list of inspections, please see Attachment II.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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Treatment, Storage & Disposal (TSD) Inspections

A comprehensive compliance Operation and Maintenance Inspection


(OMI) was conducted at the Chemical Waste Management of the NW
facility as a joint inspection with the operator, the Department’s
regional hazardous waste staff and Department lab personnel.
Groundwater sampling procedures were observed to help determine
compliance with the facility’s Permit, and Sampling & Analysis Plan for
groundwater monitoring. The OMI compliance inspection found
Chemical Waste Management in Arlington to be in compliance.

In addition to the OMI, two Compliance and Enforcement Inspections


(CEI) for Chemical Waste Management were also completed. CEI
inspections generally concentrate on compliance with the facility’s permit
requirements and current State and Federal hazardous waste regulations.

No violations were noted in either inspection. Onsite review addressed


the following areas: site security, container management, contingency
planning, new cell unit construction, and status of wastes received.

Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigations

Many times the only Agency contact for some individuals is through a
hazardous waste complaint investigation. Complaint investigations are
conducted as hazardous waste inspections, focusing on hazardous
material discharges and/or mismanagement of hazardous wastes.

The investigation may also address any obvious health and safety
hazards observed at the site. Cross program compliance issues, if
observed will be included in the referrals and notification sent to the
appropriate programs.

Hazardous Waste Enforcement Actions

Like many states, the Department uses a compliance strategy that


includes both enforcement and non-enforcement tools. Permits,
facility inspections, as well as technical assistance and trainings help to
encourage compliance among the regulated community. However, for
those generators who choose not to comply with the hazardous waste
regulations, formal enforcement follows with possible penalties.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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This year’s hazardous waste inspections and complaint investigations


resulted in: 22 warning letters (WL) of non-compliance , 8 pre-
enforcement notification (PEN) referrals to the Department’s Office of
Compliance & Enforcement for Civil Penalty and Consent Order (CPCO),
and 4 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) referrals for non-state
authorized programs: Spills Prevention, Control and Countermeasures
(SPCC), and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA).

Nine of the inspections included cross program violations (i.e. Solid


Waste, Tanks, Water Quality, and Air Quality) including two site referrals
to the State Cleanup Program for follow-up site remediation.

Highlighted Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation Story

See Attachment: A – HW Complaint Investigation: D.B. Western News Release

3. Statewide Permitting

The Eastern Region Hazardous Waste Program has the responsibility for all
statewide hazardous waste TSD permitting activities with the exception of the
Umatilla Chemical Depot, which is managed through the Department’s
Chemical Demilitarization Program located in Hermiston, Oregon.

A hazardous waste or RCRA permit is required by all facilities that plan to


treat, store or dispose (TSD) of hazardous wastes, and are typically issued to
facilities specializing in commercial hazardous waste management services.
However, in Oregon there is only one current permit holder for the State’s
only hazardous waste management disposal facility, which is in Arlington.

The permit, once issued, is a legally binding site-specific document that


establishes the waste management activities, facility design and operation.
Permits typically require facilities to develop emergency plans, provide
financial assurance, train employees proper management of hazardous waste,
and could include requirements such as ground water monitoring.

This past year the focus was on continued permitting of the Chemical Waste
Management site located in Arlington, and continued post-closure activities at
the following inactive sites: Lockheed Martin (The Dalles), Permapost Products
Company, Inc (Hillsboro), and Baron Blakeslee (Portland).

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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Hazardous Waste Permit Renewals and Modifications

When a permitted facility changes its hazardous waste management


procedures, operations or the waste it handles, the facility is required to
obtain a permit modification.

For modifications that significantly change facility operations, the public must
receive notice and have a chance to participate and comment on the permit
modification request. The following sites had recent hazardous waste permit
work:

Chemical Waste Management of the NW - Arlington


Since the reissue of the permit in August 2006, two significant permit
modifications have taken place, and are summarized below:

 A permit modification requested changes to the groundwater


monitoring system and implemented groundwater protection
standards.

The new monitoring approach includes protecting groundwater quality


by minimizing well installation and monitoring activities near potential
vapor-phase sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while still
providing early warning of releases.

