Norphlet Chemical Inc. (NCI) is located outside El Dorado, AR at the location of the former Macmillan Oil Refinery (a previous Non-NPL Removal Action). NCI is a chemical manufacturing facility in the business of producing a refrigerant (HFC-134A) used in automobiles. The primary raw materials used for producing this product is Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride, Trichloroethylene, and a catalyst. The company attempted to produce the intended product but was unable to do so. In September 2008, the company laid off all of its employees.
EPA became aware of this facility in March 2009 and immediately informed the ADEQ. EPA offered its assistance if deemed necessary by the ADEQ. On April 15, 2009, DHS conducted an Infrastructure Protection Inspection of the facility and was alarmed with its condition and the fact that it was abandoned. On April 15, 2009, DHS contacted EPA about their concerns with the site. The major concern was that the abandoned site had containers of Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride (AHF) and mixtures of AHF, TCE, and intermediate refrigerants. In addition, the condition of these containers were questionable. EPA and DHS contacted State authorities and participated in a call concerning the site. On April 16, EPA received a request from ADEQ to address the situation at the site.
EPA dispatched their START Contractors to begin air monitoring. EPA OSC Jones arrived on-site on Friday, April 17, 2009 and met with Federal, State, County, and City officials and evaluated the site. OSC Jones determined that an Imminent and Substantial Endangerment existed as a result of the abandonment of the facility, the conditions of the tankage, and the close proximity of the school and surrounding residents to the facility. On April 16, 2009, Union County Judge Bobby Edmonds declared an emergency. Because of the emergency order and the close proximity of the site to the school, the school was closed on Friday, April 17.
EPA mobilized their ERRS Contractor and began transferring the AHF mixtures from the onsite tanks into tanker trailers which would be shipped offsite for disposal.
From July 27 through August 8, 2009 five JB Kelly Tanker Trailers containing HF contaminated liquid wastes were shipped to Veolia Solutions in Port Arthur, Texas for disposal. During this period, a total of 89,500 pounds of HF contaminated waste was disposed of at the Veolia facility. To date, four of those trailers have been returned empty to the site.
EPA and contractors remobilized to the Norphlet site on August 6, 2009 and began decontamination activities on the empty tanker trailers. Decontamination of each trailer will include the following activities; purging each trailer with nitrogen, a 1000 gallon fresh water rinse, an 8-hr soak with a hydrated lime solution and a manual interior water rinse using a pressure washer. Upon completion of decon activities a visual internal inspection will be conducted to ensure that cleaning criteria have been met. A wipe sample will then be collected from each tanker trailer and submitted to an analytical laboratory for pH and total fluoride analysis. Once the data are received and the results are within decon guidelines, a third party inspection will be conducted which will include a second internal visual inspection and a certified pressure test.
Currently three tanker trailers remain at the Norphlet site awaiting transportation off site to Veolia for disposal. All three tanker trailers are scheduled to be shipped off site by August 15th.
No additional site activities are scheduled once decontamination operations are completed.
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