The Ecusta Mill is a former flax pulping and paper manufacturing facility that was built in 1939 and was operational until 2002. Cellophane production also occurred at the facility for approximately 30 years. In addition, the following activities have occurred at the Site: chlorine production operations using Sorenson mercury cells (electro-chemical building); caustic storage; water and wastewater treatment; and printing. EPA's Removal Program and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR) first responded when the plant was closed down in 2002. Of primary concern were potential releases from an interruption of power to the basement sumps under the production buildings. The EPA Environmental Response Team conducted sampling of the concrete floor, the sub-floor, and soils under the electro-chemical building and sediments in on-site ditches. This sampling confirmed the presence of mercury in the sub-floor structures to 16 feet below ground surface (580 mg/kg) and the floor drains (260 mg/kg) of the electro-chemical building, in the indoor air and in the overland drainage ditches which had received historic discharge from the building.
An Expanded Site Inspection (ESI) was conducted by EPA Region 4, Science and Ecosystem Support Division and the State in March, 2004. The ESI focused on two main areas of concern, the electro-chemical building and the Aeration and Sedimentation Basin (ASB) area. Mercury was detected in soils adjacent to the electro-chemical building, in sediments in the on-site drainage ditches and in sediments of the Davison River immediately adjacent to the manufacturing area. The ESI also confirmed soils and sediments in other areas of the site are contaminated with mercury and dioxin. Groundwater sampling has confirmed low-levels of mercury in groundwater near the electro-chemical building, low levels of carbon disulfide and 1,1-Dichloroethane near the cellophane plant, and a high pH reading (pH 12.17) in the area of a previous caustic spill.
The total Site is approximately 527 acres in a mixed-use residential/industrial area. The manufacturing facility is approximately 213 acres. The ASB has a surface area of approximately 75 acres and was used for wastewater treatment. The ASB also receives storm water from approximately one-third of the site, including those areas historically most actively involved in paper production. The following industrial solid waste landfills are located at the Site: the Island landfill, the new ash landfill; the old ash and sludge landfills which are unlined industrial landfills which do not have permit numbers issued. The previous site owner is in the process of closing all landfills in compliance with State permit requirements.
A small arms firing range has been historically operated on the Site south of the main manufacturing operations on a largely undeveloped parcel of land near the confluence of the Davidson and French Broad Rivers. Lead impacted soil has been document from the historic firing range.
Renova Partners, a Brownfields redevelopment company purchased the property in January 2008. Renova formed a subsidiary company Davidson River Village, LLC (DRV) who is conducting complete demolition of all on-site structures prior to site redevelopment. D.H. Griffin was retained by DRV to conduct the demolitiion.
DRV is conducting the Removal Activities at the site under an AOC with EPA. They have hired Shaw Environmental as the lead environmental contractor. Removal Activities include a Time Critical Removal Action and 2 Non-Time Critical Removal Actions.
Shaw continuing the building clearance process.
DH Griffin shipping loads of scrap metal to DH Griffins Greensboro office for recycling.
DH Griffin continuing demolition of buildings 15,31,51,62.
DH Griffin continuing crushing operations in the north end of the site.
DH Griffin continuing demolition of building slabs 60,73,87.
DH Griffin continuing perimeter dust monitoring.
DRV continue discharging from the north clarifier into the ASB.
Shaw continue slab assessment activities in building slab 60.
Shaw excavating hot spot soil from buildings slabs 27, 75 and 106.
Water tower and black liquor towers including smoke stack will come down week of 3/23.
Shaw and DH Griffin will continue the building clearance process.
DH Griffin demolition activities will continue as buildings clear.
DH Griffin will continue loading out scrap, C&D debris and non-hazardous materials.
DH Griffin/ Shaw will continue slab removal and investigation process.
DH Griffin and Mountain Environmental will continue with OHM material collection
and T & D.
DH Griffin will begin demolition of water towers and the smoke stack.
JD Galloway will begin T & D of starch weather permitting.
Shaw will continue site wide sub slab analysis and documentation.
State/federal regulators will continue to investigate arsenic soil background levels.
Shaw will continue to monitor transducers in the caustic area wells.
JD Galloway will excavate and stage hotspots requiring additional excavation.
Shaw will collect buffer zone samples in building 56 when regulator approval is received.
The next steps will involve intensive research on steps to possibly remove the interior layer of bricks of the E.C. Building but not to destroy the structure of the facility.
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