 A permit modification requested the use of a groundwater


protection standards (alternative concentration limits) be applied at
the facility to evaluate whether detected concentrations of one or
more hazardous constituents in the groundwater could potentially
pose adverse impacts to the local groundwater. The modification is
expected to be finalized in February 2008.

Chemical Waste Management of NW - – Other Permit Work

Other permit work submitted for the Chemical Waste facility included:

 Use of landfill leachate as a dust suppressant within the landfill was


submitted and final modification approved in July.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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 Operation of a new wastewater treatment unit (WWTU) was


submitted and conditionally approved in November. The
Department requested review prior to operational start up. The
former WWTU is in the formal closure process currently.

 The upgrading of Pond Liner B was submitted and temporary


authorized in October. The upgrade is completed and certification
is pending Departmental approval.

Other Regional Hazardous Waste Permit Work

Safety-Kleen – Clackamas
 Ability to manage F004 hazardous wastes was reviewed and issued.
 Past inspection issues were discussed, and paperless manifest resolved.

Permapost Products Company Inc – Hillsboro


 Post Closure Permit renewal is in the final stages of completion.
 The permit issuance is projected for early 2008.

Baron Blakeslee (aka Honeywell) – Portland


 Permit renewal is targeted to be completed fall of 2008.

Lockheed Martin – The Dalles


 Authorization granted on innovative bio-treatment, which injects nutrients
into the ground water to break down the cyanide-containing wastes.
 Coordinated discussions with EPA and landowners regarding the
decommissioning of neighboring Northwest Aluminum and landfill.

Financial Assurance Permit Work


 EPA conducted reviews of financial assurance for Oregon’s hazardous
waste facilities, which resulted in DEQ issuing three deficiency letters
to bring the facilities into compliance.

4. Hazardous Waste Program Priorities for 2008

One of the challenges that face the program through the years is identifying the
level of risk resulting from improper hazardous waste management, and
measuring the impacts the program has made in reducing such risk. This data
has lead to the refinement of the 2008 program priorities.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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Compliance Priorities
Large Quantity Generators, Small Quantity Generators and Significant
Non-compliant facilities will continue to be a priority within the region.
Complaints will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Technical Assistance Priorities


Site visits, group training and outreach mailings will focus on auto
body shops. As time allows, the following sectors will continue to be
addressed: medical and dental labs, as well as medical clinics.

TUHWRP Priorities
Toxic use reduction program will continue to focus on new generators,
and utilization of the on-line TUR reporting tool.

Permitting Priorities
Permit modifications, renewals and new hazardous waste permit work
will continue throughout the state. Sites where permit work is in
progress include Chemical Waste Management of the NW, Permapost
Products, Baron Blakeslee and Lockheed Martin, Inc.

C. Emergency Response Program

Typically, the Department receives almost half of all statewide incident calls reported
to all state agencies via the Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS). The
Department’s Statewide Spill Program staff provide on-site oversight to about a third
of all spills reported through OERS. The rest, typically minor spills, are monitored
through telephone contacts with the responsible party and responders.

Prevention and preparedness are also critical Response program activities. Large
amounts of hazardous materials are routinely transported throughout Oregon,
making the potential for spills very high. Spills can pose a major threat to Oregon's
land, air, water, and wildlife.

Subsequently, the Department’s Program coordinates unified drills throughout the


year with other state and local agencies to further increase incident readiness. In
addition, the program also coordinates removal of drug lab materials, which would
otherwise present a risk to the general public.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
& EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM REPORT
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1. Emergency Response Operations

OERS Response
A noted increase in reported tanker spills (13%) for 2007, with most
involving tractor-trailer fuel spills averaging 150 -300 gallons per incident.

Reporting
For this reporting period, the Eastern Region spill staff responded to
107 incidents. Notable responses included the following sites:
Seiman’s Power Windmill failure, Taylor Aviation plane crash in Malheur,
Think Link Daycare mercury removal in Baker, PCB transformer release
in Hood River, Cinder Lakes Ranch formaldehyde cleanup in Powell
Butte, and Harris & Reinhard’s gasoline tanker fires in Crescent Lake and
Klamath Falls simultaneously. Two near misses of train derailments
involved 22 train cars.

Highlighted Emergency Response Operational Incident


An example of the Department’s Emergency Response actions and the
coordination that takes place between the responsible party,
contractors, and State and Federal agencies is best described in
Attachment: B – Hazardous Emergency Response Spill – Harris Tanker.

