Aqua-Tech Environmental, Inc. (Groce Labs)

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index (All PDF): Removal (2 pp.,49K ), OU1 (4 pp., 428K)
• Record of Decision (ROD), Bookmarked Complete Document (PDF, 409 pp., 41,1M)
      ROD, No Appendices (PDF, 104 pp., 1.3M)
      Appendix A, Figures (PDF, 44 pp., 32.1M)
      Appendix B, Data (PDF, 60 pp., 150K)
      Appendix C, RAGS Part D Tables (PDF, 154 pp., 1.2M)
      Appendix D, Record of Public Hearing (PDF, 48 pp., 1.4M)
      Appendix E, Proposed Plan Fact Sheet (PDF, 29 pp., 1.3M)
      Appendix F, Administrative Record and Information Repository (PDF, 1 p., 45K)
      Appendix G, Administrative Record Index (PDF, 10 pp., 145K)
      Appendix H, State Concurrence Letter, (PDF, 2 pp., 106K)
• Proposed Cleanup Plan (PDF, 27 pp., 1.3M)
• Photographs
• For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office (http://www.epa.gov/region4/foiapgs/submit.htm).

Site Background:
The Aqua-Tech Environmental site is in northwest South Carolina on County Road 47-644 near its intersection with South Carolina Highway, approximately 5 miles east of Greer, S.C. (pop. 10,500+) and 1.25 miles east of Duncan, S.C. (pop. 1300). The site consists of approximately 35 acres bordered on the north by a Southern Railroad line, to the west by privately owned farm land, to the east by State Highway 644 and to the south by privately owned woodland. Farther to the south is a residential development (approximately 2500 feet from the developed areas of the Aqua-Tech facility). Three residences are located approximately 300 feet west of the site and several other homes are located approximately three hundred feet northwest of the site. There are also nearby residences and business establishments on South Carolina Highway 47-644 and in the towns of Greer and Duncan, South Carolina. There are five water supply wells and one drinking water intake located at or in the vicinity of the site. The site is a closed RCRA treatment, storage, and disposal facility. Upon closing Aqua-Tech, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and EPA emergency response personnel discovered approximately 7,000 drums and lab packs, 97 above-ground tanks, 1,200 gas cylinders (some containing phosgene and other toxic gases), unexploded ordinance material, and small amounts of low-level radioactive material and biohazard material at the site. Many of the drums, tanks, and cylinders were deteriorating, leaking and improperly stored. Containers and debris were located throughout the 35-acre facility. More than 41,000,000 pounds of hazardous waste have been sent to Aqua-Tech site, as documented by RCRA Hazardous Waste Manifest. Several investigations indicate significant contamination throughout the site including soils, drainage pathways, surface water and ground water. Primary contaminants include metals (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc.), various volatile organic compounds, and other contaminants.

Cleanup Progress: Threat Mitigated by Physical Cleanup Work
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site. In September 1991 SCDHEC initiated emergency stabilization activities. In January 1992, EPA assumed emergency response and stabilization activities. EPA issued Unilateral Administrative Orders to more than 90 potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to continue emergency response activities. Site stabilization and removal/treatment of containerized wastes were conducted from September 1991 to January 1994. Over 90 PRPs have signed an Administrative Consent Order (AOC) to conduct a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility study (RI/FS) at the site.