The Arrcom (Drexler Enterprises) site is a 1-acre former waste oil recycling facility near Rathdrum, Idaho, in Kootenai County. The facility operated from 1960 to 1982, processing waste oils through separation, sedimentation, and heating. Those operations left behind soil and sludge contaminated with organic solvents, lead, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Waste oils were stored in 27 tanks and 4 truck tanks on-site. Sludge and other waste materials were discarded in disposal pits or spread on nearby roads. Contaminants of concern identified by EPA include 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane in soil and groundwater, and xylene (mixed isomers) in soil. Health risks from the site include direct contact with contaminated soil and sludge, as well as exposure to asbestos, primarily through ingestion and skin contact.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) on September 8, 1983. The NPL is the agency's roster of sites that need investigation and potential cleanup. Between 1983 and 1990, EPA carried out several removal actions to address immediate threats. Workers pumped and flushed tanks holding PCB-contaminated liquids, disposed of or recycled waste liquids, excavated contaminated soil, and removed all tanks, trucks, contaminated buildings, and vehicles from the property. A remedial investigation and feasibility study ran from May 1987 through June 1992. EPA concluded in 1992 that no further cleanup action was needed, and a Record of Decision documenting that "No Further Action" decision was issued on June 30, 1992. The site was then deleted from the NPL on December 23, 1992.
The site has since met all cleanup goals. Human exposure is currently under control, and EPA assessments show no unacceptable exposure pathways across the site. Because this is not a groundwater site, groundwater migration is not a concern. The site reached "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status on June 27, 2006, meaning the property can be used for its intended purpose without posing unacceptable risk.
Community members with questions about the site can contact the Remedial Project Manager or the Community Involvement Coordinator. Additional information about the health effects of site contaminants is available through the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
