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SDMS DocID 25794

Unitad Statas Envi ronmantal Protact ion Afancy

Environmantal MonHoring Systems Laboratory P.O. Box 15027 L M Va9«a NV SSIU

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ER^ Site Analysis Raymark Industries Strat ford, Connecticut

Volume 1

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TS-PIC-86082 Apr i l 1987

Si te Analysis Raymark Industr ies S t ra t f o rd , Connecticut

Volume 1

by Eric D. Warner, Imagery Analyst The Bionetics Corporation Warrenton, Virginia 22186

Contract No. 68-03-3161

Project Officer Thomas R. Osberg Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory Warrenton, Virginia 22186, FTS 557-3110

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114

NOTICE

This document has not been peer and administratively reviewed within EPA and is for internal Agency use and distribution only.

n

ABSTRACT

This report is an analysis of historical aerial photography to document

the time, location and nature of waste disposal activities at Raymark

Industries, an automobile parts manufacturer located in Stratford,

Connecticut. Two other areas northwest of Raymark Industries were also

included in the analysis. Raybestos Memorial Field was analyzed as a site

where waste disposal activities have taken place. The second area. Contract

Plating, a separate company, is examined for possible waste disposal

activities. This report, covering the time period from 1949 to 1979, will be

used to support ongoing site investigations conducted by the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA).

Significant findings on the Raymark Industries grounds include drums,

tanks, pits, lagoons containing liquid, and crates. Exposed piles of debris,

light-toned material and dark-toned material were also seen. Ground stains

were visible near tanks, drums and debris. A comparison of two groups of

lagoons seen on the Raymark Industries grounds is included to provide

information about liquids stored in the years 1975 and 1979.

Reported drum disposal was not seen on the Raybestos Memorial Field, but

large areas were filled and graded. Other significant features seen on the

field included ground staining, standing liquid and light-toned mounded

material.

Significant features seen on the Contract Plating grounds include exposed

piles of debris, ground staining, and lagoons containing liquid.

The EPA's Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center in Warrenton,

Virginia, a branch of the Advanced Monitoring Systems Division of the

Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in Las Vegas, Nevada, performed

this study at the request of EPA Region 1. This report was completed in April

1987.

iii

.̂ CONTENTS

- Volume 1 Page

"" Abstract iii

*" Introduction 1

Methodology 3

^ Aerial Photo Site Analysis:

^ April 2, 1949 5

*• August 19, 1951 7

"" March 31, 1965 9

November 13, 1969 11

December 3, 1971 12

^ April 23, 1975 14

- June 20, 1979 16

"• Lagoon Comparison 18

References 20

- FIGURES Volume 2

»- 1. Location Map 1

"" Aerial Photographs:

*" 2. April 2, 1949 2

3. August 19, 1951 3

^ 4. March 31, 1965 4

m 5. November 13, 1969 5

- 6. December 3, 1971 6

*• 7. April 23, 1975 7

"" 8. June 20, 1979 8

TV

- INTRODUCTION

•., Raymark Industries, which began operation in 1919 as Raybestos-Manhattan,

-• produces clutch, transmission and friction parts for the automotive industry

*" and general industrial use.* Hazardous wastes from these operations include

ignitable oils and solvents, and corrosive resins. They are stored in drums

and then shipped offsite for disposal.* Lead and asbestos dust generated

,1. during operations is removed through a "wet" system.* Water utilized by the

•- "wet" system process is then treated through a system of settling lagoons.*

•" This report also discusses activities at two areas, Raybestos Memorial

Field and Contract Plating, adjacent to the main Raymark Industries facility.

Raymark owns Raybestos Memorial Field but not Contract Plating.

^ Figure 1 depicts the site location, keyed to two U.S. Geological Survey

m. (USGS) 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangle maps. Site boundaries or areas

•• used in this analysis were determined from observations made from the aerial

" photography and do not denote legal property lines or ownership.

Aerial photography of the Raymark Industries site was obtained to

^ represent the period from 1949 to 1979.1 Historical black and white aerial

^ photography for the years 1949, 1951, 1965, 1969, 1975 and 1979 and color

•• photography for 1971 were used in this analysis. Monoscopic coverage for 1960

*" was analyzed but not reproduced for this report.

