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Thatcher Company of California, Inc., <br /> 2/15/2019 <br /> Additional Persons: <br /> (209) 468-2986 <br /> Garrett Backus Ld. Sr. REHS San Joaquin County Env. Health Dept. gbackusasicehd.com <br /> (209) 468-3147 <br /> John Alaniz REHS San Joaquin County Env. Health De t. jalaniz s'cehd.com <br /> I. Purpose of Investigation <br /> The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI), investigated <br /> Thatcher Company of California; Inc. at 1010 Industrial Drive, Stockton, California as a result of the CalEP <br /> Environmental Justice Initiative conducted in Stockton during the fall of 2018. The OCI identified three <br /> hazardous waste violations including: unauthorized storage, failure to minimize the release of hazardous <br /> waste to the environment which could threaten human health and the environment, and failure to determine <br /> if a waste was a hazardous waste. The violations identified are based on observations,photos, and <br /> statements which are documented in the following,sections of this report. <br /> IL Background Information <br /> Facility Information: Thatcher Company of California, Inc, in Stockton (TCS) purchased Sierra Chemical <br /> Company approximately one year before this investigation. Sierra Chemical was at this site for <br /> approximately 7.5 years. TCS manufactures,and distributes water treatment chemicals. The facility is <br /> approximately 7 acres in size. Including drivers, there are approximately 30 employees. The area is an <br /> Environmental Justice (EJ) area with 90-95% pollution burden, and nearby receptors are homes, just over <br /> one-half mile away. The facility does not have a permit with DTSC but is inspected by the CUPA; San <br /> Joaquin County Environmental Health Division, as a large quantity generator. Per CERS,the CUPA <br /> inspected the facility in 2015 and 2017. US EPA inspected in December 2015 and cited 18 observations <br /> and/or areas of concern. Per Schofield (US EPA inspector), no formal enforcement was conducted against <br /> the facility. <br /> III. Areas Inspected <br /> Site Map Included as Attachment 5 <br /> Name of Area Brief Comments Attachment #and Photo Reference#s <br /> Inspected <br /> Chlorine Re-packaging Inspected off-gassing pipe system See Attachment 6, Walkthrough <br /> Room Photo ra hic Lo , Photo# 1 <br /> Inspected Powell machine, sumps containing See Attachment 6, Photo#'s 2-7 <br /> Powell Machine/Bleach waste from bleach analytics and other <br /> Manufacturing Room caustics, scrubber tank, and pump container <br /> Observed 330-gallon tote with corrosive See Attachment 6, Photo# 8-9 <br /> placard was not empty; it contained solution <br /> Empty tote storage near either removed from or going to a bi-gas tank. <br /> cooling towers (former 5-gallon buckets containing hydrotest wash <br /> maintenance area) water were in the same area <br /> Totes stored in Acid Observed 330-gallon tote containing Sulfurous See Attachment 6, Photo# 10 <br /> Storage Area Acid Scrubber Solution <br /> Retention Pond Inspected pond See Attachment 6, Photo # 11 <br /> Observed tan-colored, foamy solidified See Attachment 6, Photo #'s 12-13 <br /> Trash and Recycling substance that had leaked from the bottom of <br /> Area a 40-yard container labeled "Trash" <br /> Observed several 330-gallon totes that were See Attachment 6, Photo#'s 14-16 <br /> stained/discolored with rust-colored spills <br /> around the outside, rust-colored liquid in <br /> Ferric Chloride Tote secondary containment, and small half-gallon <br /> Storage Area metal cans of dirt/ ravel from sump cleanout <br /> 2of10 <br />