Mid-Atlantic Corrective Action

Addivant USA LLC North Plant
(Formerly: Chemtura Corp., General Electric Company)

On This Page

• Current Progress at Site
• Site Description
• Site Responsibility
• Contaminants
• Community Interaction
• Institutional Controls
• Documents and Reports
• Photos, Maps and Diagrams
• Reuse Information
• Questions

EPA ID:WVD980552384
Location:
Morgantown Industrial Park
Morgantown, WV 26505
Property Area: 28.6 acres
Congressional District: 1
Other Names Crompton
Weston/ Borg-Warner
General Electric Speciality Chemicals
Chemtura Corporation Facility
LAST UPDATE May 2013

Contacts

Bulletin Board

Current Progress at the Site

In 2004, based on the results of extensive investigations, EPA determined there are no current unacceptable human exposures to contamination at the North Plant, the South Plant and the Laboratory (collectively called the Facility).  In 2005, EPA determined contaminant migration in groundwater is under control at the South Plant and the Laboratory.  In 2011, EPA determined contaminant migration in groundwater is under control at the North Plant.  Supplemental monitoring is being conducted to sustain the groundwater determinations for each plant.

Extensive Facility wide evaluations of soil, groundwater, sediment, and seeps were conducted by GE at the properties in 1992, 1995, and 2003 to assess the presence of industrially related metals and organic chemicals.  In addition, a due diligence investigation was conducted by Crompton Corporation (Crompton) associated with their acquisition of the Facility in 2003.  Groundwater wells surrounding the North and South Plants were sampled four times a year from 1992 to July 2009 initially under the corrective action program and later under the NPDES permit.  Beginning in July 2009, the frequency of monitoring the NPDES wells in the South Plant reduced to twice a year.  The frequency of monitoring the NPDES wells at the North Plant continues at four times a year. 

Additional area specific, media specific, and contaminant specific assessments have been conducted by GE and Chemtura throughout the years.  In 2004, Chemtura evaluated the potential for airborne releases from the waste water plant operations to impact human health.  The evaluation indicates there is no unacceptable human health impact resulting from contaminants known or estimated to be released to outdoor air from the waste water treatment plant operations.  Additionally in 2004, GE conducted a radiation survey at the North and South Plants and the former Laboratory.  The investigation yielded no evidence of radiological contamination.  In 2004 and 2005, GE conducted evaluations of subsurface fracture zones and contamination in bedrock.

Contamination associated with historic industrial processes has been found in soil and groundwater at both the North and South Plants and in North Plant bedrock groundwater.  Areas containing fill (predominantly flyash) also are present at the North and South Plants. Descriptions of the fill and contamination are presented in different reports from GE and Chemtura.  In 2009, GE developed a relational database and web-based viewer that depicts sample results at locations at the Facility, and provided access to the system to EPA and Chemtura.

Over the last several years, GE implemented pilot studies to remediate chlorinated solvents in soil and groundwater at the North and South Plants. GE continues to implement a pilot study at a localized area of groundwater contamination at the North Plant and submit associated progress reports.  It is anticipated a remedy decision will be developed  over the next several years that  will include groundwater remediation and institutional controls to prevent exposure to contamination in fill, soil, and groundwater and to ensure the protectiveness of any long term remedial measures which may be put in place (e.g., easements and covenants, title notices, and land use restrictions).

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Site Description

The Facility consists of three non-contiguous properties within the Morgantown Industrial Park, an industrial complex located along the west bank of the Monongahela River in Morgantown, WV. The three properties are the North Plant, a South Plant, and a former and currently inactive Laboratory located on property between the North and South Plants. The RCRA identification numbers for the North Plant and the South Plant/Laboratory are WVD980552384 and WVD061776977, respectively. The North and South Plants are each located on approximately 30 acres while the former Laboratory is located on approximately 3/4 of an acre. The Facility is located proximate to and down hill from a former mine. Acid mine drainage impacts surface water in a tributary at the North Plant. The City of Morgantown is located across the Monongahela River and to the north of the Facility. The drinking water intake for the City of Morgantown is located directly across the river from the North Plant. The Chemtura Facility is located within an area commonly referred to as the Morgantown Ordnance Works ("MOW"). Although the MOW has never been placed on the Superfund National Priorities List ("NPL"), EPA conducted investigations at the MOW in the late 1980's due to its association with a proximate landfill on the NPL. Additional information about the MOW can be found at Morgantown Ordnance Works Superfund website. In 2003, Crompton (now Chemtura) conducted a due diligence investigation prior to its purchase of the former GE Facility. The investigation included evaluation for asbestos, PCBs, metals, and organic chemicals. PCBs were not found in the Facility soils above industrial screening levels. Results from the investigation have been used to supplement information about conditions at the site. The North Plant is a Large Quantity Generator (LQG) that stores hazardous waste for less than 90 days. The South Plant also is listed as a LQG. The North Plant converted to less than 90 day storage in 2003 after a container storage area and two tanks were certified as clean closed. Two Marcellus Shale natural gas wells were installed approximately 4000 feet below the ground surface near the South Plant in 2011 and 2012.

