Site Update: Week of 11/17/25
EPA has paused onsite removal work at the Fairmont Brine site
due to operational challenges in waste solidification prior to transportation
and disposal of the concrete basin and Frac tank sludges. These materials are
secured on-site in containments. Remobilization will occur when a
solidification method has been selected.
- EPA conducted a site visit
with West Virginia Department of Health personnel on 11/19/2025. All waste
continues to be secured on-site in effective containments.
- The impoundments on-site
currently have an average of eight to ten inches of freeboard for
additional rainfall.
- No evidence of trespass
onto the site was observed during the site visit.
- EPA is arranging for the solidification and disposal of any remaining waste.
- Security cameras have been installed at the site, providing 24/7 video surveillance. The site will be regularly monitored by EPA and our state and local partners.
Total waste shipped off-site can be found in the table below:
|
Waste
Stream
|
Waste Quantity
|
|
TENORM Solids
|
331 tons
|
|
RCRA Mixed Liquids
|
46,200 gallons
|
|
TENORM Liquids
|
72,179 gallons
|
|
Drum Waste
(DOT/RCRA Corrosive & Non-Corrosive Materials)
|
2,000 pounds
|
Previous site updates have been archived and
made publicly available under the “Documents” tab. The most recent document can
be found here: Archived Site Updates 11.21.2025.
Monthly Community Call
EPA and our state and local partners host a community
call the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 9 am. The community
calls are open to the public. Please submit any questions or comments to Angela
Ithier and John
Brakeall by 5 pm on the 2nd Monday of each month. The
call with be canceled if EPA does not receive any questions or comments. Ground rules (PDF) for the calls can be viewed online.
Calls for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year:
- Wednesday,
December 10, 2025
Join using Microsoft Teams
Call-in option:
- Dial: (202) 991-0477
- Enter conference ID: 157 924 883#
Fairmont Brine Community Involvement Plan (CIP)
EPA has finalized a Community Involvement Plan (PDF) for the site. The CIP describes how EPA will involve the community and address local needs during the Superfund removal process. EPA and the community will work together by using the tools described in this plan.
Active public involvement is crucial to the success of any project. EPA’s community involvement activities at the site are designed to inform the public of all cleanup activities and include the community in the decision-making process.
Click here to review the CIP.
Site
Overview:
The Fairmont Brine site is located at 168 AFR
Drive in Fairmont, West Virginia. The Brine processing facility was constructed
between 2009 and 2010 by the AOP Clearwater LLC. The plant was acquired
by Fairmont Brine Processing (FBP) in 2012. FBP began pre-treatment
operations at the site in 2013 and fully
operated the plant in fall of 2014. FBP ceased operations at the
site in March 2018.
The plant accepted flowback and produced fluids , known as "Brine" from the
hydraulic fracturing process used to extract natural gas. FBP used chemical and carbon filter media,
multiple-effect evaporation, and crystallization to treat and process the brine
they received. This produced sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and distilled
water. By-products created from the process include sludge
and filter cake material. Produced fluids from fracking operations
can contain Technically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials,
known as "TENORM". Click
here to learn more about TENORM.
On May 30, 2023, there was a fire and subsequent explosion
at the site damaging an above ground storage tank and the upper process
building. Following the fire, elevated readings of TENORM radiation were
found in several areas of the site. Click here
for general information about radiation sources and doses.
