Ecusta Mill is a Superfund redevelopment site, formerly, paper mill, located near Pisgah Forest, Transylvania County, North Carolina. The Site borders the Davidson River, a locally important recreational stream and a tributary to the French Broad River.
On May 27, 2008 personnel at the Ecusta Superfund Site began routing black liquor from a storage tank through a process sewer to an onsite stabilization basin for treatment.
At approximately 11:30 hrs on May 28, 2008, Personnel On-site were notified by a third party of a sulfur odor and fish kill on the Davidson River. Investigation revealed that a portion of the waste released to the process sewer had entered a storm drain, flowed to an on-site drainage ditch, and discharged to the River. At approximately 13:30 hrs a temporary containment dam was constructed in the drainage ditch. This temporary structure was reinforced with an earthen dam at approximately 17:30 hrs. Afterward, contractors began pumping contaminated storm water from the ditch. Remedial Project Manager (RPM) Jennifer Wendel was notified.
Following consultation with the the RPM and the EPA R4 Duty Officer, Shaw Environmental (the technical consultant for the project) notified the National Response Center of a release of 2,200 gallons of black liquor. RPM Wendel traveled to Ecusta to evaluate the situation. On 5/29/2008, OSC David Andrews was deployed to provide assistance.
Operations are being directed under a Unified Command consisting of the EPA, NCDHEC Superfund and Water Quality, Fish and Wildlife Service, State Division of Health, the County of Transylvania, and Shaw Environmental.
PRP Contractors continue to reinforce two earthen dams along the path of the spill within the South Drainage Ditch. Contingencies are in-place to redirect a drainage surge in the case of a significant rain event. Removal of spill product continues in the South Drainage ditch. Dye test of the process drain is being conducted. Analytical of the spill product is expected late in the afternoon of May 30th. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) on the Davidson and French Broad Rivers were recently tested with results in the "normal" range. NCDNER/Fisheries continues inventory of wildlife impact on the French Broad and Davidson Rivers. Further investigation has identified the primary chemical of concern in the spilled prodct as a solution of Sodium Hydrosulfide (NaSH.2H2O). Additional laboratory analysis is pending and the data should be available within the next reporting period. EPA continues oversite of the PRP response.
Continued product removal from the South Drainage Ditch. Complete dam construction and diversion within the South Drainage ditch.
Completion of the dams/diversion system and product removal from the South Drainage ditch by the PRP should take place within the next reporting period and noted in the FINAL POLREP No.3.
Why did the storm drain system capture product from the process drain line? Positive identification of the chemical(s) involved in this spill. Assure no further off-site discharge from site drainage systems to the Davidson/French Broad Rivers.
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