On September 23, 2007 US EPA Region 4 received a report from the NRC (NRC Report #849667) reporting a release of "Green Liquor" from a 2 million gallon Green Liquor Clarifier which is a above ground storage tank (AST). Green Liqour contains sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide, sodium sulfite, sodium sulfate and water. Green Liquor has a pH of >13. The release is beieved to have been caused by corrosion located at the bottom of the tank. It is estimated that approximately 1 million gallons of "Green Liquor" was released from the tank that impacted the facilities waste water treatment plant (WWTP). This International Paper facility does have a discharge from the WWTP to the Cape Fear River. The release was contained to the WWTP. The release did seem to have a "Biological Effect" on the facilities WWTP. The facilities WWTP has a seven day retention time, some samples were collected on Sept. 23, the facility began monitoring the impact to the WWTP plant.
On September 24th, US EPA Region 4 conducted a Emergency Response to the facility. International Paper was continuing to monitor the impact of the spill to the facilities WWTP. US EPA notified North Carolina DENR who mobilized a WWTP inspector and the US Coast Guard (Wilmington) who also mobilized inspectors to the site.
There has been no known impacts to the Cape Fear River as a result of this spill.
The 2 million gallon AST from which the spill originated has been taken "Out of Service". There is another 2 million gallon tank that was constructed approximately at the same time located in close proximity of the tank that had the release. This second tank will also be taken out of service when the original tank that experienced the leak is put back in service. There is approximately 6 feet of sludge that remains in the leaking tank, this sludge will be removed and disposed of at a landfill located on-site at the facility. Both tanks will be inspected and repaired, the leaking tank will be inspected and repaired first, then when this tank is put back into service the second tank will be taken "off-line" for maintenance. There is no secondary containment surrounding the tanks, the area is concrete and sloped toward a open drain that leads to the WWTP.
International Paper will provide US EPA Region 4 and USCG Wilmington with all sample results in relation to the spill and update us daily as to the condition of the WWTP and its recovery. They will provide us with a Work Plan that will specify the work to be done on the AST and the results of the tank inspection, future sampling including ground water sampling from monitoring wells that are already in place down gradient from the tanks, between the tanks and the Cape Fear River.
Impacted Soil Removal. Decisions regarding lab analysis of soil samples are still being discussed. International Paper will discsuss sampling plan with US EPA Region 4 and NC DENR.
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