http://www.tceq.texas.gov A collection of photos from the Phipps Plating state Superfund site. daily 1 2011-08-22T15:51:43Z http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo1 The yellow outline indicates the location of Phipps Plating. The former plating company plant was a landmark for U.S. 281 travelers until it was demolished. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:48Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo2 Except for the office which occupied a small corner, the lower structure housed the main plating tanks. Finishing of plated goods was done in the two-story building. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:48Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo3 Iron bars protect the door and window of the front office. From the outside, the chemical contamination of the cinder block structure is not apparent No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:49Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo4 An empty chromic acid bucket sits upside down amid plating sludge. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:49Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo5 Spaces between the boards of the platform allowed spillage to drain onto the floor, where the years of chemicals rotted the supports and had started to dissolve the concrete by the time the facility was closed and torn down. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:50Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo6 The wall-mounted speaker hints at the air quality that was inside the plating company. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:50Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo7 The label on the drum reads, "Zinc Cyanide, 100 pounds". This was one of many unprotected containers that had to be removed for safe disposal. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:51Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo8 Chemical residue was so extensive that there was no way to clean the plating facility for future use. The office section was the first demolished. All debris was removed and disposed of at an authorized off-site facility. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:51Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo9 After the office section debris had been hauled away for off-site disposal, there was room for the equipment to move in and tear down the two-story plating production area. Chemicals had permeated the cinder block walls of the structure so extensively that there was no way to salvage any part of the plating facility for future use. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:52Z Image http://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/superfund/photo_gallery/phipps/photo11 After the contaminated building foundation and soil was removed, the excavation was backfilled with clean soil. The new soil was contoured to prevent stormwater from collecting. The contouring also improved run-off control. No publisher Robin Maiorisi 2011-08-26T18:27:52Z Image