Operated from the 1960s until 1989, chemicals were brought to the company in rail tank cars.[1] The contents were off-loaded into 55-gallon drums which were stored on the lot until the chemicals were transferred into smaller containers for re-sale.[2] An investigation by the Oakland Fire Department, Alameda County and the U.S. Coast Guard found over 100 full and empty 5- and 55-gallon drums, some of which were leaking. Subsequent to AMCO ceasing operations in 1989, the lot was used by DC Metals for scrap storage until 1998, and by Cable Moore, Inc. for cable storage until the present time.
In June 1995, a construction crew digging a trench noted a strong chemical odor in the dirt.[1] The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), DC Metals, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted an investigation which uncovered chlorinated solvents and other contaminants, including vinyl chloride, and soil gas. Due to the presence of groundwater found during the investigation, emergency remediation processes were initiated but later ceased before completion.
The EPA had collected enough data to determine the nature and extent of contamination in the groundwater and soil beneath the former facility. Around 90 chemicals in the groundwater and 40 chemicals in soil beneath the former AMCO facility exceeded screening levels. The EPA also collected soil and produce samples in the yards of residences next to the former AMCO facility fence line (on Center and Third streets). The samples were tested for VOCs, metals and pesticides. Lead was detected at high concentrations in a limited number of soil samples. The levels in the shallow and deep soil samples range from 26.2 to 53,000 milligrams/kilogram (mg/kg). Some of these levels are well above levels that would be considered safe for residential exposure, particularly for children. Urban soils typically have lead levels of about 500 mg/kg. In Oakland, naturally occurring lead level for native soil is 14 mg/kg.
The site was listed on the National Priority List (Superfund) on September 29, 2003. The detailed remediation investigation concluded in 2006.
Remediation efforts began with the construction of a ground water and soil vapor extraction (SVE) treatment system. Between January 1997 through July 1998, approximately 7,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), approximately 40 pounds of which were vinyl chloride, were extracted from the soil and groundwater. The SVE ceased operation in July 1998 due to concerns from nearby residents over exposure to fumes from the exhaust of the system. During the remediation process, additional contamination from methylene chloride, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA), and trichloroethene (TCE) were discovered. Detailed assessments taken during the emergency remediation effort revealed that the danger to the surrounding residences was not imminent but the site would pose long-term dangers.
Second decontamination (2015-2018)edit
A second round of soil vapor extraction from the contaminated site occurred in 2017 after years of planning and setup.[3] A SVE system was used to extract toxic vapor from soil on the site in a $10 million dollar operation.[4] By 2018 all equipment had been removed by the EPA.
^ ab"Public Health Assessment for AMCO Chemical Company" (PDF). September 22, 2005. (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
^"Amco Chemical Site, West Oakland - Public Health Activities". California Department of Public Health. from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
^"AMCO NPL SITE". from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
^Cuff, Denis (March 20, 2017). "Oakland toxic site to begin $10 million cleanup". East Bay Times. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
External linksedit
. Environmental Health Investigations Branch. California Department of Health Services. Archived from the original on 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
amco, chemical, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, september, 2015, learn, when. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message AMCO Chemical was a chemical distribution company located in Oakland California The land the company operated on is designated as a U S Environmental Protection Agency EPA Superfund cleanup site Operated from the 1960s until 1989 chemicals were brought to the company in rail tank cars 1 The contents were off loaded into 55 gallon drums which were stored on the lot until the chemicals were transferred into smaller containers for re sale 2 An investigation by the Oakland Fire Department Alameda County and the U S Coast Guard found over 100 full and empty 5 and 55 gallon drums some of which were leaking Subsequent to AMCO ceasing operations in 1989 the lot was used by DC Metals for scrap storage until 1998 and by Cable Moore Inc for cable storage until the present time In June 1995 a construction crew digging a trench noted a strong chemical odor in the dirt 1 The California Department of Transportation Caltrans DC Metals and the Environmental Protection Agency EPA conducted an investigation which uncovered chlorinated solvents and other contaminants including vinyl chloride and soil gas Due to the presence of groundwater found during the investigation emergency remediation processes were initiated but later ceased before completion The EPA had collected enough data to determine the nature and extent of contamination in the groundwater and soil beneath the former facility Around 90 chemicals in the groundwater and 40 chemicals in soil beneath the former AMCO facility exceeded screening levels The EPA also collected soil and produce samples in the yards of residences next to the former AMCO facility fence line on Center and Third streets The samples were tested for VOCs metals and pesticides Lead was detected at high concentrations in a limited number of soil samples The levels in the shallow and deep soil samples range from 26 2 to 53 000 milligrams kilogram mg kg Some of these levels are well above levels that would be considered safe for residential exposure particularly for children Urban soils typically have lead levels of about 500 mg kg In Oakland naturally occurring lead level for native soil is 14 mg kg The site was listed on the National Priority List Superfund on September 29 2003 The detailed remediation investigation concluded in 2006 Contents 1 Remediation activities 1 1 Initial remediation 1997 1998 1 2 Second decontamination 2015 2018 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksRemediation activities editInitial remediation 1997 1998 edit Remediation efforts began with the construction of a ground water and soil vapor extraction SVE treatment system Between January 1997 through July 1998 approximately 7 000 pounds of volatile organic compounds VOCs approximately 40 pounds of which were vinyl chloride were extracted from the soil and groundwater The SVE ceased operation in July 1998 due to concerns from nearby residents over exposure to fumes from the exhaust of the system During the remediation process additional contamination from methylene chloride 1 1 1 Trichloroethane TCA and trichloroethene TCE were discovered Detailed assessments taken during the emergency remediation effort revealed that the danger to the surrounding residences was not imminent but the site would pose long term dangers Second decontamination 2015 2018 edit A second round of soil vapor extraction from the contaminated site occurred in 2017 after years of planning and setup 3 A SVE system was used to extract toxic vapor from soil on the site in a 10 million dollar operation 4 By 2018 all equipment had been removed by the EPA See also editList of Superfund sites in CaliforniaReferences edit a b Public Health Assessment for AMCO Chemical Company PDF September 22 2005 Archived PDF from the original on June 15 2019 Retrieved August 29 2020 Amco Chemical Site West Oakland Public Health Activities California Department of Public Health Archived from the original on 2012 02 24 Retrieved August 30 2020 AMCO NPL SITE Archived from the original on August 30 2020 Retrieved August 30 2020 Cuff Denis March 20 2017 Oakland toxic site to begin 10 million cleanup East Bay Times Retrieved August 30 2020 External links edit Amco Chemical Site West Oakland Public Health Activities Environmental Health Investigations Branch California Department of Health Services Archived from the original on 2007 07 03 Retrieved 2007 08 13 37 48 10 N 122 17 42 W 37 802818 N 122 294918 W 37 802818 122 294918 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title AMCO Chemical amp oldid 1124287206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
