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National Starch and Chemical Corporation

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Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: NCD991278953
Location: Salisbury, Rowan County, NC
Lat/Long: 35.632200, -080.541200
Congressional District:06
NPL Status: Proposed: 04/10/85; Final: 10/04/89
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction Underway – Physical cleanup activities have started.
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Continued Industrial Use – An active chemical manufacturing facility.
Site Manager: Jon Bornholm (bornholm.jon@epa.gov)


Site Background

The National Starch and Chemical Corporation (NSCC) site, located in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, is the site of two active chemical manufacturing plants that have operated since 1970. Site operations consist primarily of manufacturing specialty chemicals for the textile and furniture industries. Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs), as well as acid and alkaline solutions, are used in manufacturing and cleaning processes at the plants. Previously, NSCC deposited about 350,000 gallons of liquid waste containing lead and various organic chemicals in unlined trenches in a 2-acre area. Site operation-related contamination presently affects approximately 20 acres of the 500 acre property.

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Threats and Contaminants

The contaminants detected in site soils include VOCs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, inorganics, and metals. Ground water beneath the site is contaminated with many of the same contaminants found in the soil. Contaminants in surface water and sediment included acetone, 1,2-dichloroethane, barium, manganese, vanadium, and zinc.

The plant is located in a rural area that depends heavily on wells for drinking water. About 7,700 people use public and private wells within three miles of the site for drinking water.

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Site Cleanup Plan

The cleanup plan for the NSCC site covered four operable units (OUs): OU-1 (ground water), OU-2 (soil), OU-3 (groundwater and surface water in the Northeast Tributary), and OU-4 (soil, source control).

The Record of Decision (ROD) for the OU-1 was issued in 1988. Major components of the cleanup plan included:

The ROD for the OU-2 was issued in 1990. In the ROD, EPA determined that the natural infiltration of precipitation works with the selected OU-1 ground water remedy, effectively flushing residual soil contamination into the ground water capture zone. The ROD also prescribed a quarterly monitoring program for soils in the trench area of the site.

The ROD for the OU-3 was issued in 1993. Major components of the cleanup plan included:

The ROD for the OU-4 was issued in 1994. Major components of the cleanup plan included:

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Cleanup Progress

Construction for OU-1 remedy began in August 1990 and was completed in March 1996. A ground water extraction system was installed in the western portion of the NSCC property and the extracted groundwater is pretreated prior to being sent to the plant's existing wastewater treatment system. The pretreatment includes air stripping to remove the volatile organic compounds and the air stream coming off of the air stripper iss treated through a catalytic oxidizer prior to being released to the atmosphere. Following addutuibak testing, it was determined that metals removal was not necessary.

The OU-2 ROD selected a no action remedy for soils in the trench area. Long-term monitoring of these soils is ongoing. The investigation to determine the source of contamination being detected in the Northeast Tributary lead to the issuance of the OU-3 and OU-4 RODS.

Construction of the OU-3 remedy to address ground water contamination in the eastern portion of the facility began in the fall of 1998 and was completed in February 2000.

The OU-4 Natural Attenuation Treatability Study of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) in the soils was completed in the spring of 2006, and indicated that natural degradation of DCA in the soil may be occurring in the subsurface but to a very limited extent. Therefore, EPA decided to implement the contingent remedial alternative of a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system. The final remedial design for the SVE system was approved in September 2008. The OU-4 remedy is currently under construction and construction should be completed in the fall of 2009.

Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by the potentially responsible party (PRP) with oversight by EPA.

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Enforcement Activities

The remedial investigation and feasibility studies for each OU were conducted under a December 1, 1986 Administrative Order on Consent between EPA and the PRP.

The remedial design and remedial action (RD/RA) for OU-1 were conducted under a July 1989 Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) issued by EPA to the PRP.

Implementation of the RD/RA for OU-2 was done under an August 1991 Consent Decree between EPA and the PRP. The Consent Decree was entered by the Federal Court on July 20, 1992.

A UAO for implementation of the RD/RAs for OU-3 and OU-4 was issued by EPA on September 29, 1995.

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Community Involvement

EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the NSCC site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices, interviews, and public meetings on cleanup activities and updates.

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Future Work

The OU-4 SVE system is anticipated to begin operation in the fall of 2009.

This site is subject to Five Year Reviews (FYRs). The next sitewide FYR is anticipated to be completed in September 2012.

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Site Administrative Documents

Site Repository

For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.

Rowan County Public Library
201 W. Fisher Street
Salisbury, NC 28144

Administrative Record Index

For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.

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For information about the contents of this page please contact Donna Bledsoe.


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