The Fansteel Metals/FMRI Site is a former metals processing plant
that extracted the rare earth metals Tantalum and Columbium (aka niobium) from
ores and slag. Fansteel, Inc. (Fansteel) operated the plant from 1957 to 1989.
The raw ore and slag contained trace amounts of uranium (about 0.1%) and
thorium, (about 0.25%). The amount of radioactive uranium and thorium was
enough to be considered as “source material” by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) which succeeded the original permitting authority, the Atomic
Energy Commission, after the Energy Reorganization Action of 1974. Fansteel
Metals operated under an NRC license that has been modified since the facility
stopped production (NRC License SMB-911). The site process involved digestion
of slag or ores in hydrofluoric acid to remove the rare earth metals. The
residual following metals removal was placed into on-site “ponds”.
The Site contains managed piles of waste and strata stored in or removed
from closed, on-site ponds. Some waste previously contained in closed Ponds 1
North and South as well as closed Pond 5 has been containerized in supersacks
which are now stored in the Sodium Reduction Building. The remainder of active on-site
former process waste ponds are currently used as water treatment ponds. These
ponds capture potentially contaminated water prior to entering the Arkansas
River as part of the groundwater treatment operation.
The Site is bound to the east by the Arkansas River (Webber Falls Reservoir),
to the south by the East Shawnee Bypass, to the west by the Muskogee Turnpike,
and to the north by undeveloped land owned by the Muskogee City-County Port
Authority. The remaining surrounding area consists of a state college (the
Indian Capitol Technology Center 1/3 mile west), industrial/commercial
properties, and residential properties (the nearest is approximately 1/3 mile
south). Fencing secures the site but can be accessed through a main entrance on
the western boundary of the property. There are two areas that are not fenced:
Parcel C at a difficult to access portion of the facility abutting the Arkansas
River and the borrow pit area. The site is within the Cherokee Nation
Reservation. In addition, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, is also
within a four-mile radius of the site. Both Nations may have areas of cultural
significance within or near the site.
On September 19, 2024, EPA signed an Action Memo authorizing a Time Critical Removal action at this site to: secure the site; continue wastewater treatment operations; remove and dispose drums, supersacks, and laboratory chemicals; temporarily cover an existing waste pile; and reroute clean water around wastewater treatment. EPA assumed operation of the site on October 1, 2024.
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