Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Precoat Metals Division of Sequa Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
CFM conducted the investigation, during April and May 2001, in accordance with the work plan. In June 2001, CFM provided an Investigation Report to EPA, detailing the results of the investigation. Based on the results of the investigation, EPA made a preliminary decision that no further action is warranted at this facility at this time. EPA provided a public notice stating their no further action decision. There were no comments on EPA's preliminary decision for no further action, therefore a final no further action decision was rendered for this facility.
TRB-MCB 5601 Eastern Avenue, LLC. has purchased the property during April 2014. The new owners wish to enter the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)’s Voluntary Cleanup Program, and are going to perform site characterization work to address data gaps and gather data preparatory to applying to the program.
Site Description
Chesapeake Finished Metals, Inc. is a service industry with the capability to clean, electrogalvanize, surface conversion treat, paint or oil cold-rolled steel, hot dipped galvanized steel, black plate steel or aluminum. Initial operations began in 1976 and included scrubbing of coiled steel with an alkaline polyphosphate cleaner and high pressure washer; electrogalvanizing with zinc sulfate and dilute sulfuric acid and rinsing with water; processing with iron phosphate and an alkaline complex oxide or phosphoric acid; chromate treatment, chromium acid rinse and water rinse; and final processing with primer, paint or other coating. In 1992, a new process replaced the chromate treatment. All chromate submersion baths associated with the previous treatment process were removed and replaced by a new surface conversion process. The new process applies chrome treatment directly to the roll of metal with little waste product being generated. CFM has an on-site wastewater treatment facility and possesses a Howard County (Maryland) Final Wastewater Discharge Permit.
Due to the relatively small size of this facility, the anticipated little to no environmental impacts, and the fact that the facility is located in a predominantly industrial/commercial area, community interaction is not anticipated at this time.
Contaminants at this Facility
Based on the historical information regarding a fuel oil spill and analytical results that revealed elevated metals in water samples from the former storm water basin, potential contaminants of concern at the CFM facility have been identified as semi-volatile compounds, zinc, and chromium.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional Controls were not required at the site.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The facility is under continued use.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of the EPA Region 3 with assistance from Maryland DEP.