The Skybel Tissue Superfund Removal Site was a former secondary paper mill, processing recycled paper into toilet tissue. The Site is located on the Batten_Kill a tributary of the Hudson, and a major trout fishing river in NYS. Mill was in operation since the 1880s, but a major fire in 1985 destroyed most of the manufacturing area. As a result 75 damaged drums of chemicals were overpacked and placed into an empty warehouse on the Site. The mill operated sporadically for a few years, then shut down. A new owner continued to operate a toilet tissue packaging business (no manufacturing) in a nearby warehouse until 8/2002, when an arson fire destroyed the warehouse (Building # 28), resulting in the cessation of all business activities. In 10/2002 EPA performed an assessment of the Site for a possible removal action, and during the assessment discovered approx. 50 additional loose drums throughout the other buildings, 6 electrical transformers, a 5,000 gal. #6 UST, a small Diesel fuel tank, and 82 small electrical capacitors. During the assessment a vandal entered building # 4 and spilled a drum of pH=0 acid. This factor, plus the close proximity of the transformers and UST (less than 75 feet) from the Kill, prompted EPA to initiate an emergency removal action. ERRS overpacked an additional 47 loose drums of known and unknown chemicals and staged them in the only building on the Site capable of being locked. ERRS will be remobing a full crew to the Site in mid-January to complete the removal action started in October.
REMOVAL COMPLETE: Last shipment of 47 drums of haz waste shipped on May 9, 2003. ERRS grading backfilled areas, removed last of approximately 400 tons of scrap metal, demobed trailer. OSC invited FD for site walk-thru. Region 2 CD issued a press release announcing the completion of on-site activities. Final POLREP issued. Owner informed of completion of on-site activities.
* Please go to Site Bulletins for updated information.
