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Hercules, Inc. Aqualon Division
On This Page
EPA ID: VAD003121928
Location:
1111 Hercules Road
Hopewell, VA 238602
Property Area 390 acres
Congressional District: 4
Other Names:
Last Updated: October 2012
Contacts
EPA Project Manager
Mr. Michael Jacobi
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3
1650 Arch Street MS 3LC20
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
(215) 814-3435
jacobi.mike@epa.gov
Virginia Dept of Environmental Quality
Jutta Schneider
629 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 698-4099
jschneider@deq.virginia.gov
Bulletin Board
Site Status
Status
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Hercules submitted the RCRA Facility Investigation Summary Report in November 2011. The RFI Summary Report includes the Human Health Risk Assessment and the Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment as Attachments A and B respectively. EPA approved the RCRA Facility Investigation Summary Report in a letter dated March 27, 2012. Hercules will submit a Corrective Measures Study in fall of 2012 as the next step under RCRA Corrective Action.
Background
The Hercules Aqualon site occupies a 390-acre parcel of land in Hopewell, VA and employs about 400 local residents. Hercules purchased the property in 1926 but the site has been used for industrial purposes since 1912 under various owners/operators. The Hercules Hopewell Plant is one of the largest cellulose derivative production facilities in the world. All of the finished products are based on cellulose, a raw material that comes from trees or cotton. The cellulose is swollen with sodium hydroxide (caustic) and reacted with one or more chemicals, depending on the product being manufactured. The resulting product is then purified, dried, and packaged.
Contaminants and Risks
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Several organic and inorganic contaminants have been detected in ground water at the site. The contaminants of most concern include diethyl ether, tert butyl alcohol, 1,4-dioxane, and
2-butoxyethanol. Soil investigations have shown several organic and inorganic contaminants at several solid waste management units.
Institutional Controls
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No institutional controls are currently in place.
Documents and Reports
- Some of the site’s key documents of interest are accessible below:
- Environmental Indicator Determination - Human Exposures [9pp, 167 KB, About PDF]
- Environmental Indicator Determination - Groundwater Migration [12pp, 171 KB, About PDF]
- All documents and reports regarding this facility also can be reviewed in person at these locations:
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: (804) 698-4099U.S. EPA Region III
Land & Chemicals Division - RCRA
1650 Arch Street-11th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 814-3435
Call for an appointment.
- Submit a FOIA Request
Get instructions on how to submit a FOIA request. Additional fee for requests over 100 pages.
Photos, Maps and Diagrams
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| Hercules |
Click on a thumbnail to enlarge the photo)
Reuse Information
-
The facility is under continued use.
Questions
- The EPA is dedicated to providing you with timely and accurate information about our work at this site. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the EPA Project Manager: Michael Jacobi (215) 814-3435