Good News! – Eastern Region’s Emergency Response Overhead Team


Last summer the Eastern Region had two major tanker spills that
proved the region did not have the essential trained staff or the
necessary resources to respond to two large spills simultaneously.

As a direct result, the region has newly formed the Eastern Region’s
Emergency Response Overhead team. Currently in development, it will
ensure the region has trained staff and the capability to respond to all
incidents in the region as needed.

The team comprises of volunteering employees who with training, will


serve in specific roles on large spill responses. Those roles include on-
scene commander, back-up commander, documentation unit,
environmental unit, trailer operations, and cleanup technician among
others.

Training for the staff will include HAZWOPER training, First Aid,
Emergency Response Trailer operations, tribal & cultural training,
clean-up project manager, and incident command systems training.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
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The Department’s Emergency Response trailer on location for a regional spill response.

2. Emergency Response Program Priorities for 2008

The Spills Program will continue to respond to each notification forwarded by the
Oregon Emergency Response System, as well as direct phone calls to assure
incident response meets Oregon’s regulatory standard.

The program will continue to establish outreach objectives with local


emergency response agencies for transparent lines of communication, data
management priorities, and consistent enforcement.

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
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D. Attachments

Attachment I -
Technical Assistance Sites Visited

Generator Location Status


American Pine Products Prineville CEG
Bend Metro Park & Recreation District ** Bend CEG
Bend Research Pharma Process Dev, Inc Bend LQG
Central Oregon Regional Pathology, LLC Bend SQG
Chuck’s Auto Shop, Inc Bend CEG
Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste Bend CEG
Grande Ronde Hospital La Grande CEG
Jeld-Wen, Inc Klamath Falls LQG
Keith Manufacturing Company Madras CEG
Kingsley Field Air National Guard Klamath Falls LQG
Marlette Homes Hermiston CEG
Marlow Pounds Ontario CEG
Northland Furniture Co LLC Bend CEG
Northwest Aluminum Company The Dalles LQG
ODOT Fleet Maintenance Shop ** Bend CEG
Omnicut, Inc. Elgin SQG
Rhino Enterprises Klamath Falls CEG
Safety-Kleen Clackamas LQG
USDOE BPA Celilo Converter Station The Dalles CEG
Waste-Pro La Grande CEG
Woodgrain Millwork Prineville CEG

CEG = Conditionally Exempt Generator (Generates 220 lbs or less a month; or less than 2.2 lbs acute waste)
SQG = Small Quantity Generator (Generates more than 220, but less than 2,200 lbs month)
LQG = Large Quantity Generator (Generates more than 2,200 lbs a month; more than 2.2 lbs of acute waste)
TSD = Transfer, Storage, and Disposal Permitted Facility
** Voluntary Eco-logical Business Certification

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
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Attachment II -
Hazardous Waste Inspection Sites Visited

Site City Status


Affordable Auto Repair Madras CEG
Aqua Glass Klamath Falls LQG
Armer Residence Bend Not a Generator
Atherton Property (BNRR) Gateway CEG
B. H. Workman & Sons, Inc Prineville CEG
Baker Garage Inc. Baker City CEG
Barone Holding LLC Hood River SQG
Beatty Residence Beatty Not a Generator
Beko Membrane Technology Bend SQG
Bi-Mart Ontario CEG
BNSF Railway Company Klamath Falls CEG
Bob’s Excavation Klamath Falls CEG
Bonanza Property Bonanza Not a Generator
Borello Jr. Property Sumpter CEG
Borello Property* Sumpter CEG
Bosen Carpet Cleaning Bend CEG
Breeding Residence Milton-Freewater CEG
Cardoza Trucking Hermiston CEG
Carson Oil Company Hood River CEG
Central Oregon Electrostatic Refinishing Bend CEG
Chemical Waste Management of the NW(4)* Arlington TSD
City of Irrigon Irrigon CEG
Clarke Residence Redmond Used Oil Generator
Collins Products LLC Klamath Falls SQG
Composite Technologies Inc Hines LQG
Computerized Property Management Bend CEG
Court Street Motors, Inc. Pendleton CEG
CPM Development Corporation Klamath Falls CEG
Culver Residence Culver Not a Generator
D.B. Western/Cinder Lakes Ranch (2)* Powell Butte LQG
DeMaster’s Residence Madras CEG
Deschutes Valley Equipment Terrebone CEG
Disselbrett Property Hermiston CEG
Eagan Property Madras CEG
Electro Scientific Industries Klamath Falls SQG
Epic Air LLC Bend CEG
Fontana Wood Products of Oregon, Inc. Redmond CEG
Fossil Body & Paint Shop Fossil CEG
Griggs Auto Refinishing Bend CEG