The site was analyzed for the presence of tanks, drums, lagoons, standing

liquid, stains, waste burial, evidence of fill, pipelines, vegetation

^ stress/damage, and observable threats to ground water. Evidence of the

"" *Throughout this report, an asterisk (*) denotes information supplied by a. EPA Region 1.

«. iFor a complete description of all maps and photography used in this report, see the References section.

Iw

1

previously mentioned features existed except for vegetation stress/damage.

" Vegetation stress is difficult to determine using black and white photography.

Because the 1971 color coverage was taken in December under leaf-off

conditions, it was not useful for vegetation stress detection. A comparison

^ of two groups of lagoons seen on the Raymark Industries grounds is included to

IW provide information about liquids stored in the years 1975 and 1979.

— Features seen during the analysis will be annotated and discussed only

the first time they appear unless a significant change is evident. In

subsequent years they will not be discussed, although they may still be IM

annotated on the overlay.

*„ A numbering system is used for ease in locating certain features. All

— features of a certain type (e.g., buildings, lagoons, etc.) will be numbered

"" sequentially from northwest to southeast on the print. A feature retains its

number throughout the span of time it is seen. If a particular feature

disappears, its number will not be reused. Buildings are numbered only as new

^ ones are added, so none are numbered in the first year of analysis.

— The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Photographic

*" Interpretation Center in Warrenton, Virginia, a branch of the Advanced

Monitoring Systems Division of the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory

in Las Vegas, Nevada, performed this study at the request of EPA Region 1.

^ This report was completed In April 1987.

METHODOLOGY

A search of government and commercial aerial photographic sources was

,̂, undertaken to obtain the best photography available of the study area spanning

»« the desired time frame. A listing of all maps and photography used for this

*" report can be found in the References section.

*" The analysis was performed by stereoscopically viewing transparencies,

backlit on a light table. By observing the area three-dimensionally, and at

^ various magnifications, the analyst could search for objects, features, or

_ signatures associated with different environmental conditions. The term

•• "signature" refers to a combination of characteristics (such as color, tone,

*" shadow, texture and size) which indicate a specific object or condition, even

though the object itself is not identifiable from the photography.

^ Prints were made from coverages which reveal significant changes in the

^ study area. Findings are annotated on overlays to these prints, or to maps of

•• the study area, and full descriptions are provided in the accompanying text.

" The resolution quality of the original, transparent photography used by the

analyst is degraded on the prints due to factors inherent in the printing

process. Therefore, some objects or features identified from the original

^ film and described in the text may not be clearly discernible, or even

•• visible, on the photographic prints presented in this report.

"• Site boundaries or areas used in this analysis are determined from

observations made from the aerial photography and do not necessarily denote

legal property lines or ownership.

Throughout this report, the qualifiers "probable" and "possible" are used 114, It

to indicate different levels of certainty with the photo Identifications.

^̂ "Probable" is used when a limited number of discernible features allow the

— analyst to be reasonably sure of a particular identification. "Possible" is

*" used when only a few features are discernible, or the features are not unique

"" to that signature.

AERIAL PHOTO SITE ANALYSIS

APRIL 2, 1949 (FIGURE 2)

Raybestos Memorial Field

. „ There is no sign of the drums that were reportedly disposed in this area

-' during 1949,* but other signs of disposal-related activity include a large

excavation, two lagoons (L), a stained (GST) access road and a large area of

disturbed ground (DG).

Excavation - A large, partially fenced excavation is seen in the center

^ of the area. Standing liquid (SL) is visible on the floor of the excavation.

... Lagoons - Both lagoons (Ll and L2) contain liquid, which could be

^ asbestos/lead sludge/wastewater reportedly disposed in this area.

"" Miscellaneous - A large area of disturbed ground is visible in the

eastern section of the field. The earth appears to have been overturned. The

^ access road through this disturbed area appears stained.

^ Contract Plating

•̂ Housekeeping around the facility appears to be orderly.

