OA-SOl i»-6V COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYUVAN1A

April 9,

BJECT: Harriaburg International Airport(Formerly Olmstead Air Force Base)

Edward R. SimmonsRegional Solid Waste Manager Thru: Operations SupervisorHarrisburg Regional Office

Timothy A. Alexander a Joseph A, KosloslcyFROM; Solid Waste Specialist n". Solid Waste Specialist

Harrisburg Regional Office d Harrisburg Regional Office

At your request, we have investigated-historical and present industrialwaste activities at the Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown,Pennsylvania. United States Air Force-building design plans (Circa late19̂ 0's through 1960*8) were examined to aid our evaluation of industrialoperations. Methods of waste collection and modes of waste disseminationthrough sumps, pipelines, and ultimately to the sanitary and/or industrialtreatment plants were considered. Prominent buildings with pipeline con-nections to the industrial treatment plant Wo, 267 (built 1956) were thefocus of our investigation. It should be understood that informationleading to past U.S. Air Force operations were limited to incomplete archi-tectural drawings provided by PennDQT. It was presum: .ed that all USAFbuildings on line to the industrial waste treatment plant were possiblegenerators and potential sources of contaminants that presently affect theairport grounds.

Those buildings (many of which have been demolished) were also inspected toevaluate current solid waste handling practices. It is our hope that theinformation and suggestions provided will be useful in understanding thecontamination which affects the Middletown area.

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Attachments

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Brief History of the Harrisburg International Airport

1917 Land purchased 'from area farmers by theOrdinance Branch of the United States Army.

1918 Military aircraft began using the base.

1922 U.S. Army Air Corps moved to the Airport.

1923 The base name changed to Olmstead Field.

1925 Repair of Aircraft initiated.

19̂ 0|s During WW II over 17,000 civilians wereemployed. Olmstead was the largest engine1overhaul center £h the world with a record 2,325engines repaired per month*

1950's Olmstead's importance as an engine overhaulcenter again came to surface* It was the secondlargest facility of it's kind in the Unites States.

19£̂ * Announced by the Air Force that Olmstead wouldbe closed*

1967 The Bureau of Military Affairs of Pennsylvaniatook over Olmstead and designated it as HarrisburgInternational Airport. The present day custo-dian is the Pennsylvania Department of Transporta-tion, Bureau of Aviation*

Ĉhronology provided by George Leininger - Maintenance Supervisor,Harrisburg International Airport.

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Harrisburg International Airport

Building No, gl» - Built 1955 :- .*,

Design Use: Washracfc, Utility Storage

Known use in 1961; Washrack, Utility Storage

Industrial Waste line shown leaving building - from Drawing: rv>AAmAC

Present Status; Torn down

Building Mo. 126 - Built 1928

Design Use; Hanger, maintenance

Use; Hanger, maintenance

Present Status: Torn down

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An investigation of Building Host 2^ and 126 area .reveals the presenceof an exposed Sump Pit at the southern corner of Building No, 126, Thepit dimensions are approximately 31 by 3f, This is a potential samplingpoint, -• -- j- """:" ~ ̂ -~- -••--;-- —— -— -- = .-.,,-. .=.--̂ .̂ ^̂ - =

Harrisburg International AirportPage 2

Building No. ite - Built

Design Use; Warehouse, Supply and Equipment

Use in 1961: Shop and Engine Repair

Present Status: Leased by United Piece Dye Co.

It is the investigators1 conclusion that this building was a highlyactive shop and engine repair operation for a substantial part of the AirForce's stay on-site, Drawings and plans dated from 1958-1963 revealseveral painting and degreasing facilities located in the northeastwing of the building. •

November, 19̂ 3/Plan No, F-102-51-15 reveals l6'Xl6' painting roomNo. F-1Q2-51-16" reveals a waste storage tank

on the vest side of the building U1 below the ground.April, 1959/Plan No. As BLT-E-102-U3-17 reveals thê location ofdegreasers and sump pits* There are indications w&e*e alterationshad been made-.where degreasers had been removed (April, 1959) andtank pitŝ located at the southwest corner of the building»had beendeleted (October, 1958) and filled in.

A reference from the Industrial Waste Treatment Plant No 26*7 statesthat acid and alkali sludges were collected monthly from Building No*ll*2. This may indicate wastes generated from past boiler cleanings.

