On November 20, US EPA received notification from the NRC that Hexion Specialty Chemicals located in Fayetteville, NC identified methanol loss during inventory control measures. Loss may have begun as early as September 2008 from a 2 inch process supply pipeline. No clean-up efforts had yet begun. The facility is adjacent to a stormwater ditch that is a tributary to the Cape Fear River. Hexion collected some water samples from the stormwater drainage ditch and the discharge to the Cape Fear River that confirmed the presence of methanol. The concentrations of methanol in the stormwater drainage system and discharge to the Cape Fear River was approximately 3%. This concentration is based on results from the Hexion Laboratory on site and is not a certified lab and has not ever previously analyzed methanol in water.
Recovery Wells were installed between the pipeline leak and the drainage ditch. The collected methanol is being pumped into frac-tanks, the tanks are being sampled and methanol being treated at the facility's waste water treatment plant. Over 40,000 gallons of methanol has been recovered. Hexion has applied to enter into the state voluntary cleanup program and has been accepted. DENR will provide oversite for continued remedial actions.
No further action by EPA at this time.
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