The Site is the location of a defunct consumer paper products manufacturing facility which is currently in a severely dilapidated condition. The EPA Removal Action Branch (“RAB”) received a request from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) dated July 8, 2014 to perform CERCLA removal action at the Bio-Tech Mills Site.
The 4.5-acre Site is comprised of a manufacturing facility and paper mill that operated from 1972 to 1995 and manufactured consumer sanitary paper products, including facial tissue and toilet paper. Bio-Tech Mills, Inc., the former business that operated at the Site, has been inactive since January 2012.
On June 23, 2014, following verbal notification and discussions with NYSDEC, EPA conducted an inspection of the Site. Ten one-gallon pails of paint and three 15-gallon pails of dielectric fluid were observed throughout the facility. Fluid had been drained and collected in the pails by the property owner from three electrical capacitors inside the facility. In addition, approximately 700 linear feet of frayed and deteriorated asbestos pipe insulation were observed hanging from overhead pipes throughout the premises, and in many locations, long sections of asbestos insulation had fallen onto the floor.
From August 18 to 20, 2014, the RAB continued the removal assessment at the Site. On September 30, 2014, an Action Memorandum was approved to address asbestos containing material (ACM) as well as other hazardous substances present in on-site containers.
Three previous actions have been conducted at this site. Two actions under the Comprehensive Evironmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and one action under the Oil Pollution Act (OPA). Additional information on the actions prior to 2014 can be found at the following websites;
EPA CERCLA Removal Action, 2005 - www.epaosc.org/biotech
EPA OPA Action 2006-07 - www.epaosc.org/biotech_II
EPA CERCLA Removal Action 2006-07 - www.epaosc.org/biotechmillscerclaII
