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Standard Auto Bumper Corporation

Standard Auto Bumper Corporation
EPA ID: FLD004126520
Location: Hialeah, Dade County, FL
Congressional District: 21
NPL Status: Proposed: 06/24/88; Final 10/4/89
Project Manager
Site Repository:
John F. Kennedy Memorial Library
190 West 49th St.
Hialeah, FL 33012
Documents:About Adobe Portable Document Format

Site Background:
The Standard Auto Bumper Corporation site in Hialeah, Florida was the location of a small electroplating facility from 1959 to 1993. Until 1972, wastewater from the electroplating and stripping process was discharged into a ditch in the back of the property. From 1972 until 1979, plating waste was treated and discharged into a percolation pit. However, in 1977, the Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) observed discharge going into the ditch. In the 1980's, DERM continued to note numerous violations on the site. In the late 1980's, EPA confirmed metal contamination of soil and groundwater due to poor waste disposal practices. EPA studies continued through the early 1990's and showed widespread nickel and chromium soil contamination. Four municipal well fields that supply drinking water to approximately 750,000 people are within three miles of the site. The site threatens the Biscayne Aquifer, a source of potable groundwater that supplies drinking water to Dade County residents.

Site Responsibility:  The site was initially addressed by the PRP.  The PRP later refused to conduct work and the EPA initiated fund lead actions.

Threats and Contaminants
EPA confirmed metal contamination of soil and groundwater due to poor waste disposal practices. EPA studies continued through the early 1990's and showed widespread nickel and chromium soil contamination. Four municipal well fields that supply drinking water to approximately 750,000 people are within three miles of the site.

Cleanup Approach
The PRP was issued an Administrative Order to conduct removal activities pertaining to this former plating shop.  The building vats, drums and storage containers were removed and contents disposed of properly.  The site surface soils and subsurface soils were grid, sampled and analyzed for contaminants.  The next phase consisted of groundwater sampling and monitoring.  Additional sampling and remediation of adjacent properties were included in this approach since contamination was suspected to have migrated underneath nearby buildings.  Once excavated soils were removed and backfilled the site was graded and monitoring wells were installed to address potential groundwater impact.  Upon completion of all site work institutional controls would be placed on the property to maintain consistency of remedial actions.

Response Action Status
Immediate Action:  There is no immediate EPA action for this site.  The site has been cleaned, and delisted from the NPL.  A restrictive covenant was drafted to include on the property deed for an institutional control of industrial use property.  A second five year review was completed in the summer of 2005.  These reviews will continue due to the presence of contamination underneath foundations of two adjacent businesses.
Entire Site:  In addition to the delisting of the site from the NPL in September 2007, the site was recently bought from the county due to delinquent property taxes.  EPA completed the removal and remedial actions in 1995.  The Florida Department of Environmental Protection conducted groundwater monitoring and sampling for five years through O&M efforts.  The groundwater has been deemed clean and acceptable to State and Federal guidelines.

Cleanup Progress
In 1989, the responsible party and site owner conducted a soil removal under an Administrative Order from the EPA. Non-hazardous contaminated soils were excavated and transported to solid waste landfills under EPA oversight. The responsible party also excavated the hazardous waste from the percolation pit and disposed of it in a hazardous waste disposal facility. In late 1992, EPA selected a remedy for the remaining contaminated soil. The remedy required excavation and offsite disposal of contaminated soil and monitoring of groundwater for up to five years. Fourteen months later in 1993, EPA issued a final cleanup decision for natural attenuation of the groundwater.

Concurrently, in late 1993, prior to starting the soil cleanup, the owner abandoned operations at the site leaving hazardous conditions behind. EPA conducted removal actions which involved removing all hazardous material, including low pH metal plating solutions, plating waste sludge, and chemical containers. Approximately 103,000 gallons of liquid and 480 tons of material were removed. Compatible liquids were pumped from a few dozen containers, drums and tanks, consolidated and removed. The removal action was completed in 1994 when all of the buildings and other on-site structures were demolished and removed.

Following the removal, in late 1994, EPA started the remedial excavation and disposal of soils remaining above cleanup levels. Approximately 6500 cubic yards of contaminated soil was excavated from areas surrounding the buildings and approximated 5000 tons of contaminated soil mixed with concrete was excavated from the area beneath the buildings.

Groundwater monitoring has been conducted to ensure that the early action was effective. The most recent rounds of monitoring show contaminants have decreased below Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs).  The FDEP has conducted the operation and maintenance of the site since removal and remedial actions were completed in 1995. A Five-Year review of the site was completed in 1999 and a second Five-Year review was completed in August of 2005.

Currently, the site is clean and was deleted from the National Priority List (NPL).  Two adjacent properties are being monitored for potential release of contaminants. Identified contaminants exist under a portion of the foundations on nearby facilities.  A third property was added to the monitoring list in late 2006.  A small portion of contaminated soil exists underneath a main gas line.  These areas are inaccessible for removal at this time. Monitoring of these facilities for future changes will provide for continued public and environmental protection.

The county took control of the property in 2004.  Most recently, the property was purchased by a private firm in July of 2005.  The site will continue to be utilized as an industrial/commercial property in which it is currently zoned.  The remaining monitoring wells were properly closed by the new owner in 2006 and 2007.  Additional site documents have been made available to the public via the local repository. The next Five Year Review is due in 2010.

Site Repository
John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, 190 West 49th Street, Hialeah, Florida 33012

For information about the contents of this page please contact Brenda Lane

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