PRELIMINARY SITE ASSESSMENT (PSA) FOR INDEPENDENT TALLOW COMPANY, INCWoburn, Massachusetts
Submitted to: Merrill S. Hohman, Director Air and Hazardous Materials Division U.S. EPA, Region I
Submitted by: David Cook, Project Leader Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E&E) FIT Team, Region I
Date Submitted: November 3, 1980
SDMS DocID 5 4 7 7 7 1
PRELIMINARY SITE ASSESSMENT
Address: 39 Cedar Street
F-1-8005-01E-04
1. Purpose of Assessment:
To gather information necessary to determine the potential for RCRA and/or 311/104 Clean Water Act actions regarding Independent Tallow Company, Inc., Cedar Street, Woburn, Massachusetts operations.
2. Objective:
To conduct an o f f - s i t e invest igat ion of Independent Tallow Company,
Inc. property in order to locate evidence of contamination, i d e n t i f y
possible contaminants and determine sampling point locations for fu ture
on-s i te a c t i v i t i e s .
3. Background:
3.1 Site Descr ip t ion:
Independent Tallow Company, Inc. is si tuated on 15.88 acres of
land ( l o t #2, section 17-001) between Cedar Street and Forbes Road
in East Woburn. The Woburn-Stoneham town boundary borders the
northeastern edge of the property. See Figure 1 for a detai led p lo t
map of the s i t e . Thick vegetation exists around most of the s i t e .
There are no signs of vegetative s t ress. There are two processing
bui ld ings and one small o f f i c e bui ld ing on s i t e . The western
one-half of the property is a wetlands area. There is one well on
the property as noted in Figure 1 . Several groups of 55-gallon
drums are located near the northern processing bu i ld ing . An area
where old drums appear to be disgarded is noted in Figure 1 . This
information was obtained from November, 1979 aerial photographs.
The 1966 aer ia l photograph presented in Figure 2 indicates a
dumping area not evident in the 1979 photographs.
4 - 2
Pi?oPJzRry ~BOUAJOARY
depicting various sites on their property.
4 P­ ?1 t j • 4 * *
f£3 ft J t *
r f * * ­i L . "s4-2t? i , * F 1 - -v**
L U
3^
Figure 2: 1966 Aerial Photograph of Independent Tallow Company, Inc.
F-1-8005-01E-04
3. Background - continued
3.2 Primary Site A c t i v i t y :
A telephone interview between Richard DiNi t to of Ecology and
Environment, Inc. and Mel Rossman, the Plant Manager of Independent
Tallow Company, Inc. was conducted on October 3 1 , 1980 to gather
information about the s i t e .
Independent Tallow Company was owned and operated by Mr.
Rob i ta i l l e and family from the 1940's u n t i l 1975 when i t was bought
by Mr. Abraham Levovi tz. The company now employs approximately 50
people in an operation that produces two products: ta l low (used in
soaps) and crack- l ing (animal feed) . Material for the operation is
fa t and bones bought from local supermarkets, butcher shops, and
restaurants which is transported in 55-gallon drums to the Woburn
plant by the i r own t rucks. At the plant the fa t and bones are
ground up and then placed in the cookers. There the ground up
material is heated to 260T to dr ive o f f any moisture held in the
f a t or bones. This moisture is bled o f f and emptied into the MDC
sewer system. Af ter the cooking process, the ground material is
separated into ta l low, an o i l - l i k e substance used in soaps, and
c rack - l i ng , the remaining cr isp residue. The ta l low is then
f i l t e r e d and c l a r i f i e d before being shipped to the soap
manufacturers. F i l te red impur i t ies are generally put back into the
process l i n e . The crack- l ing or residue is packaged for use as an
animal feed. The on-si te production well is used for the air
po l l u t i on control equipment, a packed tower to control the odor
generated from the cooking process. This water is also disposed of
in to the sewer system.
Mr. Rossman stated that Independent Tallow Company, Inc. does
not use any chemicals or solvents for any purpose. The only
barrels stored on-s i te are those used to transport fa t and bones
from the local supermarkets, e tc .
4 - 5
Numerous complaints concerning the odor generated by
Independent Tallow Company have been received by both the Woburn
Board of Health and the Enforcement Division of the Department of
Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE). Mr. Herb Redman, the
Assistant Director of Enforcement for the DEQE, stated that
Independent Tallow Company is not a hazardous waste generator, but
is a rendering plant. Tom Mernin, Woburn's City Engineer stated
that he was more concerned with their cooked fats entering the
sewer system and causing a sewer back-up.
A perimeter survey was conducted on October 17, 1980 by E & E
personnel. Thick vegetative growth exists around much of the
property. The stream that flows through the property showed no
signs of contamination or odor at the point where i t exits the
Independent Tallow property at Forbes Road. Aerial photographs
from 1966 and 1979 show areas of dumping of solid waste. These
areas are outlined in Figure 1 & 2.
Mr. Rossman stated that no solvents or other chemicals are
used at the plant.
4. Recommendations:
Although no solvents or other chemicals are used in the process,
according to Mr. Rossman, i t is possible that various impurities are
present in the water drawn off from rendering. In addition, the barrel
4 - 6
4. Recommendations - continued
storage and reworked areas may contain spills or seeps generated by the
previous owner. Contaminants may enter the local watershed system by
way of the stream flowing through the property.
On the basis of the information provided in this document sampling
should be performed at these points:
1. The stream at a point upgradient from potentially contaminated
areas.
3. The on-site well to determine i f groundwater contamination
exi sts.
4. Sewer exiting the Independent Tallow Company to determine i f
the waste water is contaminated.
5. The present or past contents of the drums on site should be
determined by sampling and/or reading drum labels.
4 - 7
R E G I O N SITE NUMBER (to be as. e igned by Hq)PCffENTIAL HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE &EPA
1IDENTIFICATION AND PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT NOTE: This form is completed for each potential hazardous waste site to help set priorities for site inspection. The information submitted on this form is based on available records and may be updated on subsequent forms as a result of additional inquiries and on-site inspections.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: Complete Sections I and I I I through X as completely as possible before Section I I (Preliminary Assessment), Fi le this form in the Regional Hazardous Waste Log Fi le and submit a copy to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Site Tracking System; Hazardous Waste Enforcement Task Force (EN-335); 401 M St., SW; Washington, DC 20460.
I. SITE IDENTIFICATION A . S I T E N A M E B. STREET (or other identifier)
Independent Tallow Company, Inc 39 Cedar Street C. C I T Y D. S T A T E E. Z I P C O D E F. C O U N T Y N A M E
Woburn, MA 01801 Middlesex G. O W N E R / O P E R A T O R ( i f known )
1. N A M E 2 . T E L E P H O N E N U M B E R
Mr. Abraham Levovitz 729-2390 H. T Y P E O F O W N E R S H I P
• l . F E D E R A L [ ~ J 2 . S T A T E ( Z D ^ ' C O U N T Y [~_~J4. M U N I C I P A L [ j [ ] 5 . P R I V A T E | | 6 . UNKNOWN
I . S I T E D E S C R I P T I O N
Rendering f a c i l i t y fo r the production of ta l low ( fo r soap) and crack- l ing ( fo r animal feed)
J. HOW I DEN Tl Fl ED ("i.e., citizen's complaints, OSHA citations, etc) K. DATE IDENTIFIED (mo., day, & yt,) TDD #F-1-8005-01E
Sept . , 1980 L . P R I N C I P A L S T A T E C O N T A C T
1 . N A M E 2 . T E L E P H O N E N U M B E R
Brian Kelleher 935-2160
II. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT (complete, this section last) A . A P P A R F N T SERIOUSNESS O F P R O B L E M
1 | t . HIGH CZ]2- MEDIUM Q[ ] 3 - LOW CZK NONE Q s . UNKNOWN
B. RECOMMENDATION
I | 1. NO ACTION NEEDED (no hazard) 2. I M M E D I A T E S I T E I N S P E C T I O N N E E D E D • B. T E N T A T I V E L Y S C H E D U L E D FOR­
3. S I T E I N S P E C T I O N N E E D E D a . T E N T A T I V E L Y S C H E D U L E D F O R : b. W I L L BE P E R F O R M E D BY:
"Dec. a, i^fco b . W I L L B E P E R F O R M E D B Y :
E 1 4. SITE INSPECTION NEEDED (low priority)
C. P R E P A R E R I N F O R M A T I O N
1 . N A M E 2 . T E L E P H O N E N U M B E R 3. DATE (mo., day, 6t yr.)
Richard G. DiNi t to 935-4008 10/31/80 III. SITE INFORMATION
A . S I T E S T A T U S
t . ACTIVE (Those industrial or S 2. INACTIVE (Those H3. OTH ER (specify):, municipal sites which are being used »s which no longer recei\ ose sitets that include such incidents like "midnight dumping" where for waste treatment, storage, or disposal wastes.) no regular or continuing use of the site for waste disposal has occurred.) on a continuing basis, even if infre­ quently,)
B. IS G E N E R A T O R ON S ITE?
t . NO 1 | 2. YES (specify generator's tour—digit SIC Code):
C. AREA OF SITE (in acres) D. IF APPARENT SERIOUSNESS OF SITE IS HIGH, SPECIFY COORDINATES
1. LATITUDE (deg,—min.—sec.) 2. LONGITUDE (deg.—min.—sec.)
15.88 E. A R E T H E R E B U I L D I N G S ON T H E S ITE?
* • i . NO [ "J 2. YES(spedty): T - bui ld ings f o r process plants and o f f i ces n r e e
T207O-2 (1 0-79) Continue On Reverse
Continued From Front IV. CHARACTERIZATION OF SITE ACTIVITY
Indicate the major site act ivi tyf ies) and details relating to each activity by marking ' X ' in the appropriate boxes.