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EASTERN REGION HAZARDOUS WASTE
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Attachment II - continued
Hazardous Waste Inspection Sites Visited

Site City Status


Hertz Car Care Center Bend CEG
Home Depot 4031 Hermiston SQG
Huey Property Sumpter Not a Generator
Jerry’s Furniture Refinishing Klamath Falls CEG
JJ’s Auto Body Repair & Paint Alfalfa CEG
Joe Floyd & Sons Prineville CEG
Kathryn Nicholoson DMD Klamath Falls CEG
Keno Wrecker Keno CEG
Klamath Algae Products Klamath Falls CEG
Klamath Cascade Group Klamath Falls CEG
Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork – Oregon Division Bend SQG
Kralman Farms Milton-Freewater CEG
LaMoine Brant Powell Butte CEG
Larry’s Sandblasting Bend CEG
Lockheed Martin Corporation The Dalles SQG / TSD / OMI
Mark’s Auto Repair (Formerly Bud’s Auto) Madras CEG
Martin Industrial Park Long Creek CEG
Mike Mitchel Homeowner Bend CEG
Mooneyham Residence La Pine Not a Generator
Mount Hood Forest Products Hood River CEG
Negrete Property Bend Not a Generator
Northland Furniture Co LLC Bend CEG
Omnicut, Inc (2)* Elgin SQG
Pacific Power Products Redmond SQG
Parone Property (Dee Forest) Hood River CEG
Poeske’s Property La Pine CEG
Purcell Painting & Coatings (Public Works) The Dalles CEG
Redmond Tallow Redmond CEG
Rick Davis La Pine CEG
Rick Digesti La Pine CEG
Ritchey Property Sumpter Not a Generator
Rivergate Farms Hermiston CEG
Robert Brooks Painting & Contracting La Grande CEG
Roy Houck Construction Hampton CEG
Sandy’s Auto Repair Madras CEG
Seaswirl Boats Inc. Madras CEG
Shell & Food Mart Klamath Falls CEG
Shevlin Sand & Gravel Bend CEG

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Attachment II - continued
Hazardous Waste Inspection Sites Visited

Site City Status


Sisters Disposal Site Sisters CEG
Smith Equipment & Welding Prineville SQG
Smith Property Sumpter Not a Generator
Sprague River Property Sprague River CEG
Suckay Property Redmond CEG
The Cabinet Shop Bend CEG
Tom’s Wrecking Yard Christmas Valley CEG
Toomies Tai Cuisine Bend CEG
Treasure Valley Community College Ontario CEG
Umatilla Chemical Disposal Facility Hermiston TSD
US Umatilla Chemical Depot (4)* Hermiston LQG
Warfield Property La Pine CEG
Wash & Lube Bend CEG

CEG = Conditionally Exempt Generator (Generates 220 lbs or less a month; or less than 2.2 lbs acute waste)
SQG = Small Quantity Generator (Generates more than 220, but less than 2,200 lbs month)
LQG = Large Quantity Generator (Generates more than 2,200 lbs a month; more than 2.2 lbs of acute waste)
TSD = Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Permitted Facility
OMI = Operation and Maintenance Inspection
* = Multiple visits

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Attachment A –
Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation – D.B. Western Inc. News Release

News Release
For release: January 2, 2008
Contacts:
Jeff Ingalls, Hazardous Waste Program, Bend, (541) 388-6146, ext. 238
Jeff Bachman, Compliance & Enforcement, Portland, (503) 229-5950
Phil Hodgen, Communications & Outreach, Pendleton, (541) 278-4609

DEQ Issues Pre-Enforcement Notices for Multiple


Environmental Violations at Powell Butte Property

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)


has issued two Pre-Enforcement Notices to North Bend resident
Dennis Beetham, owner of D.B. Western Inc., a company that
owns and operates formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde
manufacturing plants, for hazardous waste, solid waste, air
quality and water quality violations that occurred on his Cinder
Lake Ranch property at 1299 NW McDaniel Road in Powell Butte.