An interpretation from an incomplete set of plans for the industrialwaste lines (MAAMAJTT-^Q-^jS^tS) lead these investigators to ift&itthat the industrial waste line to Building No. 267 (Ind* Tx Plant)passed under the northern most end of Building No.

An on-site investigation on April 3, 1981* confirmed the presence of •cemented over tank pits. The industrial waste line was traced to anexisting sump pit on the northern end of the building of the northeastwing* The sump is presently used by United Piece Dye Works to collectboiler blowdown water. A possible industrial waste line access manholeexists 15 ft. east of the sump.

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Harrisburg International AirportPage 3

Building No* 1^2 - Present Status/United Piece Dye Works

Individuals interviewed - Mike McGarvey - Technical Manager andLarry Graby - Maintenance Supervisor

United Piece and Dye Works assumed occupancy of Building No* 1U2 in1969 • The principle operation is the dying of polyester fabrics. Theprocess involves using a carrier or--.an inactive accessory substance totransfer a water-based dye onto cloth. The carrier which was utilizeduntil July, 1983 was PCE. It appears that all waste liquids are cycledthrough a central sump in the northeast wing and forwarded to a seriesof five treatment ponds . Treatment consists of settling solids in PondNo, 1 followed by aeration in the succeeding No. 2 through Wo. 5 pondsbefore being discharged to the Susquehanna River, United Piece Dyecurrently holds an approval for the discharge* A large portion ofprocess water used by United Piece Dye is derived from Well No. 13(500,000-600,000 gpd) * Consideration should be given to the fact thatWell No, 13 is presently contaminated; among the .known contaminantsis PCH;, The active central process sump should be examined to deter-mine its structural integrity.

Building Ho 2W - Built 19****

•Designed Use; Design and reclaimation facility (woodworking) j196l Use: SamePresent Status: Torn downWaste related information: Waste Treatment Plant references thesouthwest corner of Building No 2M as a weekly pick-up location forthree drums of waste material*

Building No* 58 - Built 19*H

Designed Use; Shop/Engine Repair1961 Use: Shop/Engine RepairPresent Status; Olivet,ti Supply Company Warehouse

A March, 195^> plan entitled "Modification of 'Jet Engine Shops Building"details the acitivity of a plating operation* It is noted that thiswas ongoing before the industrial waste treatment_was built in 1956.

As described from 195 K Plan No. __ B-108-17-1*

Two industrial waste lines can be seen coming from the northern sideof Building Ho 58 as indicated on Plan MAAMA 57-20-3. A R \H i 4 I

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An inspection on April 1*, 198U revealed "the presence of an open sumpon the northeast corner of Building No 58* This may serve as a futuresampling point,

Building Wos. 58-137

Present Status: Olivetti Supply

Individual Interviewed: Bob Kataehson - Operation Manager

Olivetti Supply moved into Building Nos, 58-137 in 1980. The principaloccupation is the manufacturing of typewriter ribbon productst Thereare essentially two processes at work. In the first process asubstrate (typewriter ribbon) is impregnated with ink, and in thesecond process, polyster material is-ink coated. Two hundred peopleare employed over two work shifts*

Olivetti is a'swall quantity generator of still bottoms from a solventdistillery (l,l,l-TCE).

It was noted that in the coating room on the southeast end of BuildingNo. 137. the floor was heavily stained with ink. Two floor drains wereopen. When questions in regards to the possibility of ink beingwashed down open drains, Mr* Katzenson stated that spiled ink wasroutinely vacuumed from the floor. The veracity of this statementshould be questioned and the condition relayed to PennDOT officials.A suitable solution would be to permanently seal the floor drain.

Building Wo, 258 - Built 195fr

Design Use; Hazardous Test Department196l Use: Shop and Engine Repair ' .Present Status; Vert Bookbinding Company

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After reviewing Plans E-102-l6-2,l3, dated March, 195̂ questioningairport personnel and performing an on-site inspection, investigatorswere unable to decipher the exact nature of hazardous test acitivites.We do know that in 195*1, test cells were connected to two waste storagetanks (waste oil and waste fuel) located at the northeast corner ofthe building. The tank to the far no.rth was later replaced in 1972 byan 8,000 gallon fuel tank to supply a "boiler. Both tanks still existbelow ground* Inside of the northern corner of the building exists awaste water reservoir 25!X 26?X 91 deep. The 195̂ plans referencedaboved indicate that wastewater was normally pumped from the reservoirto the sewer and overflow passed to the storm sewer. The reservoir iscurrently inactive and empty.

