U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Browns Island Chemical Spill

 
Site Contact:
Dennis Matlock
OSC

(matlock.dennis@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Browns Island
Weirton, WV 26062
 response.epa.gov/brownsisland
NRC#: 865550

On March 20, 2008, James Kastner, on behalf of Areclor Mittal Tecumseh Redevelopment Corp., contacted the NRC (incident report # 865550) to report a spill of approximately 300 gallons of an unknown liquid at a closed facility on Browns Island, near Weirton, West Virginia. While at another emergency response in West Virginia, OSC Matlock dispatched the START contractor to the scene to gather further information/clarification on the reported spill of unknown material. The facility is a former Coke by-products plant closed in 1982. It is located on Browns Island, West Virginia. The facility is currently owned by Areclor Mittal Tecumseh Redevelopment Corporation who are in the process of demolition of the facility which includes environmental cleanup activities. Asbestos abatement activities have been on-going. There are two areas, coal tar tanks and Prussian blue release, involved in corrective actions with the USEPA. The West Virginia DEP will conduct follow-up on clean-up progress and any disposal arrangements.


Overview of spill area which extends from Tank 36 (right) to the end of the process area where it enters water puddles that almost reaches the large red vertical tank (left). Tank #36 (center) showing discolored vegetation and saturated soil areas. PRP contractor used sorbents to soak up spilled material in low areas. Closeup of leaking end of Tank 36 and discolored spill area. Spill path exended approximately 25-30 feet away from Tank 36. Sorbents used to soak up pooled areas of spilled material. Spilled material reached water puddles along south end of process area. Material concentrated in the grate sections (left). Drainage pipe from process area sump; however, START did not observe any spilled material in process sump. Active leak in Tank 36 observed by START along weld of saddle support. Tank 36 moved from spill area and covered with plastic. PRP contractor scraped the contaminated vegetation and surface soil which was placed in a lined rolloff. An earthen dike was built along a collection point dug into the saturated soil. Collection point dug at SE corner of process area to allow saturated soil to seep into. Earthen berm placed along collection point. Reddish-brown spilled material seeping into collection point from saturated soil. Original location of Tank 36 after its removal. Heavily saturated soil covered in plastic sheeting. The remaining contents of Tank 36 were vac'd out and mixed with the contents of Tank 143 as an emergency measure for temporary storage. Tank 143 was in relatively better shape than Tank 36; however, the valve area of Tank 143 showed signs of deterioration and past spill events. Tank 143 located at north end of coke battery. Photo also shows the tank's proximity to the water tank in the background.
For additional information, visit the Pollution Report (POLREPS) section.