The DEQ Eastern Oregon Hazardous Waste Program


issued an initial notice to Beetham and D.B. Western on Sept.
21, 2007 following DEQ inspections of the property in late
August and early September. DEQ then issued a second notice
to the parties on Nov. 28, 2007 after documenting additional
violations during remediation activities at the property that took
place beginning in October.

Remediation of formaldehyde reactors and burial pits.

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Attachment A – continued
Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation – D.B. Western Inc. News Release

Violations identified during the first inspections included: failure to make a


hazardous waste determination; illegal disposal of hazardous wastes and
industrial solid wastes in an unlined cinder pit; operating a hazardous waste
disposal site without a permit; placing wastes where they were likely to enter
state waters; and open burning of prohibited materials including industrial
process wastes. As part of corrective action outlined in the first notice, Beetham
and D.B. Western were to notify DEQ within five days of their intent to clean up
the site.

Cleanup activities that began on Oct. 4, 2007 at the site have generated
hundreds of tons of urea-formaldehyde resin waste and industrial process solid
waste that was disposed of at the Chemical Waste Management site in Arlington,
Oregon. The remediation activities also uncovered the illegal disposal of
hundreds of tons of federally listed hazardous waste formaldehyde from
commercial manufacturing of formaldehyde in plants outside of Oregon, plus
more than 1,000 tons of illegally disposed of solid waste from burn pits and
contaminated cinder from the urea-formaldehyde resin chemical disposal.

Nineteen containers of federally listed hazardous waste were sent to an approved incinerator.

Hazardous and solid waste violations documented during the


remediation process led DEQ to issue its second notice to Beetham and D.B.
Western on Nov. 28, 2007. This notice outlined the following violations: failure
to comply with land disposal restriction regulations; failure to comply with
hazardous waste transportation and hazardous waste manifesting requirements;
failure to properly label and date containers of hazardous waste; operating a
hazardous waste storage facility without a permit; and operating a tire storage
and disposal facility without a permit.

All of the violations cited in both notices could pose a risk to human
health and the environment. Accordingly, they have been referred to DEQ’s
Office of Compliance and Enforcement for formal enforcement action. Formal
enforcement action may include a civil penalty for each day of each violation.
Timely and responsive action in addressing the corrective action measures will
be taken into consideration in any civil penalty assessment issued by DEQ.
21
Attachment A – continued
Hazardous Waste Complaint Investigation – D.B. Western Inc. News Release

The notices stipulated corrective action timelines that D.B. Western has coopera ted
in meeting. The remediation activities have corrected the majority of the violations;
however, DEQ has asked for D.B. Western’s continued cooperation to assure
continued compliance. For additional information, contact Jeff Ingalls at DEQ’s Bend
office, 300 SE Reed Market Road, Bend, OR 97702-2237 or (541) 388-6146, ext.
238.

D.B. Western will host a public meeting in Powell Butte to discuss the
issues in an open forum. Although a specific date has not been determined, the
meeting is planned for early to mid-February 2008. For updated information
concerning this meeting, contact attorney Rick Martson, the D.B Western
representative, at (503) 802-2005.

(Note: When DEQ identifies a serious violation of state laws or regulations, it issues a Pre-Enforcement Notice to
inform the responsible person or business that a civil penalty will likely be issued.)

Urea-formaldehyde embankment pit: Remediation activities at the ranch were completed with
confirmatory sampling in all excavations resulting in non-detect analytical sampling results.

22
Attachment B –
Emergency Response – Harris Transport Fuel Tanker Accident

Inside DEQ
Employee Newsletter - Issue #79

September 2007

DEQ Employs Multi-Regional Response to


Crescent Lake Tanker Spill

The tanker erupted into flames, triggering a forest fire on both sides of Highway 58.

Want to know more about how DEQ responds to spill events?

By Jeff Christensen
The recent Crescent Junction tanker truck incident exemplifies a DEQ success story in responding
to a fiery spill event and demonstrates the potentially severe impacts that can result from releases
of petroleum products and other hazardous substances.