•" Lagoons - One lagoon (L3) is visible onsite; the liquid in it is lighter

in tone than other areas of standing liquid seen in the photo. This may be

^ attributed to relatively elevated levels of suspended particulates or to

^ shallower depth of the liquid. The lagoon is fed through ditched drainage

•" originating to the southwest.

— Debris - One pile of debris (DBl) is visible onsite. L.

Miscellaneous - A ground stain is visible around a structure (Sl)

northeast of the main facility. Standing liquid is seen west of DBl. The

^ source of this liquid could not be determined.

Raymark Industries Facility

Housekeeping around the facility is generally messy with much debris,

disorganized open storage (OS) and exposed material seen in the southwestern

portion of the facility.

Drainage - Surface water drains into the unnamed tributary of Ferry

Creek, running through the southeastern section of the grounds. Ground water

«, flows eastward from the site toward the Housatonic River.

*•• Evidence of Fill - The entire facility is constructed on a porous fill.*

*~ Fill areas (FA) 1, 2 and 3 seem to represent more recent filling activity.

Lagoons - Five lagoons, L4-L8, four of which contain liquid, are seen in

the southern section of the Raymark Industry grounds. L8 does not change

^ significantly, so it will not be discussed further. The liquid is presumably

<— lead/asbestos wastewater generated by activities at the plant. L4 appears

"~ lined with dark material (not annotated) which is also seen in other areas of

the facility. Lagoons 6 and 7 are part of a cascading system to treat the

wastewater before its discharge into the unnamed creek.* The outfall (OF) in

^ L7 serves to discharge wastewater from L6.

— Tanks - Fifteen vertical tanks (VTl-15) and ten horizontal tanks (HTl-10)

"• are visible in the northern portion of the facility. A ground stain can be

seen at the southern base of the VT6-15 group, indicating a possible leak or

spillage. Ground stains are also visible around HTl, HT6 and HT7, Indicating

possible leaks or spillage. HT2-5 are near an area where solvents were stored

mm in tanks. Standing liquid is visible between HT2-5 and HT6.

Dark-Toned Mounded Material - Three areas of dark-toned mounded material

(DK MMl-3) are found throughout the grounds. DK MMl is located next to a

smokestack (SS), indicating that the material might be coal or some other fuel

or raw material. The material in the three mounds appears similar. This

material is also visible in L4 and in the three graded areas (GA). DK MM2 and

DK MM3 are seen in areas where waste disposal is taking place; they may be

waste products as opposed to a fuel or raw material.

Debris - Three areas of debris (DB2-4) are visible at the center of the

facility.

Buildings - All buildings (not annotated) at the Raymark Industries

facility are in the northern half of the grounds.

AUGUST 19, 1951 (FIGURE 3)


Extensive filling has occurred; overall the area appears orderly.

Excavation - The southwestern side of the excavation has been filled

(FA4). The historical excavation boundary from 1949 is annotated on the

overlay. Revegetation (not annotated) has occurred throughout the remaining

excavated area. Vegetation obscures the floor of the excavated area where

standing liquid was present in 1949.

Lagoons - A fill area (FA5) is now visible where Ll and L2 were seen in

1949.

Contract Plating

Some features seen in 1949 are no longer visible. The area has not

changed significantly.

Lagoons - L3 has not changed significantly since 1949. The liquid again

appears to differ in tone from other areas of liquid in the photograph. The

origin of drainage to the lagoon has not changed, but the drainage path has

been altered.

Debris - DBl, seen near the origin of drainage to L3 in 1949, is not

visible.

Miscellaneous - The ground stain and pool of standing liquid near Sl in

1949 are not visible. The main facility has now expanded and incorporates

Sl.


^ Tanks have been added. The southwestern section of the grounds still

— appear unkempt.

*" Evidence of Fill - All fill areas seen in 1949, FAl-3, have been

"" expanded. New fill areas, FA6-8, cover sections of L4 and L6.

Lagoons - L4 has been filled on its north side and now contains a

^ light-toned substance (not annotated). L5 is being filled with dark material

^ (M). The standing liquid seen in the eastern side of this lagoon in 1949 is

*• not visible. L6 is being filled by FA 2, 7, and 8. L7 and L8 have not

"" changed significantly.

