ML18095A582

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 900913,2 Gallons of Perchloroethylene Spilled at Bosco Cleaning Svcs Trailer on Artifical Island.Contractor Personnel Examined at Hosp. Cleaning Facility Will Be Removed from Island

ML18095A582
Person / Time
Site:	Salem, Hope Creek
Issue date:	11/13/1990
From:	Preston B Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NEW JERSEY, STATE OF
References
NLR-E90300, NUDOCS 9011190312
Download: ML18095A582 (3)

Text

• • o PS~G

• Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038 Nuclear Department CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED NLR-E90300 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Off ice of Hazardous Substances Control Division of Water Resources P.O. Box 2809 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Attention: Discharge Confirmation To Whom It May Concern:

PERCHLOROETHYLENE SPILL (NJDEP CASE #900913-0921) AT BOSCO CLEANING SERVICES TRAILER ON ARTIFICIAL ISLAND On September 13, 1990, PSE&G personnel reported a spill of approximately 2 gallons of perchloroethylene to the NJDEP Hotline, the National Response Center, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Lower Alloways Creek Township Police Department. This report was made based upon an estimated release of 27 pounds (2 gallons x 8.3 lb/gal. x 1.62 specific gravity),

which exceeds the 40 CFR 302 reportable quantity (RQ) of 1 pound as well as constituting a quantity that might result in environmental damage. The release came.from a contractor-owned and operated facility located on PSE&G property (Artificial Island)

• PSE&G is confirming this discharge as owner of the affected property and is neither owner/operator of the facility nor involved in the day-to-day operations of this facility.

PSE&G understands that the responsible contractor will submit a separate discharge confirmation report to fulfill his requirements of N.J.A.C. 7.lE, which include follow-up on the separate case number assigned to his report.

BACKGROUND Perchloroethylene is used as a dry cleaning solvent for cleaning the uniforms of the Wackenhut Nuclear Services Corporation security guards at Artificial Island. The Miraclean Model "Rock 35 11 Dry Cleaning Machine (NJ Air Permit #087626) is located in a small trailer on PSE&G property and is owned and operated by Bosco Cleaning Services, Inc., under contract to Wackenhut. A storage tank containing 125 gallons of perchloroethylene is an

• integral part of the machine and serves as the machine base

• The Energy People 90!1190312 901113 PDk C*

Q ADOCK

- ... -*. *-~ ._,

n~nnn?~,?

PDC 95-2168 (30Ml 11 *88

• NJDEP NLR-E90300 EVENT DESCRIPTION 2

NOV 1 3 1990 As reported to PSE&G personnel at approximately 0800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br /> on September 13, 1990 by Bosco personnel, at approximately 0710 hours0.00822 days <br />0.197 hours <br />0.00117 weeks <br />2.70155e-4 months <br /> the dry cleaning machine was energized for use during the normal work shift. At approximately 0730 hours0.00845 days <br />0.203 hours <br />0.00121 weeks <br />2.77765e-4 months <br /> on that same morning, puddles of perchloroethylene were discovered inside the trailer next to the dry cleaning machine. The source of the release was traced to a leaking filter on the dry cleaning machine. The dry cleaning machine was secured immediately to stop the release. Based on the estimated leakage rate through the filter, PSE&G personnel believed at the time that approximately 2 gallons (27 pounds) of perchloroethylene was released to the ground through the trailer. The decision was made that this release both exceeded the RQ value of 1 pound and was a reportable discharge that required notification under N.J.A.C. 7.lE-2.1. PSE&G personnel made an immediate report.

SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION Two contractor personnel who were working in the trailer were immediately taken to the PSE&G Medical Department on-site for evaluation. Neither was injured nor initially showed any symptoms of exposure. Both contractor personnel were subsequently taken to Salem Memorial Hospital for observation and testing and released satisfactorily that same afternoon after showing no side effects of exposure. The PSE&G Medical Department then cleared both personnel for return to work.

The area below the trailer was immediately excavated to remove contaminated soil. Seven 55-gallon drums were filled and manifested as hazardous waste. Post-excavation sampling was performed and the contractor was responsible for a complete cleanup. Access to the spill area was restricted indefinitely.

There was no discharge to any waterbody.

CONCLUSION Reporting requirements at both state and federal levels require immediate notification for a spill of hazardous substances that may result in environmental damage, or is above an RQ value, respectively. Based on the rate of leakage and the elapsed time

_ before discovery of the spill it was determined that the amount of perchloroethylene discharged was in excess of its RQ value, and might result in harm to the environment, so notification was made by PSE&G (property owner). PSE&G later determined that Bosco (owner/operator/responsible party) had also notified NJDEP,

• and received its own case number

• _j

\_* ~

.. _.,' .* t .,

• NJDEP NLR-E90300 3

All operations at the trailer have ceased. Wackenhut has

.'-i:.; '/

committed to remove the trailer from PSE&G property and to I

l

~

expeditiously complete the cleanup of any residual perchloroethylene in the soil. The cleanup will be accomplished with the direct oversight of Wackenhut should Bosco abandon his responsibility.

The Discharge Prevention, Containment and Countermeasure and Discharge Cleanup and Removal Plans for Artificial Island prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:1E-4.5 and 7:1E-4.21 respectively will not be amended as a result of this spill since the facility is not PSE&G's and was not in PSE&G's Plans. Furthermore, the facility is intended to be removed from Artificial Island.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Don Bowman of my staff at (609) 339-1477 .

c Bureau of Southern Enforcement New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 20 E. Clementon Road Gibbsboro, NJ 08026 ATTN: Nick Sodano United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Salem County Department of Health 98 Market Street Salem, NJ 08079 ATTN: James Warner Senior Sanitary Inspector