Independent Nail Company

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index (All PDF): OU1 (1 pp., 16K), Deletion (2 pp., 60K)
• Additional Site Documents including Five Year Reviews, Records of Decisions (ROD) and Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD).
• 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 Independent Nail site located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, manufactured screws and fasteners from 1969 to 1980. The plant operated a waste lagoon for the disposal of wastewater containing cyanide, chromium and other waste generated during the manufacturing process. The company discharged approximately 33,000 gallons of plating wastewater per day into this lagoon. In 1975, SCDHEC and a local engineering firm (Davis and Floyd) conducted several investigations which indicated contamination in the soils and groundwater with chromium, lead, iron, and mercury.

EPA performed a remedial investigation/feasibility study at the site in 1985. The RI was divided into two operable units with the first operable unit addressing the extent of contamination in the soil. Soil contamination was found in the lagoon and areas within the fence and at two areas outside of the fence. Cadmium, chromium, cyanide, nickel, and zinc were identified as the contaminants of concern. The second operable unit investigated groundwater contamination at the Site.

Cleanup Progress: Deleted from the NPL
A final cleanup decision for operable unit one was reached on September 28, 1987. The remedy for the Site consisted of on-site soil solidification. The solidification/stabilization of 5,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil was conducted in April and May of 1988. This soil was excavated, solidified, and returned to the lagoon area. The final cleanup decision for operable unit two was reached on August 30, 1988. A No Action alternative was selected for the groundwater at the Site. The contaminant levels in the groundwater presented no imminent or substantial threat to human health or the environment; therefore, no groundwater treatment was necessary.

A five year review, as required by CERCLA Section 121(c), 42 U.S.C. S 9621 and 40 CFR § 300.430(f)(4)(ii), was completed on September 13, 1993. The results of this review indicate that the remedial activities were effective in stabilizing the contaminant source on-site. EPA, in concurrence with the State of South Carolina, determined that all appropriate fund-financed responses under CERCLA at the Independent Nail Site have been completed and no further cleanup by the responsible parties is appropriate. This Site was deleted from the National Priorities List on April 3, 1995. No Five-Year Reviews are required for the Site. No further updates are warranted at this time.