STATE ROAD #2 KM. 19.7 (ACUNA STREET)
The Scorpio Recycling, Inc. (SRI) Site is located at state road #2, km 19.7 Interior, in the Candelaria Ward of Toa Baja. The facility is an operating metal recycling company that buys all types of metal and sells it to foundries in the USA, Brazil, Spain and Japan. SRI comprises an area of approximately 6.5 acres. The facility started operations in 1972 under the name of Astur Metals, Inc. and changed it to its actual name in 1989. The property contains five main buildings: (1) the batteries accumulation and aluminum cans compacting building; (2) the aluminum processing building; (3) the offices and red metal processing building; (4) the maintenance shop building; and (5) the batteries and other metals accumulation building. SRI is located between karst hills considered a recharge area to the aquifer. The closest surface water is the Mexico Creek found to the south of the site at approximately 0.39 upstream miles from the site. The population within a 4-mile radius from the site relies on the Bayamon-La Plata blended system. There are seven (7) public wells in use within this radius. The closest operating public supply wells to the site are the Campanilla Wells No. 6, 7, and 8 which are found between 1 to 2 miles range and are considered primary targets since the site is located in a recharge area from groundwater and in karst topography. The apportioned population served by these wells is approximately 5,495 people. On October 8, 1991 and July 14, 1993, representative of EPA collected soil samples at the Site which showed high concentration of barium, lead and vanadium. The total metal analysis in soil gave the following maximum concentration; barium concentration of 120.2 ppm, lead concentration of 9,530 part per million (ppm) and 1,312 ppm of vanadium. Surface water run off showed concentration of 57,300 part per billion (ppb) of lead , 330 ppb of barium and 339 ppb of vanadium. In April 1999, EPA collected samples at the Site as part of an Expanded Site Investigation. The highest surface soil concentration identified the presence of 109,000 ppm lead in the former battery crushing area. The average lead concentration identified at that time was 18,735 ppm. The mechanism for past release to the environment is based upon the improper operating and disposal practices employed at the Site for many years. Contaminants were released to the soil at the Site, in particular within the former battery crushing area and the sinkhole. Documentation exists identifying waste material, including drums, tanks and containers containing sulfuric acid directly into the sinkhole area. There is sufficient evidence to document that the release of these contaminants have had a direct impact on local flora and fauna. Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through Federal actions
11,799 |
People living within a 1 mile radius |
N/A |
Average Income |
4,113 |
Occupied homes |
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