During the last week of September 2009, EPA 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 first week of October, KM Ventures entered into an Administrative Order Agreement with EPA Region 4. During the week of October 12th, KM Ventures arranged for the bulking and disposal of 130 drums and 12 totes of aqueous dyes from Building 4. In addition, several drums of polyethylene glycol were bulked and sold as product to a local vendor along with several pallets of dry products. KM Ventures continues categorizing unknown drums, labpacks and totes and segregating these containers into waste streams for future disposal. KMV continues to work with two local dye vendors in determining which products on site are suitable for resale. Hundreds of totes containing dry filter cake dye continue to be segregated for disposal. Structural integrity testing of the above ground storage tanks on site continues. Stormwater from the wastewater treatment plant continues to be discharged under the supervision of NC DENRs Water Quality Dept.
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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