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Site is a defunct paper converter which manufactured tissue and toilet paper, and is located within 10 feet of the Battenkill River in upstate rural NY. Owner operates a business office at the site, but manufacturing ceased 12 years ago.
Since April, 2004, OSC has been working with the owner to remove approx. drums of hydraulic fluid, PCB fluids, waste oil and other chemical substances. The CERCLA removal action was completed in June, 2005.
During the removal action, the OSC observed a large oil tank on the property. Closer examination revealed the presence of approx. 10,000 gallon of aged #6 oil being stored in what was a deteriorated metal tank that had inadequate secondary containment.
Inasmuch as the mill has been shut down for 12 years and will never operate again, the OSC determined that the oil being stored in the deteriorated tank, with less than adequate secondary, constituted a significant threat of a release of petroleum to a navigable waterway of the United States. Because of the Petroleum Exclusion in CERCLA, the oil will be now be addressed with funding authority under CWA-Oil Pollution Act '90. The owner has agreed to cooperate with EPA and have the oil removed.
See separate site profile for "Bio-Tech Mills-CERCLA" for additional information.
ERRS crew mobilized to Site on 11/29. Trees and small brush cleared from around oil tank. Portions of concrete block containment walls removed to facilitate access vacuum truck. Oil feed lines to boiler room cut and capped. Oil inside pipes will be drained into vac truck. Crew demobed temporarily on 12/1.
Crew will remobe to Site on 12/12 to begin heating #6 oil in tank to reduce viscosity to the point where the oil can be extracted with a vac truck. Plan is to add hot #2 oil to tank and use air sparger to swirl the hot oil into the cold #6.
Next steps include reducing viscosity of #6 oil and extracting it through an existing bottom-fill line (with check valve removed); power washing of empty tank; bulking tank wash with water accumulated inside containment structure;
cutting and disposal of tank.
Key issues remain the coming of low temperatures and possibility of deep snow cover hampering removal activities.
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