A Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) was conducted in response to an agency wide initiative to investigate vermiculite facilities that received vermiculite ore from the W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana. Carolina Vermiculite is located at 225 River Farm Road, Woodruff, Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The Carolina Vermiculite facility was designated by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) with the identification of GAO 219. The facility is presently owned by Virginia Vermiculite Company, LTD and is currently operated as a vermiculite ore wet processing plant which produces vermiculite concentrate. The facility is considered a non-exfoliation vermiculite site.
At some time in its history, a former W. R. Grace employee, who reportedly worked at the vermiculite mine and processor in Libby, Montana, purchased the property and began mining vermiculite found near the facility. A benefaction plant for the vermiculite ore was also operated on-site. Carolina Vermiculite does not have an exfoliation/expansion plant at this facility. Additionally, all of the facility's ore is reportedly locally mined and all product is sold as vermiculite concentrate. The facility is regulated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), as an operating vermiculite mine and processor. MSHA testing has not found asbestos in samples collected at the processing facility.
During an EPA site visit, in June 2001, five bulk samples were collected. According to the results from the laboratory, asbestos was not detected; however, a laboratory report included footnotes that indicated “Mineral Fibers of Concern” were detected in three of the five samples. The 2001 laboratory footnotes stated the “Mineral Fibers of Concern represent a newer class of amphibole categories that has been identified by the USEPA Region 8 in conjunction with the Libby, MT project." Based on this 2001 report, further investigation was necessary.
Information received during a follow-up site visit on February 16, 2011 indicated the facility continued to operate a wet processing plant for vermiculite ore at the site. The plant produces vermiculite concentrate without exfoliating the vermiculite. Similar to 2001, no information was found indicating shipments of ore from the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana had been received at the facility.
As part of this removal site evaluation, EPA also reviewed the June 2001 site sampling report and the raw analytical data from the samples EPA collected in June 2001. EPA specifically reviewed the three samples noted in the analytical reported to contain a “Mineral of Concern”. Further discussions were held between EPA’s Technical Services Section, EPA’s Science and Environmental Services Division and EPA National Asbestos workgroup members. Results of that discussion found that:
The analytical spectrum for “Libby Ampihobles” should have included a sodium peak.
The analytical spectrum found in the EPA June 2001 laboratory data report did not contain sodium peaks.
The identification of the fibers as Libby Amphibile in 2001 was most likely one of convenience at the time, rather than a definitive identification.
Based on these findings no additional EPA sampling is warranted at this time.