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Building No. Sg8

Present Status: Wert BookbindingIndividual interviewed - Todd Wert - Owner

>This bookbinding facility employs 75 people during a one shift opera-tion. Bookbinding'is the sole operation. Cragbqnd, a polyvinyl glue,is used as the bookbinding agent* The Machine Shop uses a sani-cleansolvent, which is leased, and 1,1,1-TCK is used to wipe away residuefrom cooling oils (approximately 55 gal/4 mo.). The 1,1,1-TCE isapplied with paper towels and disposed of in a dumpster* It wasrecommended that an alternative to the chlorinated hydrocarbon beused. Wert was informed of proper handling techniques _for disposal ofrags contaminated with 1,1,1-TCE.

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Stressed vegetation was observed on the north side of the buildingduring the April ̂ , 198U inspection* The area should be reviewed andpossitly soil sampling carried out. The two underground tanks shouldhave their contents examined.

Building "Mo. 29 - Built 19̂ 0 ";

Design Use; Jet Test CellUse 1961: Test Cell . . . . . ;Present Status: Torn down 1980

There were no plans on file for Building No. 29. The location hasbeen paved with asphalt* The waste pick-up schedule for in BuildingNo. 267 indicates that six underground tanks had existed to serve theoperations in Building No* 29* The past use of these tanks should bedetermined.

Building Ho, 28 - Built 1935

Design Use; Air Conditioning Engineering Shop196l Use: Hanger Maintenance DepotPresent Status: Olmstead Instrument Company, PennDOT PhotogranurietrySurvey Divisionj Built 1935*

Building No. 28 has historically and presently continues to serve asthe heart of the industrial complex at the Airport. The 1951 plans,MAAMA-51-5-1 show large scale nickel and chrome electroplating, opera-tions t A degreaser 19! X 8' has centrally located in the 1951 opera-tion. All wastes appear to have been discharged to the sanitarysewers, however, according to William McMinn, President of Olmstead-'Instrument Col, a worker in the plating operation, indicated thatspent still bottoms. from the degreaser were routinely removed anddrummed for disposal.

In 1956, industrial waste lines were connected to the northern sideof Building No 28 which is now occupied T>y Olmstead Instrument Company.

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Qlmstead Instrument Company

Individual Interviewed - William McMinn - President

Olmstead Instrument Company is an aircraft instrument repair and service facility* Sftis Company has occupied Building No, 28 since 1970and employs 20 people. 10,000 square feet of Building No. 28 isleased "by Olmstead Instrument. .- .

Parts Cleaners used by Olrastead Instrument include:

1. Freon TF - 5 gal/mo,2, DOW Cleaner EC - 30 gal/yr.3. TO3 - 5 gal/mo.H, MEK - 5 gal/6 mo.5. Methylene Chloride 5 gal/mo,

During an inspection on April 5, 19SU, a steel tank was noted on theouter wall of the northeast corner of Building No. 23. It was nearlyfull of liquid (estimated volume at 1500 gal) . According to the theBureau of Water Quality Management, this tank was cut-off from thestorm sewer drain line in 1983. It was learned that the liquid! iscontaminated with raethylene chloride, based on a previous analysis byDER. A Notice of Violation is forthcoming from the Bureau of SolidWaste Management which will address discrepancies of improper hazar-dous waste storage.

Building No. 28 - Photogrammetry Survey DivisionBureau of Design, PennDQT _______

The Photogrammetry Division provides aerail photo service for allStats related agencies.

Waste Products Include:Kodax 22 fixerKodax Fixer rRype S,P-iKodax 885 developerKodax 885 fixerHunt's -Star fix

Ilfospeed-Ilford Corporation

All accumulated waste goes to a holding tank. Safety Data Sheets areforthcoming from PennDOT.

Harrisburg International AirportPage 8

Building Ho. 26 ?

