Palmetto Recycling, Inc.

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index (All PDF): OU1 (6 pp., 214), Deletion (2 pp., 80K)
• 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 Palmetto Recycling site is located about 8 miles north of Columbia, South Carolina, in rural Richland County is a 1.5 acre site which was involved with the reclamation of lead from batteries from 1979 to 1983. In the early 1980's, the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control (SCDHEC) confirmed the presence of lead, barium, and chromium in a nearby stream and in on-site soils. SCDHEC also noted the presence of a five-foot deep, unlined acid pit containing 1,800 gallons of acid waste at the site, as well as 100 drums of caustic waste and an unstabilized pile battery casings. Approximately 100 people live in the area of the site. More than 100 people participate in recreational activities downstream of the site.

Cleanup Progress: Construction Completed
Between 1983 and 1985, SCDHEC removed over 100 drums of caustic waste, 10,800 gallons of contaminated water and approximately 364 tons of soils contaminated with lead and chromium from various areas of the site. In 1992, EPA negotiated with parties it had identified as Potentially Responsible Parties for the site to conduct the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study. An agreement was not reached between EPA and the parties. Therefore, EPA conducted RI field activities from April 1993 to March 30, 1994. Based on the information provided by the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study, EPA proposed excavation of all contaminated surface soil that exceeds the remediation level for lead. A final decision for the site was reached between EPA and the State in March 1995. The original site owners/operators are bankrupt. The list of generators includes approximately 140 parties, most having supplied a minimal number of batteries for recycling. One particular responsible party entered into negotiations with EPA to perform the work to satisfy their liability for past costs. A Consent Decree between the responsible party and EPA and was entered in the Federal District Court in Columbia, SC on May 2, 1997. The responsible party completed the remedial action, which included the excavation of 947 cubic yards of material in the summer of 1999. As of May 2000, no hazardous substances remain on-site above health-based levels that prevent unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. Therefore, EPA delisted the site from the NPL during the month of October 2000.

On June 9, 2004, EPA issued the Five-Year Review Report for the Palmetto Recycling. Five-Year reviews provide an opportunity to evaluate the performance of a remedy to determine whether it remains protective of human health and the environment. Based on the Five-Year Review, all immediate threats at the site have been addressed and the remedy is protective of human health and the environment under current conditions, which are not expected to change. No additional Five-Year Reviews are required for the Site. No further updates are warranted at this time.