X ' O . D ISPOSER C. T R E A T E R B. S T O R E R A . T R A N S P O R T E R
1 . F I L T R A T I O N ! l . L A N D F I L L 1 . P I L E t . R A I L
2 . L A N D F A R M 2 . S U R F A C E I M P O U N D M E N T 2 . I N C I N E R A T I O N 2 . S H I P 9 . O P E N D U M P 3 . V O L U M E R E D U C T I O N 3 . D R U M S 3 . B A R G E
4 . R E C Y C L I N G / R E C O V E R Y 4 . S U R F A C E I M P O U N D M E N T 4 . T A N K , A B O V E G R O U N D 4 . T R U C K
6 . T A N K , B E L O W G R O U N D 8 . C H E M . / P H Y S . T R E A T M E N T 6 . M I D N I G H T D U M P I N G 8 . P I P E L I N E
6 . I N C I N E R A T I O N t . B I O L O G I C A L T R E A T M E N T 6. OTHER (specify):6. OTHER (specify):
7 . U N D E R G R O U N D I N J E C T I O N 7 . W A S T E O I L R E P R O C E S S I N G
8 . S O L V E N T R E C O V E R Y Xje. OTHER (specify):
8. OTHER (specify): Disposal of waste water in to local sewers
E. S P E C I F Y D E T A I L S O F S I T E A C T I V I T I E S AS N E E D E D
Barrels of bones and f a t shipped to f a c i l i t y where f a t and bones are rendered at
260'F Moisture dr iven o f f is disposed*into sewers. The rendered material is separa­ ted e i ther in to ta l low or c rack - l i ng . Any s l i g h t amount of waste is recycled through
prnrpss V. WASTE R E L A T E D INFORMATION A. W A S T E T Y P E
• l . U N K N O W N [ X ] 2 - L I Q U I D j | 3 . S O L I D [X~}4. S L U D G E | )S. GAS
B. W A S T E C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
q j j l . U N K N O W N O C O R R O S I V E [ ~ J 3 . I G N I T A B L E O R A D I O A C T I V E O H I G H L Y V O L A T I L E
| | 6 . T O X I C [ ~ J 7 . R E A C T I V E ( X ] 8 . I N E R T F L A M M A B L E
| 110. OTHER (specify):
C . W A S T E C A T E G O R I E S t . , 1. Are records of wastes available? Specify items such as manifests, inventories, etc. below.
NO 2. Estimate the amount (specify unit of measure)of waste by category; mark ' X ' to indicate which wastes are present
S O L V E N T S C H E M I C A L S e . S O L I D S f . O T H E R a . S L U D G E b. O I L c . d .
A M O U N T A M O U N T A M O ' I N T
Unknown U N I T O F M E A S U R E U N I T O F M E A S U R E
U N I T O F M E A S U R E U N I X - D F - - M E A S U R E U N I T O F M E A S U R E U N I T O F M E A S U R E
L A B O R A T O R Y t l ) P A I N T , X ' ( D O I L Y
X ' (1 ) H A L O G E N A T E D X' (1 ) F L Y ASH P H A R M A C E U T . S O L V E N T S P I G M E N T S WASTES
( 2 ) M E T A L S ( 2 ) O T H E R f » p e c i / y J : (2) NON-H ALOGNTD ( 2 ) P I C K L I N G ( 2 ) A S B E S T O S ( 2 ) H O S P I T A L S L U D G E S SOLVENTS L I Q U O R S
(3) OTHERf specify): ( 3 ) M I L L I N G / ( 3 ) R A D I O A C T I V E ( 3 ) C A U S T I C S M I N E T A I L I N G S
F E R R O U S ( 4 ) A L U M I N U M ( 4 ) P E S T I C I D E S ( 4 ) M U N I C I P A L
S M L T G . W A S T E S S L U D G E
t N O N - F E R R O U S (8) OTHER (specify) X_l(B> OTHERfspecify) ( 0 ) D Y E S / I N K S S M L T G . W A S T E S
Fat and bone («) OTHER (specify):
10) C Y A N I D E sludge may be dumped and
( 7 ) P H E N O L S l a n d f i l l e d on property
( 8 ) H A L O G E N S
( l O ) M E T A L S
. ( 1 1 ) O T H E R ( s p e c i f y . )
P A G E 2 O F 4 Continue On Page 3 E P A Fo rm T 2 0 7 0 - 2 (10-79)