Present Status; Minute Man Airways, Inc.

Contact: Gene Strine - Foreman

Minute Man Airways overhauls and renovates Vintage Military Aircraft(Circa WW II), in a relatively small operation in the northern cornerof Building No* 28. Small scale paint.stripping (raethylene chloride),parts cleaning (stoddard solvents), and painting of these aircraft iscurrently ongoing on-site. Wastes are apparently released down twofloor drains (unknown destination) which result from periodic floorsweepings and washings. These floor drains are severely clogged dueto years of improper use, aa& Additional information on Minute ManAirways could not be obtained due to the uncooperative nature of thecontact person. The underground direction of the drain pipes shouldbe determined. " -——

Building No 86

Present Status; Starabaugh's Air Service

Stambaugh's Air Service (SAS) currently operates a commercial andmilitary aircraft modifications, overhaul, and repair service in,Building Nos. 28 and 133. The majority of work at SAS includes £aintstripping, parts cleaning and painting of primarily military flighttraining aircraft, SAS currently utilizes about 75$ of the activearea of Building No. 23, and about 90$ of Building No. 133. SAS isthe largest private industrial aircraft maintenance operation at theairport. SAS was found to be in violation of DER's Hazardous WasteRegulations in April, 1982, and in April 1963* The violationsincluded improper hazardous waste storage activities which resultedfrom a paint stripping process in Building No. 133. Attached is amemo which outlines the Department's investigations into operations atSAS (SAS - J.A. Kozlpsky - March 16", 19810 .

Building Wo* 13.3 - Built 19̂ 2

Design Use; Maintenance, DockKnown Use; USAP Aircraft Maintenance DockPresent Status; Stambaugh's Air Service (SAS)

•The primary activity in Hanger Bo. 133 is paint stripping of aircraftparts, which apparently began with USAP operatictns at the Airport,According to personnel at SASj 4-he "paint stripping rack" is oliethe industrial waste collection facilities built by the Air Forcewhich is still in use today. The stripping rack is currently leased* SAS-

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Paint stripping compounds (methylene chloride/phenol mixture) areapplied to aircraft and components in the northeast hangar 133. Thesecompounds are then washed off with water* The water drains into asump and is pumped into a vertical 10,000 gallon holding tank. Theresidue of paint and compound is cleane up and accumulated in plastic55 gallon drums. Periodically, this .paint stripper wste is removedfrom the site by a licensed transporter to an approved disposal site.

The floor sump which accumulates waste water, has a float activatedbuzaer to notify employees if surop pump fails to pump water to the10,000 gallon holdng tank* This buzzer sounds if the water rises towithin one foot of the top (floor level) of the surap.

The vertical 10,000 gallon holding tank is 18 feet high. When waterlevel reaches the 1̂ foot mark (about' 7,770 gallons), an alarm bellsounds, indicating a need to summon the licensed transporter and tomonitor closely, any additional input to the tank. The tank also hasa vent in the top to allow overflow if the tank should be overfilled.

Residue of paint and compound is collected and accumulated in covered55 gallon plastic drums.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (M23C) j is used in various locatons for removal ofsmall quantities of paint and for certain cleaning of parts and,com-ponents. Waste MEK, and small amounts of paint and thinner, arecollected in a 55 gallon drum, outside, and adjacent to the AutomotiveShop, Periodically, the waste MEK is removed by a licensedtransporter to an'approved disposal site.

The 55 gallon drum for collecting waste, MEK, thiner, and paint pro-ducts, has a covered top to kkeep out moisture, and is marked to iden-tify its intended use* The drum is marked with a placard as requiredby Appendix D and Para. 75.262(f}*

When the drum is full, it ia sealed and removed to a temporary storagelocation, and a new drum installed. This system keeps to a minimum,the amount of waste adjacent to the hangar and shops. (Ref« SAS PPGPlan January 15, 198W •

Building No. ifrl - Built 19̂ 2

Design Use; Warehouse Supply and Equipment196l Use; Shop and General Purpose Building '. .Present Status; Air Freight Services Warehouse- ^_ __

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Harrisburg International AirportPage 10

The 19̂ 1 plans exhibit the proposed construction of Building No,to be used as a warehouse. Plan No. 302 dated May 7> 19̂ 1, reveals aproposed septic tank and tile drainage field on the northwest cornerof the building. During an on-site inspection of April 5, 198U» two 6"diameter metal surface covers were observed in the vicinity ofBuilding No, llil. This may confirm the existence of the abovereferenced proposed septic tank and drainage field* It is unknown tothe writers when Building No. 1*H was converted to an engine repairshop. However, it may prove useful to unplug and, if possible, samplefor those materials commonly used in engine repair.

