United States Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5502G) EPA520-F-93-003 Spring 1993 « EPA Su pertu nd At Work Hazardous Waste Cleanup Efforts Nationwide Old Midland Products Site Profile Site Description: Former wood preserving plant in Yell County, Arkansas Site Size: 38 acres Primary Contaminants: Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs) Potential Range of Health Risks: Liver, kidney, or central nervous system disorders from direct contact with contaminants Nearby Population Affected: 1,500 residents within four miles Ecological Concerns: Petit Jean River ecosystem via Keeland Creek Year Listed on NPL: 1984 EPA Region: VI State: Arkansas Congressional District: 2 Treating Lagoon Liquids At Old Midland Products Site Contaminated liquid from lagoons pumped into treatment tank Success In Brief Superfund Site Clean Enough for Unrestricted Use? The Old Midland Products site in Yell County, Arkansas was con- taminated by hazardous chemicals from operations of a wood preserving plant. The US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) worked closely with the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology (ADPCE) to select a cleanup plan to remediate the site, allowing unrestricted use by 1998. EPA and ADPCE actions consisted of: • Treating over 11 million gallons of contaminated surface water , and lagoon liquids; * • Employing a highly efficient, transportable incinerator to destroy more than 85,000 tons of contaminated soil and lagoon sludges over a short period of time; • Installing recovery wells to treat an estimated 450,000 gallons of contaminated ground water; and • Maintaining effective community relations with local residents to address their concerns and involve them in the cleanup process. Because this site was abandoned and no viable parties could be located to conduct the cleanup, EPA's Superfund program was used to address the huge volume of wastes. This site serves as an example of how EPA, state agencies, and local residents can work together to restore the environment polluted by hazardous waste. The Site Today The majority of the contami- nated soil and lagoon sludges has been incinerated, and operations should be completed in April 1993. In addition, the contami- nated surface water and lagoon- liquids are currently being treated. ' , Treatment of the contaminated ground water should be com- pleted by mid-1998, after which the site will be re-evaluated to determine whether it is safe for unrestricted use. Decontaminated liquids removed from treatment Activated carbon in tank attracts and retains contaminants from circulated liquid IIS Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, Library (PL-12J) 77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Flop/ Chicago, IL 60604-359P ------- Superfund At Work Old Midland Products, Yell County, Arkansas Spring 1993 The Old Midland Products site is a 38-acre, former wood preserving plant in Yell County, Arkansas that oper- ated from 1969 to 1979. The Old Midland Products Com- pany abandoned the site after declaring bankruptcy in 1979. The site is located in a flat, rural area about one-half mile east of the town of Ola and 70 miles northwest of the City of Little Rock Approxi- mately 190 people live in the immediate area. Local residents depend on private wells which appar- ently are not contaminated. Most of the hazardous waste at the site is confined to a three-acre area that contains A Site Snapshot the wood preserving plant and seven lagoons used for waste disposal. The Petit Jean Wildlif e Man- agement Area, located upriver about one mile north of the site, is Private drinking water wells near the site have not shown any signs of contamination not endangered. However, sur- face drainage from the lagoons could have entered nearby Keeland Creek, a tributary of the Petit Jean River. In addition, there is a chicken farm and other nearby commer- cial establishments that could have been affected if the con- tamination had migrated off the site. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs), chemi- cals used in the wood preserv- ing process, are the primary pollutants. Low levels of less toxic types of dioxins and furans have also been detected on the site. Direct exposure to these chemicals has been found to cause cancer or liver and kidney damage, as well as disorders of the central nervous system. Studies have shown that area residents have not been directly exposed to any of these chemicals. Old Midland Products Timeline • Public comments on remedy selection • ADPCE and EPA begin remedial investigations • Site listed on NPL ADPCE discovers contamination \ A Superfund legislation enacted 1 Wood preserving chemicals improperly handled and stored 1969 1979 1980 1981 1984 1985 Page 2 ------- Superfund At Work Old Midland Products, Yell County, Arkansas Spring 1993 EPA and ADPCE Address Contamination At