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Carolawn, Inc.
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Two above ground storage tanks on the Carolawn, Inc. site.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: SCD980558316Location: Fort Lawn, Chester County, SC
Lat/Long: 34.686110, -080.943050
Congressional District: 05
NPL Status: Proposed: 12/30/82; Final: 09/08/83
Affected Media: Ground water
Cleanup Status: Construction Complete - Physical cleanup activities have been completed.
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Agricultural - A turkey feed mill operates on a portion of the site.
Site Manager: Yvonne Jones (jones.yvonneo@epa.gov)
Site Background
The 60-acre Carolawn site, located three miles west of Fort Lawn and six miles east of Richburg in rural Chester County, South Carolina, operated as a waste storage and disposal facility from 1970 to 1979. Approximately 4,500 drums of waste and several bulk storage tanks and sludge ponds were located throughout the 3-acre fenced portion of the site during the 1970s. An additional 660 drums and 11 storage tanks were located outside the fenced area and to the north.
Five residences lie within 300 yards of the site, and approximately 30 single family residences lie within a 2-mile radius of the site. Both Fort Lawn and Richburg are rural communities with a total population of approximately 1000. In addition, several communities such as the Richburg, Fort Lawn, and Edgemoor participate in recreational activities downstream of the site.
Threats and Contaminants
Environmental and private residential well sampling indicated the presence of trichloroethane (TCE) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground water. Several metals, including lead, chromium, and barium, were also detected in the surface soil samples.
Site Cleanup Plan
The cleanup plan for the Carolawn site covered two operable units (OUs): OU-1 (fenced 3-acre parcel containing areal extent of ground water contamination) and OU-2 (soils, surface waters, and sediments in Fishing Creek, all located outside the fenced parcel of the site).
The Record of Decision (ROD) for OU-1 was issued in 1989. Major cleanup elements for the site included:
- Installation of a ground water interception, extraction, and treatment system. The most cost-effective combination for the point of discharge and method of treatment are to be determined in the remedial design phase.
- Review of the existing ground water monitoring system to insure proper monitoring. If necessary, additional monitoring wells will be installed to mitigate any deficiencies in the existing monitoring system.
- Implementation of appropriate institutional controls, including deed restrictions.
- Closure of adjacent contaminated private, potable wells by the County of Chester.
- Investigation of the disposal area north of the fence limit (OU-2) to verify the presence or absence of contamination in this area.
- Long-term operation and maintenance activities will include ground water extraction, water treatment, and operation of the ground water monitoring systems.
The ROD for OU-2 was issued in 1995. In the absence of any significant source of contamination in the soil, surface water and sediment in OU-2, the no further action remedy was selected for this operable unit. However, should future monitoring of the site indicate that the site poses an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, EPA, in consultation with the State of South Carolina, may initiate cleanup actions under the authority of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and in accordance with the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.
Cleanup Progress
Between 1981 and 1982, EPA removed over 1000 drums of hazardous waste, several tons of contaminated soil, and all nearby residences were provided an alternative water source. An additional 17 storage tanks were removed in 1986 by the potentially responsible parties (PRPs).
Construction of the OU-1 remedy selected in the 1989 ROD commenced in August 1993 and was completed in 1998.
The remedial investigation and feasibility study for OU-2 was conducted on April 30, 1994 and provided the basis for the 1995 ROD for OU-2.
Although construction and the recommended operation of the ground water treatment system for three to five years had not been completed, a portion of the property was used to build and operate a regional turkey feed mill in 1996. Turkey farming in the area is a major contributor to the local economy, and the success of the feed mill may also attract additional developers to reuse the remainder of the site.
An enhanced in-situ biodegradation injection pilot study was initiated in 2005. Eight monitoring events were completed from July 2005 to April 2008 in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the injection treatment.
Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by PRPs with oversight by EPA and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Enforcement Activities
In May 1985, a group of PRPs entered into an Administrative Order on Consent for removal of 17 storage tanks off site and disposal of waste at an incinerator remaining at the site. In addition, the PRPs treated the water from decontamination activities, and excavated and disposed of contaminated soils.
In August 1985, a group of PRPs entered into a partial Consent Decree to conduct the remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) for OU-1. The RI/FS was completed in 1989.
On December 2, 1991, EPA issued a Consent Decree to the PRPs to perform remedial design and remedial action activities.
On July 28, 1997, the PRPs began operation, maintenance, and monitoring of the ground water extraction and treatment system under a Unilateral Administrative Order issued by EPA.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Carolawn, Inc. 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.
Future Work
Although all immediate threats at the site have been addressed, remedy optimization and re-evaluation activities are required to improve the effectiveness of the ground water remedy. Ground water remedy optimization and re-evaluation activities are ongoing.
This site is subject to Five-Year Reviews (FYRs). The third FYR for this site was completed in September 2008 and the fourth FYR is scheduled to be completed by September 2013.
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.
Chester County Public Library
100 Center Street
Chester, SC 29706
Administrative Record Index
- OU-2 (PDF) (6 pp, 241K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.