Pits - A pit, PI, containing liquid is visible at the base of FAl in the

^ southwestern corner of the facility. An access road terminates at the edge of

«. FAl above PI.

•*• Tanks - The vertical tanks (VTl-15) and all horizontal tanks except HT6

— seen in 1949 remain visible. A ground stain is seen on the east side of

VTl-5. The ground stain visible near HTl has increased in size since 1949.

^ Two new revetted vertical tanks (VT16 and 17) are visible on the west side of

^ the smokestack, where part of DK MMl was seen in 1949. Vegetation (not

8

annotated) is visible just west of VT16 and 17, where HT6 was seen in 1949.

Two other vertical tanks, VT18 and 19, appear on the east side of the

facility.

Dark-Toned Mounded Material - All mounds of dark-toned material (DK

MMl-3) remain from 1949. DK MMl is reduced in size. VT16 and 17 occupy an

area where part of DK MMl appeared in 1949.

Buildings - Two new buildings, BI and B2, have been added to the

^ facility. BI is in the area where open storage appeared in 1949.

- Debris - DB2 remains from 1949. Equipment (E) can be seen where DB3 was

- in 1949. DB4 is not visible.

Miscellaneous - The graded area west of L4 has expanded since 1949. The

northern section of the parking lot in the southern portion of the Raymark

^ grounds was a graded area in 1949.

- MARCH 31, 1965 (FIGURE 4)

"" Raybestos Memorial Field

Extensive filling has occurred. Areas of standing liquid are now

^ visible.

^ Excavation - The entire excavated area has been completely filled and

•" graded (annotated as FA4/GA).

** Evidence of Fill - FA4 has expanded to cover the excavation area. FAS

has not changed significantly.

^ Miscellaneous - The area of disturbed ground seen in 1951 has been

^ graded. Three areas of standing liquid are visible.

Contract Plating

Lagoons - L3 has not changed significantly, but liquid now reaches it via

ditched drainage from a pipeline. A new lagoon, L9, west of L3, contains

liquid. The source of this liquid could not be identified. Two other

lagoons, LIO and Lll, have been dug but do not contain liquid.

Debris - A debris pile, DB5, is visible at the northeastern corner of the

^ main facility.

— Raymark Industries Facility

"" Lagoons have been filled. Areas of open storage and dark-toned mounded

material have been removed and/or graded. The grounds have expanded through

filling in the southwestern corner of the facility.

_ Lagoons - There has been no significant change in L8. L4 has been filled

— and graded. L5 and L7 were filled and paved for a parking lot. The northern

•" section of L6 has been filled and graded. The eastern half of L6 was

subdivided and is now designated as L12 and L13.

Pits - PI has been filled. A new pit, P2, is visible north of L6.

^ Tanks - HTl-5 and 10 are no longer apparent. A new vertical tank, VT20,

— is visible northwest of VT18 and 19. None of the ground stains that were

"" visible near the tanks in 1951 are now seen, except for those near HT7, That

area has been paved since 1951.

Dark-Toned Mounded Material -All mounds of dark-toned material, DK

MMl-3, are no longer visible. A new building, B4, is visible where DK MMl was

«. seen in 1951. DK MM2 and 3 were removed/graded and the areas have been paved

— for a parking lot. The filled and graded area bordering L6, 12 and 13 is

"" dark-toned, indicating that some of the material from DK MM2 and 3 probably

remains in this area.

"" 10

Material Storage Areas - Two material storage areas, MSI and MS2, are

visible on the grounds. MSI is near the railroad, north of P2. MS2 is west

of B2, in an area where debris (DB2) was visible in 1951.

Debris - No debris piles are visible around the facility.

Buildings - Two new buildings, B3 and B4, have been added to the

facility. B3 was built partially over the area where L4 was seen in 1951. B4

is an addition to two sides of a previously existing building. Its northeast

corner partially covers the area where DK MMl was seen in 1951.

Evidence of Fill - FAl has expanded westward. FA2, 3, 7 and 8 have been

merged through extensive filling activity, so the entire area has been labeled

FA/GA. B3 has been constructed where FA6 was seen in 1951.

