United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The KM Ventures facility previously operated as Yorkshire America, a textile dye manufacturer. During late August 2009, OSC Ken Rhame conducted a site inspection with NC DENR and local authorities and discovered hundreds of drums of dye and dye intermediates in various conditions as well as several above ground storage tanks which contained residual caustic and acids. The facility is located on a 42-acre tract with 14 acres fenced around the plant. The facility is also bordered on the southeast by the Catawba River.

In October 2009, KM Ventures agreed to an Administrative Order with EPA Region 4 which included a scope of work to conduct the clean up.

During the week of November 9th, KM Ventures and a local vendor continued to evaluate thirty-three totes of liquid dye staged in Building 18, 60 totes of dry filter cake dye staged in Building 33 and 120 drums of aqueous dye staged in Building 4 for reuse. KMV also arranged for the shipment of ten totes of caustic to an outside vendor. The RP continues categorizing unknown drums, dye and chemical products into proper waste streams for bulking and disposal. Heavy rains over the past three days from TS Ida have resulted in the stormwater tank nearing capacity of 250,000 gallons and the RP continues to coordinate the sampling and discharge of stormwater with NC DENRs Water Quality.

On October 6th, KM Ventures entered into an Administrative Order Agreement with EPA Region 4. KM Ventures agreed to continue the clean up effort under the following Scope of Work:

1. Overpack/Stage all drums contianing hazardous substances or oils that have holes in the containers inside.
2. Segregate/Isolate Unknowns, construct a staging area for unknowns w/secondary containment and position drums based on compatibility.
3. Lab-Packs should be inventoried and packed based on compatibility.
4. Bulk tanks should be inspected, bulk storage containers containing hazardous substance/oils that are in poor condition (faulty valves, etc.) should be off-loaded into stable containers until proper transport can be arranged for off-site use or disposal.
5. Identify and Inventory All Containers On Site.
6. Properly characterize, transport and dispose of waste in accordance with all federal and state laws.
7. EPA has requested that KM Ventures provide a Daily Activity Report to EPA and DENR until the site has been stabilized which at that point a Weekly Activity Report would be provided.