Welch Group Environmental (WGE) operated a business that recovered lead and other metals (i.e copper) from spent munitions at firing ranges. The recovered materials were gathered from ranges around the Southeast, brought back to their recovery operations at the Palmetto, Fair Play and Belton locations in South Carolina. WGE recovered, stored and melted the lead into ingots for recycling.

The WGE Belton site conducted material separation as well as distribution of recycled material. In addition, several hundred drums of 'salt formations' are present in drums which are in various conditions.

The WGE Fair Play site conducted material separation as well as melting activities. The WGE Fair Play site has up to 50 drums of uncontained process material and liquids.

Both site operations were conducted without South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) permits. SCDHEC documented up to 10 WGE employees had significantly high lead levels. SCDHEC ordered the cessation of operations on December 12, 2010. SCDHEC referred the sites to EPA R4 Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB) for removal site evaluation (RSE) on December 22, 2010.

The EPA On Scene Coordinator (OSC) began the removal site inspection during the week of January 31, 2011 and coordinated enforcement efforts with SCDHEC using CERCLA response authority. In coordination with Air, Waste, and Land Management; 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.
 

The PRPs hired a qualified contractor. A Health and Safety Plan as well as Removal Action Workplans (RAWP) for the initial emergency response phase was submitted and approved by the OSC in consult with SCDHEC. The emergency response phase commenced on February 08, 2011.

The RSE Report was to be complete in March of 2011 with a subsequent recommendation for further action. The OSC coordinated enforcement activities with SCDHEC. In addition, the OSC coordinated with EPA R4 RCRA to assure WGE gun range recovery activities meet the applicable federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) standards.

The PRP's contractor submitted the site RAWP on March 5, 2011 and after the OSC's review, the RAWP was approved on March 8, 2011. On March 14, 2011, WGE began decontaminating a piece of equipment primarily used to separate bullets from lead dust and range debris. The vibratory screen was decontaminated and cleared on March 17, 2011. WGE submitted a vibratory screen cross contamination plan detailing decontamination procedures after future use.

The Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) was finalized and transmitted on May 12, 2011.

On October 26, 2011, the EPA met on site with START and WGE. The meeting was scheduled in order to transfer OSC duties from OSC (Leo Francendese) to OSC (Greg Harper). WGE was informed of the change and any further site approvals will be reviewed by OSC Greg Harper.

On March 16, 2016,  the EPA met on site with WGE. The meeting was scheduled in order to transfer OSC duties from OSC (Greg Harper) to OSC (Jordan Garrard). WGE was informed of the change and any further site approvals will be reviewed by OSC Jordan Garrard.

1.1.2.1 Location

The site is located 5043 Belton Hwy in Anderson, South Carolina.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Lead is present at high levels in either soils, sediments, uncontained vessels and drums, various equipment and on the building floors. These high levels exist at concentrations that are an imminent and substantial threat to public health or welfare.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

RSE was completed in March 2011 (RSI Report). See SCDHEC referral package at the documents section of for this site. 

The only approved work was to decontamination of select equipment with approval from the EPA OSC and to maintain the security of the site and of drummed waste. Future time critical response actions will commence after the WGE Fair Play removal action, the Removal Action Work Plan (RAWP) for the Belton Site and Site Specific Health and Safety Plan (HASP) for the Belton Site are completed and approved by the OSC.

During the initial investigation high concentrations of lead dust, waste material, contaminated debris and soils were identified and removal actions will be conducted at the site. The removal actions will be conducted as part of a time critical removal action under the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC). As part of the AOC, the OSC requested that the PRP prepare the following plans for WGE Belton:

• Waste Characterization Plan in order to gather the necessary information for an eventual disposal and recycling options.
• Decontamination and Demolition Plan for remaining debris and structures exceeding the lead cleanup criteria.
• Soils Removal and Disposal Plan for soils exceeding the cleanup criteria.

On June 24, 2011 the OSC met in Atlanta with WGE to resolve outstanding RAWP issues. The meeting resulted in establishing a timeline and deliverables for time critical removal action at the site which included the cleanup of the other two sites: WGE Palmetto Parkway and WGE Fair Play.

WGE has moved the drums containing lead waste inside the building and the building was secured. A silt fence was constructed during the emergency response action that was conducted in the January 2011. Selected items needed by WGE to operate their ongoing business have been decontaminated and removed from the property.

• Waste Characterization Plan in order to gather the necessary information for an eventual disposal and recycling options for the lead waste on site.
• Decontamination and Demolition Plan for remaining debris and structures exceeding the lead cleanup criteria.
• Soils Removal and Disposal Plan for soils exceeding the cleanup criteria.

2.2.2 Issues

WGE is currently conducting the removal action at Fair Play location. In accordance with the AOC WGE can work complete the work at the three site in sequence.

According to the owner of Welch Group Environmental (WGE), its sister company which was generating the money to pay for the removal operations declared bankruptcy. The owners said he would continue to pay for removal action. The EPA attorney is involved with the lasted issue.

WGE was informed of an OSC to Jordan Garrard change and any further site approvals will be reviewed by OSC Jordan Garrard.

2.5.1 Safety Officer
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2.5.2 Liaison Officer
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2.5.3 Information Officer

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3.1 Unified Command
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3.2 Cooperating Agencies

SCDHEC