In the months following the November 2015 emergency response (ER) activity at the Old Barwick Mill (OBM) facility in LaFayette, GA, the EPA and the responsible party (RP) worked to negotiate and enter into an Administrative Order on Consent that outlines the actions required by the RP to mitigate conditions at the OBM property that continued to pose a threat to human health and the environment.
The post ER sampling activity by EPA START in February 2016 confirmed the presence of asbestos within the burned-out structure of the OBM facility. Reconnaissance investigation by EPA, START and representatives for the RP identified damaged containers, drums and material within the burned out building structure that will require further evaluation during the disposal coordination phase of the removal action. Additionally, a June 8-9, split sampling event at the OBM and Archer Property (Chickamauga, GA) conducted by the retained environmental consultant for the RP (Geosyntec) and EPA START, inventoried approximately 161,000 gallons of firefighting wastewater and identified organic contaminants, metals and additional parameters that will have to be managed during the disposal coordination phase of the removal action.
The RP entered into the AOC with EPA on August 26, 2016.
Site initiated as an ER
