The Warrior Rosin Site is located at 3100 Warrior Road in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. File information indicates that the Alabama Binder Company deposited tall oil, a viscous black pitch-like substance, into two unlined lagoons on site. The material has been leaking from the lagoons and observed flowing into the woods toward the Black Warrior River, which is a navigable water source. The main building on site contains fifty-two 55-gallon drums. Twelve above ground storage tanks are located near the main building.
The 55 gallon drums were hazcatted to determine whether they contain hazardous substances. Many tests were performed including ph levels, flammability, and whether the substances were organic or inorganic. Samples of each drum were also sent to a lab to determine whether the contents were hazardous or not. Lab results determined the contents of all 42 55-gallon drums to be non-hazardous. Removal of these drums will be performed in the near future, and some drums will need to be overpacked to prevent spills in transport.
The above ground storage tanks (ASTs) were opened, and the contents were evaluated. Most vessels were determined to be empty. Only 2 vessels actually had substance in them. It was also determined that there was only 1-2 inches of material in these 2 ASTs, and the material had solidified. Therefore, this material does not pose any immediate threat of release. All the ASTs were resealed.
Current construction activities focus around the installation of a slurry wall around the two large lagoons. The decision was made to use a slurry wall to prevent lateral migration of the dark viscous material within the lagoons. This would protect the hillside vegetation, as well as prevent possible exposure to the watershed of the nearby Black Warrior River. The slurry wall is being constructed out of a blend of cement, bentonite, and existing soil and is being installed by GeoSolutions.
Preparation for the slurry wall included the reinforcement of the existing soil berm to approximately 40 feet wide. The original berm around the lagoon was only 3-5 feet, which contributed to the migration of the viscous material. Geoprobing was conducted to determine a suitable depth for the installation of a slurry wall. The geoprobe samples indicated that at approximately 20 feet below land surface there was a suitable silt/clay layer, and the wall is being installed to interface with this layer. Excavation of the material at the lower level of the trench is continuously monitored during the installation of the slurry wall to ensure that the slurry wall intersects this silt/clay layer.
After completion of the slurry wall, there will be the addition of erosion controls on the hillside including rip-rap and re-seeding. A fence will also be installed around the lagoons. The fence reduce or limit exposure to the substances within the lagoons.
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