Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Virginia
Smyth and Eastern Washington Counties
Next to North Fork of the Holston River near Saltville

EPA ID# VAD003127578

9th Congressional District

Last Update: March 2009

Other Names

Saltville Muck Pond #5
Olin Corp. Saltville Waste Disposal Pond #5
Olin Corp. Saltville Waste Disposal Pond #6

Current Site Status

EPA issued a Five-Year Review confirming that the constructed remedy remains protective in September 2007. The Olin Corporation, the sole potentially responsible party, completed the construction of an impermeable cap over the 75-acre waste disposal area known as Pond 5 and a permeable cap over the 45-acre waste disposal area known as Pond 6 during the Fall of 2002. A wildlife habitat area has been created on the former disposal ponds. Olin is operating an on-site water treatment plant for leachate from Ponds 5 and 6. The site team is currently evaluating the last of the environmental samples collected to complete the investigation of approximately 150 river miles extending along the the North Fork Holston River and into the Holston River. The final Remedial Investigation and draft Feasibility Study is scheduled to be completed in the Spring of 2009.

Site Description

The Saltville Waste Disposal Ponds site, located on the border of Smyth and Washington Counties, Virginia is a 125-acre site which was part of Olin Corporation’s Saltville facility. The site consists of the Former Chlorine Plant Site, two large waste impoundments referred to as Ponds 5 & 6, and areas to which contamination has migrated, including the North Fork of the Holston River (NFHR or River).

The Saltville facility was in operation from 1895 to 1972. Several different waste streams were generated over that period of time. The primary contaminant of concern, mercury, was in a waste product generated by the chlorine gas plant which operated from the early 1950s to 1972. “Pond 5" is a 75-acre disposal area containing mercury-tainted wastes buried 80-feet thick. In addition, the waste material is pH 12 so that direct contact with the skin will cause chemical burns. “Pond 6" is a 45-acre disposal area containing high pH wastes buried 30-feet thick. Mercury is not present at elevated levels in Pond 6 wastes. Elevated mercury levels are also present in soil and groundwater in the area beneath the former chlorine plant. Mercury contamination at the site has been found to threaten fish and other aquatic organisms in the river and presents a risk to those who may eat fish caught in the river. Elevated levels of mercury have been detected as far as 75 miles downstream of the site.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup for this site is the responsibility of the Federal and State governments, and the potentially responsible parties.

NPL Listing History

This Site was proposed to the National Priorities List of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long term remedial action on December 30, 1982. The Site was formally added to the list September 8, 1983, making it eligible for Federal cleanup funds.

Threats and Contaminants

Mercury from the former chlorine plant and Pond 5 has contaminated ground water directly beneath these facilities, on-site soils and the sediments of the adjacent North Fork of the Holston River. Direct contact with or accidental ingestion of ground water, soil, or eating contaminated fish from the North Fork may pose a health risk. There has been a ban on consumption of fish caught from the North Fork since the early 1970s due to high levels of mercury in fish tissue. In addition, elevated mercury concentrations found in the river sediment presents a threat to the aquatic life. The North Fork is a habitat for two endangered species remaining in the river: the fine-rayed mussel and the spotfin chub. Six other endangered species have disappeared from the river. Clean-up actions already completed have addressed risks previously presented by Pond 5.

Contaminant descriptions and risk factors are available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC.

Cleanup Progress

In 1982, the Virginia State Water Control Board issued a Special Order requiring Olin to dredge mercury contaminated sediments from a 1000-foot section of the river adjacent the Former Chlorine Plant Site. In June 1987, EPA issued a Record of Decision ( ROD-1) which identified interim measures to be taken to reduce the migration of mercury to the river. In 1988, Olin entered into a Consent Decree wherein it agreed to implement the interim actions and to perform a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) encompassing the remaining portions of the site, including the River. Consistent with ROD-1, Olin constructed a water treatment plant capable of removing mercury from leachate generated at Pond 5, and constructed a network of surface water diversion ditches capable of intercepting clean storm water flowing toward the waste impoundments and conveying that clean water directly to the North Fork. The water treatment plant began operation in 1994; leachate from Pond 6 was routed to the treatment plant in late 2001. By having Olin implement the interim remedial measures and conduct the detailed investigation, EPA saved an estimated $4,500,000 in trust fund money. To date the on-site treatment plant has treated over 250 million gallons of mercury-contaminated leachate and controlled the most immediate pathway for mercury to enter the River.

In accordance with the 1988 Consent Decree, Olin completed an RI/FS on the remaining portion of the site in 1994. At that time EPA decided that this RI/FS was sufficient to support remedy decisions on Pond 5 and Pond 6, but that additional study on the Former Chlorine Plant Site and the North Fork would be required before a decision could be made. In September 1995, EPA issued a second operable unit ROD (ROD-2). ROD-2 called for the installation of a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Sub-title C cap over Pond 5, the upgrade of the existing water treatment plant sufficient to meet “in-stream” water quality standards, and the installation of a soil cover over Pond 6. Further, ROD-2 required that Pond 6 leachate treated to neutralize the pH prior to its discharge to the North Fork.

In 1997, Olin entered into a second Consent Decree wherein it agreed to implement the actions selected in the ROD-2. The estimated cost of this remedial action is $35,000,000. On-site construction of the remedy selected in ROD-2 began in April 2001 was completed in Fall 2002; planting trees and shrubs to establish a wildlife habitat area on Ponds 5 and 6 was completed in Fall 2003. The investigation of the Former Chlorine Plant and the North Fork Holston River now extends approximately 150 river miles to the Cherokee Reservoir in Tennessee and is in progress. Selection of a cleanup plan for the Former Chlorine Plant and River is scheduled for Fall 2009.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations