Biweekly Update 3/28/25
The EPA and its contractors continue preparation and
stabilization activities at the site. Site activities have included the
following:
- Electric service applied to office trailers and site support
- Creating and installing sandbags for containment measures
- Securing contaminated debris
- Installation of hard fencing around for exclusion zone
- Installation of a decontamination shelter
- Conducting scoping /planning meetings with the radiation subcontractor
- Extended security fencing and added additional deterrents
Security cameras have been installed at the site allowing
for 24/7 video surveillance.
The EPA and contractor personnel regularly screen AFR Drive
with radiation monitoring equipment.
Additional preparation work will continue in the following
weeks.
Previous site updates have been archived and made publicly available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 3.14.25
Site
Overview:
The Fairmont Brine Processing 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 on or about March 1, 2018.
The plant accepted flowback and produced fluids from the
hydraulic fracturing process used to extract natural gas, otherwise known as
"Brine". 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 wastewater treatment 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.