Through the study of plans it was learned that during the 1950rs,Building No, 1̂ 1 was divided into three main operational units. Theseoperational units include a (l) woodworking Branch (2) hydraulic Branch,and (3) landing gear unit.

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Building No, 1**1 - Waste Related Operations - 1950

I. Woodworking Branch:(a) Spray paint booth 26fX 10r

2. Hydraulic Branch(a) Phillips Degreaser - northwe~st corner of the unit -

size 8' X 17r.(b) Solvent spray cleaning booth 4' X 3'»(c) Paint spray booth waterfall 12f X 8'.

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3. Landing Gear Branch(a) Solvent spray cleaning - located west center of branch -

sise I*' X 3'.(b) Degreaser - south side of branch next to concrete ramp -

siae 6' X 3'.

The only remnant of the aforementioned activity is a residual oilyfilm that persists on the floor ofthe building. Today, the buildingis used primarily for storage by air freight services.

Building Ko, 33 - Built 1981

Design Use: Warehouse1961 Use: Logistical Facilities DepotPresent Use; Librandi1s Machine Shop

Librandi's Machine ShopPerson interviewed: Todd Librandi (April 5, 198U)

Operation Description: Large machine shop with an additional smallelectroplating operation* The plating unit consists of one nickel,one cyanide, and one chrome bath. Small quantities of chrome rin-sewater is treated with sodium bisulfite, which reduces trivalentchrome to hexavalent chrome before discharge to the sanitary sewer.Cyanide destruction utilizing chlorine is practiced on a small scale.Mr, Librandi states that the airport treatment plant is aware of theongoing plating activites.

Fresh water pipe cross connections were observed to be immersed inmany of the electroplating baths. Safe distance air gaps are to beimplemented by April 19, 1981*.

Follow-up by the Bureau of Solid Waste Management-is forthcoming.

Building Ho. 36 - Built 1923 ' - - -- - - - - -

Design Use: Storage," paint and 'dope1*Design Use: ClubPresent Status: Air National Guard Auto Maintenance Building

The Air. .National Guard has occupied Building Wo. 36 since 1962 as avehicle maintenance garage.

^ o I n n n a o ^̂ ^̂The ANG, uses Varsol for parts cleaning and some paint thinness IfBft*J U u L VVauto body repair. Spent materials are stored in closed drums at the u^-*-^ «*Wwbuilding. Approximately one 55 gallon drum of Varsol is used over aI*-6 month period.

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Pennsylvania Airlines/Allegheny Commuter*"(Formerly Clark Aviation) - Built 1963

Located at northern end of Harrisburg International Airport.

Contact; Chet Hooper Vice-President Maintenance

Pennsylvania Airlines operates a Hangar and Maintenance Shop to ser-vice commercial airplanes. A review of the Engineering Plans and adiscussion with Don Mowry, the Architect who designed the newlyconstructed building, revealed that floor drains inside the hangarwere connected to the stormwater pipeline which runs along the south-west side of the facility. This was designed because the access tothe Airport's sanitary sewer is uphill and therefore more difficult toconstruct. Two trench floor drains accept wastewaters from washingthe aircraft, and directs the detergent and rinse waters to theSusquehanna River. In addition, information obtained by BER indicatesthat small quantities of hazardous wastes may have been disposed of infloor drain{s) inside the hangar (memo - R, Kaylor - January 30,198*0. A discussion with Norm Templin (Water Quality Specialist) con-firmed that no NPDES permit exists for any wastewater discharges fromPennsylvania Airlines, and that any such discharges would haveoccurred without prior approval from the Bureau of Water QualityManagement, It is recommended that the storm drain(s) be sampled andanalyzed. Pennsylvania Airlines should be required to cease unlawfuldischarges to the river and arrange for proper collection and treat-ment of all generated wastes*

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