NOVEMBER 13, 1969 (FIGURE 5)


No significant change.

Miscellaneous - A bare area (BA) is evident where graded FA4 and 5 were

seen in 1965. Standing liquid remains in the same areas as in 1965.

Contract Plating

Lagoons - L3 and L9 have not changed significantly. LIO and Lll now

contain liquid. The source of the liquid in these lagoons is not Immediately

evident.

Miscellaneous - A ground stain is visible on the east side of Sl.


New lagoons, tanks, debris piles, a new material storage area, and

buildings are visible onsite. The grounds appear orderly.

11

Lagoons - Two lagoons, L14 and L15, have been added in the southwestern

portion of the Raymark grounds. Lagoons 15, 6 and 13 match the description of

the cascading wastewater treatment system used by the Raymark Company

throughout the remainder of the study period.* L12 was filled and paved for a

parking lot.

Pits - P2 has been filled and B7 constructed at its former location in

the southwestern portion of the facility.

Tanks - Three new possible vertical tanks, VT21-23, are visible in the

northern section of the Raymark grounds. HT7, seen southwest of VT 6-15 in

1965, is no longer visible.

Material Storage Areas - MS2 was visible in 1965 where B5, in the center

of the facility, is now seen. A new material storage area, MS3, is visible

northeast of B7.

Debris - Two new debris piles, DB6 and DB7, can be seen in the central and

southwestern sections of the Raymark grounds, respectively. DB6 is visible

where the eastern part of MS2 was seen in 1965 (west of B2).

Buildings - Three buildings, B5-B7, have been constructed in the central

and southwestern portions of the Raymark grounds.

Evidence of Fill - L12 and the northern section of L13 have been filled

and the area paved for a parking lot.

DECEMBER 3, 1971 (FIGURE 6)


Objects and light-toned mounded material are visible on the edge of the

fonner fill area.

12

Light-Toned Mounded Material - Two mounds of light-toned material, LT MMl

and 2, are visible in the southwestern section of the area. They appear to be

earthen.

Miscellaneous - Two groups of objects, 01 and 02-4, are visible near the

terminus of the access road.

Contract Plating

A lagoon has been filled. The area is generally clean.

Lagoons - LIO has been filled and graded with a dark material (now

annotated as GA/FA).

Miscellaneous - The ground stain seen in 1969 on the east side of Sl is

^ no longer visible.

— Raymark Industries Facility

""" Possible and probable drums (D) are now visible around the facility. A

"" lagoon that was dry in 1969 now contains liquid. The grounds appear much the

way they did in 1969.

^ Drums - Two groups of possible and probable drums (Dl and 2) are visible

,. on the Raymark grounds. Possible drums (Dl) can be seen in three rows within

•" MSI. The resolution of the photography did not allow an accurate count of the

"" possible drums. Probable drums (D2) are on the north side of MS3. A count

yielded 32 probable drums with an error factor of ^ 5. No stains or liquid

^ are visible near Dl or D2, and D2 is situated on pavement. Because Dl is

^ situated on exposed earth, any leakage could leach into the ground water

•" through the porous fill used onsite.*

"^ Lagoons - L15 now contains liquid. It was dry in 1969.

13

Tanks - Possible VT 21-23 from 1969 are now seen as VT 21-23. No

significant change occurred to the other tanks.

Material Storage Areas - MSI now contains possible drums. The other

material storage areas have not changed significantly.

Debris - DB6 was removed for the construction of a new building (B8).

DB7 has expanded to the northeast.

Buildings - A new building (B8) has been constructed in the central

section of the Raymark grounds.

APRIL 23, 1975 (FIGURE 7)


The area has been cleared of objects seen in 1971, and mounded material

is no longer visible.

Miscellaneous - The objects, 01-4, seen in 1971 are not visible. Three

ground stains are visible north of the access road. The westernmost ground

stain is in an area where standing liquid was seen in 1971.

Contract Plating

The area is more unkempt with a ground stain and material storage area

visible.

Lagoons - A bare area persists where LIO was filled and graded.

Material Storage Areas - A material storage area, MS5, is visible at the

origin of the ditched drainage to L3.