On Thursday, July 26, a tanker truck carrying 10,300 gallons of gasoline burst into flames and
exploded near Crescent Lake, Oregon in northeast Klamath County. Although the Harris Transport
Company driver involved in the incident escaped without injury, the vehicle explosion triggered a
forest fire on both sides of Highway 58. Quick action by a local fire department and USFS Fire
Crews prevented the fire from impacting the surrounding residents and community.
23
Attachment B – continued
Emergency Response – Harris Transport Fuel Tanker Accident

Most of the fuel burned during the fire; however, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of
gasoline seeped into soils adjacent to the highway. DEQ staff responded quickly to begin
the process of assessing potential environmental and economic impacts and to begin the
process of excavating contaminated soils.

The presence of a fiber optic cable made the excavation extra challenging.
The on-site team succeeded with no disruption to fiber optic communications.

DEQ's On-site Response

 Eastern Region’s David Anderson (Bend office), Wes Gebb, and Geoff Brown from
the Western Region’s Eugene office arrive Thursday afternoon.
 Initial State On-Scene Coordinator, Wes Gebb, holds an incident briefing Thursday
afternoon to establish an incident response Unified Command and a plan for Friday’s
operational activities.
 Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and private contractors hired by
ODOT and Harris Trucking continue to arrive throughout the evening.
 The truck wreckage is removed around 11 p.m. Thursday evening.
 DEQ’s emergency response trailer is dispatched from Portland and arrives early
Friday to support the growing Unified Command Structure and technical support
staff. Jeannette Freeman and Mike Renz from the Eastern Region’s Bend office also
arrive Friday morning.
 Excavation activities begin around 5:30 a.m. Friday. The soils are placed in a USFS-
owned gravel pit four miles north of the wreck site. Sample analysis received on day
three of the incident documented that the soils were not hazardous waste and could
be managed as typical solid waste.
DEQ Western Region resources (Gebb and Brown) are demobilized from the site Friday
evening. For the balance of the response, Mike Renz serves as State On-Scene
Coordinator, with technical assistance from David Anderson (environmental unit) and
Jeannette Freeman (trailer and communications support and documentation specialist). 24
Attachment B – continued
Emergency Response – Harris Transport Fuel Tanker Accident

 During the excavation, more than 3,000 cubic yards


of contaminated soils were removed in a region of
highly unstable sandy soils. Excavation reached 30
feet in depth and took place around three major fiber
optic cables, which presented an extra challenge.
 At one point, the cables were suspended over 120
linear feet across the excavation with no disruption of
service. After completion of the excavation, DEQ
determined that “no further action” would be required
at the site.

Oregon residents were fortunate that the initial incident did


not precipitate a larger forest fire. We were similarly lucky
the gasoline release did not significantly impact surface
water or groundwater and that no one was injured or killed Jeannette Freeman (right)
discusses excavation ops
during the incident or cleanup activities.
with geo-probe driller
Steve Ritch.
In a letter following the incident, Mike Renz recognized the
“greatly appreciated Western Region resources” of Wes Gebb
and Geoff Brown in responding to the initial event. He also
acknowledged his Bend colleagues, David Anderson and
Jeannette Freeman, for their work in performing assignments
“professionally and with cheerful enthusiasm which was
recognized by the contractors and other agencies." Finally,
he noted the “exemplary effort” of the lead contractor, SMAF
Environmental, and several subcontractors including Steve
Ritch Environmental and Construction, PBS Environmental,
Marine Environmental Testing, and Northwest Firefighters.

Mike has served as DEQ State On-Scene Coordinator for over


15 years and concluded "…this may be the most successful The incident Unified
emergency cleanup I have participated in." Command reviews the
excavation plans in DEQ's
response trailer.
Congratulations, Mike, and the entire DEQ emergency
response program, on a job well-done!


~ As the driver described it, he heard a loud pop and
pulled the truck partially over to the shoulder to check
it out. As he went to unlatch the fiberglass cowling he
noticed smoke pouring out and by the time he reached
the other side’s latch it had burst into flames. After
unsuccessfully trying to subdue the ensuing flames
with a fire extinguisher, he quickly grabbed his
overnight bag from the cab just before escaping injury
when it erupted into flames. ~

Remains of the gasoline
tanker.
25

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