1. Background

Deferiet Paper Mill ("Site") is an inactive facility; however, there is an operating hydroelectric power plant owned by Brookfield Renewable Power, LLC (Brookfield) that is physically attached to the boiler room and sulfite room of the Site. The hydroelectric power-plant is located towards the rear of the site.

The paper mill started operations at this location in 1899. The original paper mill, like many other paper mills located in Jefferson County along the Black River, erected a hydroelectric power plant to run the boilers. Steam was used to run turbines which operated milling machines as well as providing heat to the driers.

In the mid-1990s, then owners sold the hydroelectric power-plant along with two easements to the regional utility company. Through a series of transfers, the hydroelectric power-plant is currently owned by Brookfield.

In 2006 the property was auctioned off as a result of then owners filing bankruptcy. Deferiet Development, LLC purchased the Site for the purpose of recovering steel, brass and other metals. In the process of recovering metal, Deferiet Development, LLC also dismantled overhead steam pipes between the machine rooms and boiler room. These two buildings flank the easement.

Brookfield employees were concerned because of potential exposure to friable asbestos whenever they accessed the easement. Brookfield raised their employees concerns to Jefferson County officials. An attorney representing Jefferson County on environmental matters referred the Site to the EPA.

2. Response Actions to Date

An emergency response was undertaken through verbal authorization. On March 2nd, 2016, EPA and their contractors mobilized to the site.

Due to the sever state of disrepair of the buildings along the easement, the best approach was to apply a polymer sealant to cover the exposed friable asbestos lagging.

The polymer selected is similar to the ones applied as pickup truck bed-liner. Between March 7th and 10th, 2016, all exposed friable asbestos lagging was covered by the polymer. This serves as temporary protective measure till a long term solution is developed.


2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery.