Welch Group Environmental (WGE) operated a business that recovered lead and other metals (ie copper) from spent munitions at firing ranges gathered from around the Southeast. They then melted the lead into ingots. The Fair Play site is one of three WGE sites undergoing clean-up by the EPA.
The WGE Fair Play site conducted material seperation as well as melting activities and also has up to 50 drums of uncontained process material. The site is approximately 6 acres and sits within a 22 acre parcel.
The Site operated without South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) permits. SCDHEC documents that up to 10 WGE employees had significantly high lead levels. SCDHEC ordered the cessation of operations on December 2, 2010. SCDHEC referred the sites to EPA R4 ERRB for removal site evaluation (RSE) on December 22, 2010.
The EPA On Scene Coordinator (OSC) conducted a removal site inspection during the week of January 31st, 2011. EPA activities are coordinated with SCDHEC using CERCLA response authority. In coordination with Air, Waste and Land Mangement, Site Evaluation, and Region 1 programs at SCDHEC, the OSC directed the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to secure the locations, contain and secure open vessels/drums and construct a sediment/soil containment measure such as silt curtain and hay bales where appropriate.
On March 13, 2011, the PRP hired a qualified contractor. Both Health and Safety as well as Removal Action Workplans were submitted and approved by the OSC in consult with SCDHEC for conduct of an emergency stabilization action on February 8, 2011. An administrative order on consent (AOC) was finalized on May 12, 2011 between the EPA, PRP and property owner.
On Oct 22, 2015 the PRP filed for bankruptcy and discontinued any further cleanup activities. The property owner informed EPA that they were not financial able to conduct the remainder of the cleanup. EPA decided to move forward with the cleanup as fund lead. An action memorandum to finish the cleanup was signed on March 19, 2019.
Fund lead cleanup activities began on April 8, 2019.
