http://www.tceq.texas.gov A collection of photos from the First Quality Cylinders state Superfund site. daily 1 2011-08-22T15:51:43Z http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo1 It was difficult to protect the site and equipment from vandalism. The temporary security fence was easily knocked down to allow access to the building and storage tank. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:19Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo2 While most of the building doors were chained shut, it appeared a simple matter to enter through a window. The abandoned building was a major attraction for people who had no other shelter from the weather. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:20Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo3 Vagrants apparently made themselves as comfortable as possible inside the abandoned building among the drums and storage areas of hazardous waste. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:20Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo4 Drums of plating solution left in 1993, had been recovered from an early collection system that was operated by the facility owner. Drums were left in several storage rooms. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:22Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo5 A system of well housings, pumps and piping manifolds, meant to capture the chromium contaminant and send it to an above-ground storage tank, could not be made to work. Now, buried perforated pipe guides fluids to central collection points where it is pumped to a truck and hauled away for disposal. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:22Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo6 Chromium-contaminated water was left standing in the sump that held the plating tanks. The waste was abandoned when the operation was shut down in December 1993. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:23Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo7 At first, sacks of bentonite clay were dumped into a trench to block the groundwater spread. When that failed, the state contractor engineered a slurry wall which holds and re-directs the contaminants to a withdrawal reservoir. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:23Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo8 Chromium yellow groundwater seeped into the slurry wall test trench along Mullen Road. The perimeter had to be expanded outward. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:24Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo9 A test trench along Fredericksburg Road verified that the contaminant flow had not yet reached the street right of way. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:24Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo10 In 1995-1996, the city installed a 72-inch storm drain along Fredericksburg Road right of way. The storm drain work had to be coordinated with the construction of the First Quality chrome contamination containment. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:25Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photo11 A deep ditch, filled with a Bentonite slurry mix, holds back the flow of contaminants, and re-directs it to pits where it is pumped out and taken to an approved disposal facility. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:25Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photoa Two rows of trenches were constructed down-gradient of the abandoned chrome plating facility. The outer trench was filled with a slurry to block the chrome chemicals plume from spreading off site. Perforated drainage pipe in the bottom of the inner trench channeled the liquids to sumps where it could be withdrawn and disposed of. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:26Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/firstquality/photob The large, blue hazardous waste tank was cut up and removed. The asphalt cap prevents rain from flooding the contamination plume around the slurry wall. The lone, vertical storage tank has a few gallons of fluid that serve as ballast to keep the tank from being blown over. The underground contamination recovery system is regularly emptied by vacuum truck. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-23T18:30:26Z Image