Miscellaneous - A ground stain is visible north of MS5. The ground stain

appears to originate at a small structure (not annotated) on the south border

of Lll.

14


A significant increase in the number of drums, amount of debris, material

storage areas, and tanks are seen onsite.

Drums - Three areas containing drums are present on the Raymark grounds.

D2, which contained an estimated 32 probable drums in 1971, now has 500 drums,

j|̂ 20. The drums appear to be in good condition with no staining or liquid

around them. They are sitting on pavement. New drum areas include D3-D8. D3

and D4 are located near the entrance to the Raymark facility, on East Main

Street. D3 has a drum count of 112, ^ 10. D4 has a drum count of 200, ̂ 20.

There are no stains or liquid around the drums, and they appear to be resting

on pavement. D5, south of D4, includes a separate area of drums. No count

was made because of their irregular storage pattern. D6 and D7 are located

near the center of the facility. Both groups of drums are sitting on

pavement, and no stains or liquids are visible near them. No count was

attempted because of their irregular storage arrangement. D8 is visible in

the southwest portion of the Raymark grounds. There are 65 drums, ^ 5,

visible at D8. A ground stain is visible on the southeast side of the drums.

The drums are sitting on bare ground, so any leakage could reach ground water

through the porous fill used onsite. The three rows of possible drums seen

in MSI in 1969 have been removed.

Lagoons - L16, a new lagoon, is visible in the southwestern portion of

the Raymark grounds. It contains no liquid.

Tanks - A new vertical tank, VT24, is visible north of D3 and D4 in the

northeastern section of the facility. Three other new vertical tanks,

VT25-27, have been set up south of B2.

15

Material Storage Areas - Three new material storage areas, MS4, 6 and 7,

can be seen. MS4 is in the northern section of the facility, while MS6 and 7

are visible on the west side of the facility. All three areas consist of

crates. No staining or liquids are visible near the crates.

Debris - DB7 has expanded to the southwest. A new debris pile, DB8, is

visible northwest of VTl-5.

Buildings - No significant change.

Light-Toned Mounded Material - LT MM3 is visible east of B6. The

material could not be identified from the photography.

JUNE 20, 1979 (FIGURE 8)


Possible grading is occurring, involving a large mound of light-toned

material.

Light-Toned Mounded Material - A large mound of light-toned material, LT

MM4, is visible in the southern section of the area. The material appears to

be earth.

Miscellaneous - The vehicles (V) may be grading the material from LT

MM4.

Contract Plating

Lagoons - The area of revegetation (RV) was seen as a bare area in 1975.

The area was a filled lagoon (LIO) in 1971.

Miscellaneous - Square concrete features (not annotated) are seen at the

origin to the drainage, where a ground stain was visible in 1975. Another

ground stain is visible west of the concrete features. MS5, which was seen

near the origin to drainage to L3 in 1975, is no longer visible.

16


Drums, material storage areas, debris and tanks were both removed and

added. An empty lagoon seen in 1975 now contains liquid.

Drums - Dl-7 are not visible. Possible drums are seen where D2 was

evident in 1975. B9 has been constructed where D5 and D6 were visible in

1975. Two other possible drum groups are visible: D9, which is north of B6,

and DlO, which is southwest of D2. D9 and DlO both appear to be resting on

pavement. No stains or liquid is visible near the possible drum groups.

Lagoons - L16 now contains liquid. No significant change has occurred to

the other lagoons.

Material Storage Areas - MS3 has expanded westward into the space where

B7 was seen in 1975. MS6 has expanded to the northeast. The quantity of

material in MS7 has been reduced.

Debris - DB7 and DB8 are no longer visible. DB9 is seen northeast of

VTl-5.

Light-Toned Mounded Material - LT MM3, visible northeast of B6 in 1975,

is not seen.

Buildings - B7, seen south of B6 in 1971, is no longer visible. MS3 is

now seen in that location.

Tanks - VT21-23, which bordered VT16 and 17 to the north in 1975, are no

longer visible. VT25 and 27, seen on the north and east sides, respectively,

of VT26 in 1975, are no longer visible. A new tank, VT28, can be seen on the

west side of VT26.