Old Midland Products Site Lagoons Most Contaminated The Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology (ADPCE) first discovered con- tamination at the site in 1981. ADPCE asked EPA to determine whether the site posed immediate threats to the surrounding com- munity. A preliminary assessment identified the need for a compre- hensive cleanup. In July 1984, the Old Midland Products site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL), EPA's roster of uncon- trolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites eligible for cleanup under Superfund. Between 1985 and 1987, EPA and ADPCE conducted a reme- dial investigation at the site to determine the extent of the contamination. While most of the hazardous waste was confined to three acres, the lagoons contained Lagoons contained 620,000 gallons of wastes contaminated with wood processing chemicals an estimated 2,770 cubic yards of contaminated sludges and 620,000 gallons of liquid wastes. In addition, 23,000 cubic yards of soil around and under the lagoons were found to be con- taminated down to a depth of 14 feet. Almost half a million gallons of ground water also were pol- luted in the upper aquifer. /Old Midland Product! Yell County, Arkansas As part of the study, EPA and ADPCE conducted an assessment of the health effects associated with PCP, PNAs, and dioxins and furans. Soil and water sampling confirmed that these chemicals were only found within the site boundaries. A fence was erected to prevent any public access to the site. Cleanup Alternatives Examined Following the field investiga- tions, cleanup alternatives were evaluated to determine the best method to remediate the site's hazardous waste. Cleanup remedy selected Remedy design completed r Remedial action contract awarded Wastewater treatment plant installed and water treatment begins r Incineration of contaminated materials begins Contaminated waste incineration completed (planned) Accelerated treatment of contaminated ground water begins (planned) Five year review begins • Ground water decontamination complete (planned) • Site safe for future development (planned) 1988 1990 1991 1992 1993 1996 1998 Page 3 ------- Superfund At Work Old Midland Products, Yell County, Arkansas Spring 1993 In November 1987, EPA re- quested comments from the ADPCE and the public on the cleanup alternatives under con- Cleanup for the site addressed lagoon liquids, ground wata*, soil, sediments, and sludges sideration. The final cleanup plan for the Old Midland Products site addressed lagoon liquids, ground water, soil, sediments, and sludges. A major component of the plan involves treating lagoon liquids using carbon adsorption. This technique flushes contaminated water through tanks filled with activated carbon that attracts and retains contaminants. Eight recovery wells will be installed to collect ground water prior to treatment with carbon adsorption. In addition, soil, sediments and sludges from the lagoons and drainage areas are to be excavated and the contami- nants destroyed in an on-site, transportable incinerator. EPA initially estimated the total cleanup of the site at $13.8 million with a completion date of 1996. Because the site was aban- doned, EPA financed 90 percent and the State of Arkansas funded 10 percent of the cleanup. This is a state-led project being adminis- tered by ADPCE. Clean vapors and steam are released from an exhaust stack at the Old Midland Products site. Following combustion, air pollution control devices remove acid gases and particulates. Cleanup Methods Offer Permanent Solution A remedial action contract was awarded in March 1991 and site work started in May. The water treatment facility was completed in December 1991. Liquids from the waste lagoons and contaminated storm water runoff are being collected and treated on site using the carbon adsorption system. Eight ground water recovery wells will be installed at depths of 35 feet and the liquids pumped and treated using activated carbon which retains the contami- nants. The treated water will be discharged into a site drainage ditch. The oil and other contami- nants removed from the water will be taken to a licensed com- mercial facility for disposal. Ground water recovery should start by mid-1993, and should be completed by mid-1998. A transportable incinerator is currently employed to destroy contaminants in the soil and lagoon sludges at the Old Mid- land Products site. Hazardous wastes are burned at extremely high temperatures to destroy the organic compounds. Air pollution control devices remove acid gases and particu- lates, so only clean vapors and steam are released from the exhaust stacks. The resulting ash is nonhazardous and placed in excavated areas on site, then covered with topsoil and vegetation. The incineration is expected to be completed in April 1993. After all contaminants in the soil and lagoon sludges