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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Hazardous-waste and waste-water characterization survey, Columbus AFB, Mississippi. Final report, 30 November-16 December 1987

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6646906

A waste-water characterization and hazardous-waste survey was conducted to address problems concerning the discharge of industrial wastes to the sanitary sewer system and subsequently to the base waste-water treatment plant. The treatment plant is authorized to discharge to the Tombigbee waterway under the state of Mississippi National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program. The results of the hazardous waste survey indicate that the shops wastes are being properly contained, labeled and transported. However, waste oils, solvents and fuels are sent to underground storage tanks that have not been properly leak tested. Most of the oil/water sludge waste is being pumped into an underground holding tank, bldg 1944, for disposal by contractor every three years. This practice is unacceptable. The results of the waste-water survey indicate that both the parts Cleaning Shop, bldg 218, and the Corrosion Control Shop, bldg 262, are discharging substantial amounts of priority pollutants into the sanitary system which are still being found in the treatment plant effluent. High levels of chromium and cadmium were also discharging to the sanitary sewer. The lenient parameters of the State of Mississippi NPDES permit do not cover the priority pollutants that discharge directly into the Tombigbee waterway.

Research Organization:
Air Force Occupational and Environmental Health Lab., Brooks AFB, TX (USA)
OSTI ID:
6646906
Report Number(s):
AD-A-199232/0/XAB; USAFOEHL-88-076EQ0040FHH
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English