Continued From Page 2
V. WASTE RELATED INFORMATION (conttTttfed)
3. LIST SUBSTANCES OF GREATEST CONCERN WHICH MAY BE ON THE SITE (place in descending order of hazard).
Possible disposal of fat and bones disposed on-site, may contaminate local surface waters. Waste water disposal to sewers may contain various fatty acids and other unknown contaminants
4. A D D I T I O N A L C O M M E N T S OR N A R R A T I V E D E S C R I P T I O N O F S I T U A T I O N KNOWN OR R E P O R T E D T O E X I S T A T T H E S I T E .
Dozens of complaints of odor from rendering plant made to the Woburn Board of Health.
VI . H A Z A R D D E S C R I P T I O N
B. POTEN­ D. DATE OF
TIAL INCIDENTALLEGED .A. TYPE OF HAZARD E R E M A R K S INCIDENT
(mark ' X ' ) HAZARD (mo.,day,yr*)
2. HUMAN H E A L T H
N O N - W O R K E R I N J U R Y / E X P O S U R E
4 . W O R K E R I N J U R Y
C O N T A M I N A T I O N O F W A T E R S U P P L Y
C O N T A M I N A T I O N O F F O O D C H A I N
C O N T A M I N A T I O N O F G R O U N D W A T E R
C O N T A M I N A T ' O N Possible contamination by suspected O F S U R F A C E W A T E R landfilling area. D A M A G E T O F L O R A / F A U N A
1 0 . F I S H K I L L
C O N T A M I N A T I O N From odor from rendering plant O F A I R
Vomitus odor periodically arising 12. N O T I C E A B L E ODORS from rendering plant 1 3 . C O N T A M I N A T I O N O F S O I L From sludge dumping
1 4 . P R O P E R T Y D A M A G E
I B . F I R E O R E X P L O S I O N
S P I L L S / L E A K I N G C O N T A I N E R S / ° " R U N O F F / S T A N D I N G L I Q U I D S
S E W E R . S T O R M Possible contamination by waste D R A I N P R O B L E M S water
1 8 . E R O S I O N P R O B L E M S
1 9 . I N A D E Q U A T E S E C U R I T Y
2 0 . I N C O M P A T I B L E W A S T E S
2 1 . M I D N I G H T D U M P I N G
2 2. OTHER (specify):
Continue On ReverseE PA Form T2070-2 (1 0-79) P A G E 3 O F 4
Continued From Front .
^ V I I . PERMIT INFORMATION v
A. I N D I C A T E A L L A P P L I C A B L E P E R M I T S H E L D BY T H E S I T E . V j o O C
| 1 1. N P D E S P E R M I T • 2. S P C C P L A N O 3. S T A T E P E R M I T f « P « c i / y ; . ­
| 1 4 . A I R P E R M I T S • 5. L O C A L P E R M I T • 6 . R C R A T R A N S P O R T E R
• 7 . R C R A S T O R E R • 8. R C R A T R E A T E R • 9. R C R A D ISPOSER
| | 10. O T H E R ( s p e c i i y ) ^ ^ —
B. IN C O M P L I A N C E ? k i ^ f t
• 1 . Y E S • 2. NO • 3. U N K N O W N
4. WITH R E S P E C T TO ( l i s t r e g u l a t i o n name & number ) : _
V I I I . PAST REGULATORY ACTIONS
| | A. NONE | | B. YES (summarize below)
IX. INSPECTION ACTIVITY (past or on-going)
f_vj B. YES (complete items 1,2,3, & 4 below)
2 DATE OF 3. P E R F O R M E D
| | A . N O N E
4 . D E S C R I P T I O N BY : 1 . T Y P E O F A C T I V I T Y PAST ACTION (mo., day, dt yr.) (EPA/ State)
To inspect suspected activity of Solid Waste Activity 10-24-80 State dumping sludge on site. Inspection
X. REMEDIAL ACTIVITY (past or on-going)
| [ B. YES (complete items 1, 2,3, & 4 below)| | A . N O N E
2. DATE OF 3. PERFORMED 4 . D E S C R I P T I O N PAST ACTION BY:
(mo., day, & yr.) (EPA/State) 1 . T Y P E OF A C T I V I T Y
NOTE: Based on the information in Sections I I I through X, f i l l out the Preliminary Assessment (Section I I )