United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VI
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Saturday, June 20, 2009
From:
Gary Moore


Subject: 

Norphlet Chemical Inc.
600 MacMillian Road, Norphlet, AR
Latitude: 33.3093000
Longitude: -92.6560000


POLREP No.:
12
Site #:
A6N8
Reporting Period:
6/15/09 to 6/20/09
D.O. #:
Start Date:
4/16/2009
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
4/16/2009
Response Type:
Emergency
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

On April 16, 2009 OSC Nancy Jones and START were dispatched to Norphlet Chemical Inc. (NCI) located outside El Dorado AR.  It is reported NCI is storing Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride and Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride Mixtures totaling 34,054 gallons in an unsafe manner that may lead to a AHF release from the plant.  The plant is located next to the Norphlet K - 12 School Complex.  The school is closed on April 17 th.

START will arrive on scene late this evening (approx 12:01 AM, April 17) to begin perimeter air monitoring.  OSC Jones will drive to Texarkana tonight and be on scene early tomorrow morning.  Additionally, a START HF expert will be in route to the scene (arrival 4/17 PM).  Initially, EPA will collect data to determine if there is an air release and determine if the site poses an imminent and substantial threat to the community.  EPA is coordinating closely with the local authorities, ADEQ, ADEM, and DHS.

NCI is a chemical manufacturing facility specializing in producing refrigerant (R134A) used in automobiles.  It is reported the facility is out of business.

NCI is located at 600 MacMillian (State Hwy 335) at the former location of  the MacMillian Oil Refinery.  


Current Activities

The EPA treated ~ 75,000 gallons of decontamination water through a carbon filtering system on-site and into roll-off boxes.  After filtering, the decontamination water was neutralized with acetic acid, sampled for waste characterization and currently waiting for analytical results.

Scrap metal from the former demoed Frak Tank was cut into smaller pieces, placed into roll-off boxes and is ready to be transported to a scrap metal yard.

Part of an air vapor line going into TT-13 found to have HF vapors present.  This line was neutralized this week.


Next Steps

11 drums containing TCE contaminated liquid from the Chiller Units being was sent to Herman Chemical.

Dispose of solid waste pile

Discharge carbon treated water in Frak Tanks (after final check on analytical data)

Ship off site remaining untreated decontamination water

Ship end of July Trucks containing HF (Dana and Kelly Trucks)


response.epa.gov/Norphle_tChemical_Inc