Status Report for Estech General Chemical - Completion of the Non-Time-Critical Removal Action (NTCRA)
The Estech General Chemical Site is a non-NPL Site located about 6 miles to the west of Wilmington, North Carolina, in the town of Navassa. Phosphate fertilizer manufacturing took place at the Site from the 1870’s to around 1980. The Site has been abandoned since 1980. Navassa, NC, is an Environmental Justice (EJ) community. Some of the residents who live in Navassa are descendents of former employees.
From October 2010 to May 2011, the responsible parties (ExxonMobil and Estech), under a voluntary Administrative Order on Consent (AOC), fully-funded a NTCRA to address lead and arsenic contamination in soil, sediment, and groundwater at the Site. Over 100,000 cubic yards of impacted soil and sediment were excavated, treated on-site, and transported off-site for disposal at an approved landfill. A chemical amendment was placed in the backfill below the water table to help reduce the levels of lead and arsenic in groundwater over time. Wetlands restoration was completed. Demobilization was complete on 5/20/2011.
EPA and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) met with representatives from ExxonMobil, Estech, and their consultants to conduct the Final Inspection for the NTCRA on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Following the Final Inspection, the group will meet with the Navassa Council members and provided a Site tour at 5:30 pm. EPA considers the NTCRA to be fully successful.
As part of the Post-Removal Site Controls, groundwater monitoring will continue at the Site in order to determine the effectiveness of the NTCRA. Lead and arsenic levels in groundwater are expected to decline within the next 5 to 10 years. Future land use restrictions will be placed on the property deed to prohibit anyone from using the impacted groundwater for drinking water purposes.
ExxonMobil and Estech created several job opportunities for local citizens during the NTCRA. EPA and NCDNR have conducted community outreach activities during the NTCRA process, such as interviewing residents and local officials, and releasing fact sheets and public notices, in an effort to keep the local community informed. Local media have interviewed EPA on several occasions and published several newspaper articles. EPA has not received any negative press regarding this Site. The current property owners are interested in the redevelopment potential for the Site, and the property owners have been in regular contact with city officials on the subject of redevelopment.
