The HoltraChem Site (also known as Acme Alkali) is comprised of approximately 24 acres and is located at 636 John L. Riegel Road in Riegelwood, Columbus County, North Carolina. It is surrounded on three sides by International Paper (IP), which is comprised of approximately 1,500 acres. Both HoltraChem and IP border the Cape Fear River. The surrounding area is a mixture of industrial, residential and commercial uses.
The area subject to this removal action includes neighboring IP’s North Bay treatment pond, also known as Cell #2. IP formerly accepted process water generated during chlorine production from the Holtra Chem facility. HoltraChem operated as a chlor-alkali facility using the mercury cell process from 1963 to 1999, when facility operations ceased. HoltraChem was originally constructed to provide chlorine gas, caustic soda, and bleach to the IP facility. Process water from the former HoltraChem facility was reportedly discharged to the northwest corner of Cell #2 via a 16-inch diameter, corrugated galvanized steel pipe from approximately 1963 to the late 1970s or early 1980s.
A time-critical removal action was conducted at the HoltraChem Site during 2003 – 2004, during which containerized hazardous waste and the former cell building were removed. In 2004, an Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis (EE/CA) investigation began at the Site. During the EE/CA, the primary contaminants of concern were identified as mercury and PCB Aroclor 1268. Sampling conducted by IP identified PCB Aroclor 1268 at concentrations up to 5,100 mg/kg in Cell #2. PCB contamination extends to a depth of approximately 12 feet below the ground surface. PCB contamination has been found in the adjacent Cape Fear River sediments. IP needs to utilize Cell #2 for the expansion of their landfill sooner than the EE/CA will be completed. Therefore, a Time-Critical Removal Action is being taken to excavate the contaminated Wastewater Treatment Solids (WWTS) from Cell #2 and place the WWTS with concentrations exceeding 50 mg/kg in temporary storage on the HoltraChem Site until the final cleanup plan is selected for HoltraChem. The estimated volume of this material is 6,500 cubic yards. The cleanup goal for this removal action is 11 mg/kg based on the Human Health Risk Assessment for the Holtra Chem Site. WWTS with concentrations between 11 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg will also be excavated, but will be placed in IP’s landfill Cell #1. The estimated volume WWTS with PCB concentrations between 1 mg/kg and 49 mg/kg is 93,500 cubic yards.
The Enforcement Action Memorandum for this time-critical removal action was signed on May 13, 2008. The Effective Date of the Administrative Order on Consent for this removal action was May 20, 2008.
The PRPs’ contractors (CH2M Hill, Shamrock Environmental, and URS) returned to the Site on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, after the Memorial Day holiday. Activities conducted during May 27th through June 1, 2008 included:
• Environmental Fabrics, Inc. (EFI) completed installation of the 60-mil HDPE underliner at the engineered stockpile location at the Holtrachem site on May 27th and conducted seam testing.
• A project understanding meeting was held on May 28, 2008 between Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), IP, URS, and CH2M HILL.
• A meeting was also held on May 28th between EPA and Honeywell regarding the overall timeline for the Holtrachem Site.
• Continued plumbing the water treatment system and repaired and re-lined the settling ponds.
• Completed construction of the overburden material stockpile area.
• Completed construction of the decontamination stations adjacent to Cell #2 and at the Holtrachem site.
• Began excavation of overburden material from Grid M-6 on May 30, 2008, and placed the excavated material into the overburden stockpile area. Overburden excavation from this Grid was completed on May 31, 2008. Excavation of overburden material from Grid K-6 was initiated on May 31, 2008.
• On May 30, 2008, CH2M Hill proposed a sampling scheme for the overburden soils, which was accepted by EPA.
Work progress remains on schedule.
During the week of June 2nd, the PRPs’ contractors will continue excavating overburden and stockpiling it in the overburden stockpile areas segregated by grid. Samples will be collected from each grid and analyzed for PCB Aroclor 1268, with 24-hour turnaround for results. Overburden stockpiles with results less than 50 mg/kg will then be transported to IP’s Cell #1 for disposal. This week they will also complete construction of the ramp on the stockpile at the Holtrachem Site. EPA RPM Samantha Urquhart-Foster will be on-site.
Removal activities are planned through July 15, 2008, with demobilization scheduled for the first week of August 2008.
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