17

LAGOON COMPARISON

A comparison of aerial photographic signatures of lagoons at the Raymark

Industries facility was undertaken to provide information about the liquid

stored in lagoons at the facility for the years 1975 and 1979. The lagoons

are referenced here by the letter "L" and a number (e.g., LIO). This

letter-number combination corresponds to those given to lagoons in the Aerial

Photo Site Analysis section.

The comparison presented here involves liquids stored in five lagoons.

The existence of two of these lagoons, L14 and 16, were unrecognized by EPA

field investigators, as they were filled and graded before the EPA site

investigation. Aerial photographic interpretation revealed that L14 was

visible from 1969 to 1979 and L16 was visible from 1975 to 1979. The other

three lagoons, L6, 13 and 15, are part of a cascading wastewater treatment

system in operation until 1984 and are still visible.

The purpose of comparing the liquids in the two groups of lagoons is to

gain insight into the type(s) of liquid stored. Raymark Industries disclosed

that L14 and 16 were probably used as oil separators. L6, 13 and 15 were used

to settle lead and asbestos particles from water which collected the particles

from the workplace.

Spectral signatures of liquids in lagoons vary according to lagoon depth

and sediment load. Lighter tones are received from a shallow lagoon with a

sediment-laden liquid than from a deep lagoon containing clear water.

Collateral information indicates that L6, 13 and 15 are 2.75 meters (9

feet) deep. Imagery dated November 13, 1969 shows L14 nearly empty and the

depth approximates that seen in L6 in its near-empty condition. L16 is empty

in 1975 and is quite a bit shallower than L6, 13, 14 and 15. Therefore, if

18

liquid with an equal concentration of sediment was seen in L6, 13, 14, 15 and

16, the tone of L6, 13, 14 and 15 would be approximately equal and L16 would

be lighter.

When imagery dated June 20, 1979 was analyzed, L14 and 16 were of

comparable tone with L15, but these lagoons were darker than L13. L6 was

almost empty so it was not included in the comparison. Analysis of imagery

dated April 23, 1975 revealed that L14 and L15 were of comparable tone and

darker than L6 and L13. L16 contained no liquid in 1975. So a general trend

of L14, 15 and 16 being of comparable tone and darker than L6 and 13 was

found.

A possible reason for this finding includes oil, found generally on or

near the surface of water, as being present in L14, 15 and 16. Utilizing

specific types of film and/or filters when acquiring imagery enhances the

detection of oil in bodies of liquid. However, oil will generally appear

darker than surrounding water even on imagery which was not acquired with

special film or filters. In L15 the oil obscures the lighter-toned signature

of the sediment-laden liquid, which becomes more evident once the liquid moves

from L15 to L6 and 13 and some of the oil has been removed.

This explanation is further supported by the presence of skimmers on the

surface of L6 and 15. Skimmers are frequently used to gather oil and other

buoyant chemicals from the surface of water bodies.

19

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

REFERENCES

Date

April 2, 1949

August 19, 1951

February 8, 1960

March 31, 1965

November 13, 1969

December 3, 1971

April 23, 1975

June 20, 1979

Agency

USGSl

ASCS2

USGS

KEY3

USGS

USGS

KEY

ASCS

Mission Code

IM

DPD

VABD

VCIO

VCSSC

09001

Frame #

3:77,78

107,108

2:58

2420,2421

1:6-8

l:70-73;4:9

49:7098, 7099

178:73,74

Orig. Scale

1:17,000

1:20,000

1:24,000

1:18,000

1:24,000

1:24,000

1:12,000

1:40,000

EPIC Frame #

15405,15404

12492:241,242

12489

15198,15199

12486-12488

13059-13063

13551,13552

14179:64,65

MAPS

Source

USGS USGS

Name

Mil ford, CT Bridgeport, CT

Scale

1:24,000 1:24,000

Date

1960 1960

* " 1

^U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Inter ior

2/\gp-i(-Liitural Stabil ization and Conservation Service, U.S. Department of • " Agriculture

r̂ ^Keystone Aerial Survey, Inc. , Philadelphia, Pa.

20

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