AMCO Chemical
Encyclopedia
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.
AMCO operated from the 1960s until 1989. Chemicals were brought to the company in rail tank car
s. 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. 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. 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.
The remediation efforts began with the construction of a ground water and soil vapor extraction
(SVE) treatment system. Between January 1997 through July 1998 and extracted approximately 7,000 pounds of volatile organic compound
s (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.
The site was listed as on the National Priority List (Superfund) on September 29, 2003. The detailed remediation investigation concluded in 2006. The Draft Remedial Investigation Report is being prepared but the EPA has already announced that they will excavate contaminated soil from six residences surrounding the AMCO site.
manner to the affected and interested community through fact sheets, websites and small group community meetings.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. The land the company operated on is designated as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund
Superfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
cleanup site.
AMCO operated from the 1960s until 1989. Chemicals were brought to the company in rail tank car
Tank car
A tank car is a type of railroad rolling stock designed to transport liquid and gaseous commodities.-Timeline:...
s. 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. An investigation by the Oakland Fire Department
Oakland Fire Department
The city of Oakland, California is protected 24/7 by the 500 professional firefighters of the Oakland Fire Department. The Oakland Fire Department is the only fire and rescue agency in the city of Oakland and operates out of 25 Fire Stations, located throughout the city and the airport...
, Alameda County
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
and the U.S. Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
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. The California Department of Transportation
California Department of Transportation
The California Department of Transportation is a government department in the U.S. state of California. Its mission is to improve mobility across the state. It manages the state highway system and is actively involved with public transportation systems throughout the state...
(Caltrans), DC Metals, and the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) conducted an investigation which uncovered chlorinated solvents
Organochloride
An organochloride, organochlorine, chlorocarbon, chlorinated hydrocarbon, or chlorinated solvent is an organic compound containing at least one covalently bonded chlorine atom. Their wide structural variety and divergent chemical properties lead to a broad range of applications...
and other contaminants, including vinyl chloride
Vinyl chloride
Vinyl chloride is the organochloride with the formula H2C:CHCl. It is also called vinyl chloride monomer, VCM or chloroethene. This colorless compound is an important industrial chemical chiefly used to produce the polymer polyvinyl chloride . At ambient pressure and temperature, vinyl chloride...
, and soil gas. Due to the presence of groundwater found during the investigation, emergency remediation processes were initiated.
The remediation efforts began with the construction of a ground water and soil vapor extraction
Soil vapor extraction
Soil Vapor Extraction is an in situ process for soil remediation where contamination is removed from soil by carrying it out through a medium such as air or steam. The extracted soil vapors are separated into liquids and vapors, and each stream is treated as necessary...
(SVE) treatment system. Between January 1997 through July 1998 and extracted approximately 7,000 pounds of volatile organic compound
Volatile organic compound
Volatile organic compounds are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and...
s (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
Dichloromethane
Dichloromethane is an organic compound with the formula CH2Cl2. This colorless, volatile liquid with a moderately sweet aroma is widely used as a solvent. Although it is not miscible with water, it is miscible with many organic solvents...
, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
The organic compound 1,1,1-trichloroethane, also known as methyl chloroform, is a chloroalkane. This colourless, sweet-smelling liquid was once produced industrially in large quantities for use as a solvent...
(TCA), and trichloroethene
Trichloroethylene
The chemical compound trichloroethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent. It is a clear non-flammable liquid with a sweet smell. It should not be confused with the similar 1,1,1-trichloroethane, which is commonly known as chlorothene.The IUPAC name is...
(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.
The site was listed as on the National Priority List (Superfund) on September 29, 2003. The detailed remediation investigation concluded in 2006. The Draft Remedial Investigation Report is being prepared but the EPA has already announced that they will excavate contaminated soil from six residences surrounding the AMCO site.
Remediation activities
EPA has 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 exceed screening levels. 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. EPA has determined that a removal action is warranted to remove high levels of lead that may pose a risk to residents.Community involvement
The remedial investigation and the removal activities are being conducted under EPA’s Superfund authorities. This program places a high value on public input and makes the community involvement opportunities a regular and integrated part of the activities. Results of the investigation will be communicated in a timelymanner to the affected and interested community through fact sheets, websites and small group community meetings.