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Industrial Road/Industrial Metals

This Former Lead-Battery Recycling and Copper Salvage Facility in Corpus Christi, Nueces County is in the Operation and Maintenance Phase.

Site Summary

The Industrial Road/Industrial Metals site at 3000 Agnes Street occupies an 8 acre tract in a residential, light industrial, and commercial area of Corpus Christi. The site operated from 1937 to mid-1980 as a metal salvage company dealing mainly in cracked lead acid batteries and copper coils removed from electrical transformers.

In 1981, an investigation at the site revealed piles of cracked batteries, whole batteries, and lead stored in an area of one to two acres in size. At that time, the county health department recommended that the old acid neutralization pit be covered or drained, battery cases removed, and the site sampled for heavy metals. The sampling revealed high levels of both lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) impacting approximately 1,500 cubic yards of soils.

A closure plan was approved by the State of Texas that called for the removal of contaminated soil and construction of clay and concrete caps over the remediated areas. Responsible parties completed the cleanup in 1990.

Superfund Registry and Investigation

In January 2004, the TCEQ proposed the site to the State Superfund Registry and by June 2004 the remedial investigation was under way. In 2011, the TCEQ removed the large, dilapidated building at the site.

Remedial Action

During a soil investigation conducted in November 2013, high concentrations of lead were discovered in the soil along the Tex-Mex Railroad right-of-way, adjacent to the southern perimeter of the site. Because the lead contamination of the soils posed an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment, the TCEQ performed an immediate removal.

In January 2014, approximately 1,853 cubic yards of lead contaminated soils were excavated and properly disposed of off-site. The excavated areas were then backfilled with clean soil. Remedial action was completed in May 2014.

Current Status

Cleanup is complete. The site is in the operation and maintenance phase which requires maintenance inspections of the integrity of the cap and on-site mowing.

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