On September 21st, site oversight transitioned from an emergency response to a time-critical removal. The KM Ventures facility previously operated as Yorkshire America, a textile dye manufacturer. To that end, EPA discovered hundreds of drums of dye and dye intermediates in various conditions as well as several above ground storage tanks which contained residual caustic and acids. The facility is located on a 42-acre tract with 14 acres fenced around the plant. The facility is also bordered on the southeast by the Catawba River.
During the week of September 28th, KM Ventures continued the clean up effort by categorizing unknown drums, labpacks and totes and segregating these containers into waste streams for future disposal. KMV shipped off 2900 gallons of sulfuric acid from a WWT tank. In addition, KMV continues to work with two local dye vendors and chemical vendors in determining which products on site are suitable for resale. Hundreds of totes containing dry filter cake dye are being segregated for future disposal. Stormwater from the wastewater treatment plant continues to be discharged under the supervision of NC DENRs Water Quality Dept. Structural integrity testing and wall thickness testing of the large tanks on site has also begun this week.
On Wednesday, Sept 30th, NC DENR Radiation Protection Section conducted a site inspection to check for rad sources in flow meters and other measuring devices. Minor amounts of tritium mixed with phosphorous are in exit signs in several buildings on site. There proper disposal will be coordinated with the manufacturer.
On October 6th, KM Ventures entered into an Administrative Order Agreement with EPA Region 4. KM Ventures agreed to continue the clean up effort under the following Scope of Work:
1. Overpack/Stage all drums contianing hazardous substances or oils that have holes in the containers inside.
2. Segregate/Isolate Unknowns, construct a staging area for unknowns w/secondary containment and position drums based on compatibility.
3. Lab-Packs should be inventoried and packed based on compatibility.
4. Bulk tanks should be inspected, bulk storage containers containing hazardous substance/oils that are in poor condition (faulty valves, etc.) should be off-loaded into stable containers until proper transport can be arranged for off-site use or disposal.
5. Identify and Inventory All Containers On Site.
6. Properly characterize, transport and dispose of waste in accordance with all federal and state laws.
7. EPA has requested that KM Ventures provide a Daily Activity Report to EPA and DENR until the site has been stabilized which at that point a Weekly Activity Report would be provided.
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