have been destroyed, the incinerator will be dismantled. Page 4 ------- Superfund At Work Old Midland Products, Yell County, Arkansas Spring 1993 Transportable Technology The incinerator used at the Old Midland Products site was brought in for cleanup activities. When remediation is complete it will be disassembled. Agencies Work With Community As with any Superfund site, EPA stresses the importance of community involvement throughout the various stages of cleanup. EPA and ADPCE worked closely with local residents to address their concerns about the Old Midland Products site. One resident who lives near the site was concerned about the quality of her drinking water. She informed ADPCE and EPA, and was connected to the local city water system at a minimal cost. continued on next page Transportable Incinerator. Model of Efficiency The incinerator used at die Old Midland Products ate was required to meet strict stan- dards for efficiency due to the presence of low levels of dioxins. To meet _— these stan- dards, trial burn tests were conducted to determine the destruction and results in June 1992. The average continuous operation time for incinerators is seven to ten days. However, the Old Midland Products ************ incinerator has The incinerator °Pffl?tod , continuously for as long as 63 has destroyed more than 85,000 tons ^M g ^ ^^ of contaminated material klnger'than •"""•"•"""•"••••"•"•""•ll'™11 historically has removal efficiency (DRE) for been achieved by other compa- selected principal organic hazardous constituents (POCs) The incinerator at the Old Midland Products site was able to demonstrate the 99.9999% DRE requirement for pentachlorophenol, dioxins and furans using 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene in the trial burn. In addition, the incinerator achieved other performance specifications that included demonstrating a 99.99% DRE rable facilities. As a result the incinerator has been able to destroy more than 85,000 tons of ccaitaminated material in a 10-month period. Originally, the cleanup plan estimated that six tons of con- taminated material could be destroyed per hour, but the incinerator has averaged almost 17 tons. This rate of efficiency proved critical to the site cleanup because EPA later discovered more contaminated soil and lagoon sludges. Despite the for other POCs, for control of hydrogen chloride emissions, and for control of particulate higher volume of waste, the emissions. Full-time operations cleanup should still be corn- began soon after final ADPCE pleted on schedule. and EPA approval of the test In an average hour of operation, the incinerator destroys nearly 17 tons of contaminated material Page 5 ------- Superfund At Work Old Midland Products, Yell County, Arkansas Spring 1993 Federal and State Agencies Work Closely With Community continued from page 5 Although no signs of contamina- tion were present in tests of her well, the potential existed for ground water contamination. Unlike other environmental statutes, Superfund is unique in that public participation is relied upon for the selection of the cleanup remedy. At the Old Midland Products site, ADPCE and EPA held public meetings and wrote several fact sheets to educate local residents about incinerator technology. By demonstrating the safety of incineration, the community has learned that this was the most effective remedy for the huge volumes of waste at the site. In just a few years, the Old Midland Products site can be converted to more productive uses, having greater benefits for the residents. When incineration is complete at the Old Midland Products site, the transportable incinerator will be disassembled If you wish to be added to our mailing list or to comment on this bulletin's content, length or format, please call (703) 603-8984 or send a letter to Superfund At Work (5502G), 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460. Success at Old Midland Products Site EPA and the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology (ADPCE) are proceeding with the cleanup of the Old Midland Products site. The transportable incin- erator selected to treat haz- ardous waste serves as a model of efficiency and safety. EPA and ADPCE worked closely with local residents to address their concerns about the risks posed by pollution at the site. The cleanup is proceeding on schedule and should allow the site to be safe for future development by 1998, after completing the treat- ment of the contaminated ground water. For additional copies of this or other Superfund At Work updates, contact the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, telephone (703) 487-4650. vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency 5502G Washington, D.C. 20460 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300 First Class Mail Postage and Fees Paid EPA Permit No. G-35 ' Printed on recycled paper ------- |