Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


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8751973 
Meetings & Symposia 
Chronic oil spills at junk yards make future brownfields 
Powers, RE 
2005 
1039-1040 
English 
Chronic oil spills at junkyards are being overlooked, but they can cause serious economic and environmental problems. Long considered non-hazardous, motor oils, automobile fluids, industrial waste oils and solid wastes are spilled daily at scrap metal yards across the nation. These chronic spills can carry heavy metals and toxic wastes off site through surface drains, soil penetration, and track out. Intermixed with oil, these wastes are complex and costly to clean up. Superfund cleanup actions at former junkyards are only part of the economic burden to the public. Quality of life and property value problems add to the host community 's roadblocks to redevelopment, and also to their list of brownfields. Relaxed attitudes in handling liquid and solid wastes at these sites, along with ignorance of environmental rules, seem to be at the root of the problem. It is suggested that local agencies get involved in monitoring waste management practices, as well as try outreach efforts to educate junkyard operators in oil spill prevention and waste management.