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Background

From 1940 to 1958, successive owners and operators, including the U.S. Government, Dupont Corporation, Sharon Steel, Heyden Chemical (Tenneco) and Matheson Chemical (Olin) used coal to produce coke, ammonia, methanol, formaldehyde, and hexamine at the MOW.  From 1943 to 1945, heavy water (deuterium) was manufactured at the MOW to support the Manhattan Project.  Disposal of fly ash, coal ash, cinders, excess coal, and coal tar wastes occurred throughout the property during the nearly 20 years of coal-related processing operations associated with the MOW.  The Facility was inactive from 1958 to 1962.

In 1964, Weston Chemical Company, Inc. (Weston) purchased certain parcels of property from the MOW industrial park and began operation of an organic chemical production facility (the current RCRA Facility).  Weston was later acquired by Borg-Warner Chemical Corporation. 

In 1988, GE purchased the stock of Borg-Warner Specialty Chemicals, Inc. and the Facility name was subsequently changed to GE Specialty Chemicals, Inc.  In 1990, GE Specialty Chemicals entered into a RCRA Corrective Action Consent Order with EPA to conduct investigations.  In 2003, in response to a request from GE, EPA revised the order recipient to General Electric Company; and GE sold the 62-acre Facility to Crompton Corporation (now known as Chemtura).  As a result of the sale, GE retained responsibility for addressing most of the requirements of the Consent Order and Crompton Corporation took on responsibilities of the Consent Order related to current operations and any new releases.  In 2005, the name of the owner of the Facility changed from Crompton Corporation to Chemtura Corporation. On April 30, 2013, Chemtura's Morgantown, WV facilities were purchased by Addivant USA LLC.

The Facility continues to operate as an active manufacturing facility.  Antioxidants, hydrochloric acid, and organophosphorous polymer additive stabilizers are manufactured at the North Plant and alkyl phenols, hydrochloric acid, and organophosphorous polymer additive stabilizers are manufactured at the South Plant. 

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Cleanup History

Interim measures have been conducted at the Facility. 

In 2000, GE removed coal tar from locally impacted soil and from the partial bottoms of two former coal tar tanks at the South Plant. A fact sheet announcing the remediation was issued on July 21, 2000.  Clean fill and vegetation were placed in the area in 2008. 

In 2003, Chemtura removed contaminated soil that it had stored at the South Plant following a construction related excavation at the North Plant. 

In 2010, GE conducted a pilot test to extract vapor from a localized area at the South Plant to remove volatile organic contamination.  The pilot test was unsuccessful and GE is evaluating alternative remedial options.

Additionally, in 2010, GE initiated a pilot test to inject food grade material (molasses and emulsified vegetable oils) into  groundwater at the North Plant to enhance de-chlorination of 1,2 dichloroethane.  GE continues to implement this pilot test.

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Contaminants

Detections of benzene and toluene in groundwater at the North Plant and detections of toluene and phenol in groundwater at the South Plant were cited by EPA as rationale to enter the 1990 RCRA Corrective Action Consent Order.  Site wide investigations conducted subsequent to the Order indicate the presence of these chemicals is incidental and generally of little to no risk.  However, other contaminants have been found in soil and/or groundwater.  These contaminants include 1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethane, trichloroethene, perchloroethylene and arsenic at the North Plant.  At the South Plant, perchloroethylene and trichloroethene, and their breakdown products, as well as polyaromatic hydrocarbon compounds have been detected in soil and/or groundwater. 

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