EPA v. OLIN CORPORATION (SALTVILLE WASTE DISPOSAL PONDS)

Case summary

On August 10, 2017, HSCD Division Director Karen Melvin signed an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action (Removal Consent Order) with Olin Corporation for a time-critical removal action at a portion of the Saltville Waste Disposal Ponds Superfund Site (Site) in Washington and Smyth Counties, Saltville, Virginia. The removal action will be conducted along approximately one and one-half miles of the right descending bank of the North Fork of the Holston River (NFHR), from about River Mile (RM) 80.9 to RM 82.35 (Riverbank Area). The Riverbank Area includes areas where high pH water having a pH equal to or greater than 11.5 standard units (s.u.) is seeping from the waste disposal Ponds 5 and 6 portion of the Site into the NFHR. The most significant human health risks at the Site are associated with serious eye damage from exposure to the high pH water. In addition, the high pH water is potentially toxic for various aquatic biota. The selected removal action will include: (1) placing riprap at and near four areas identified by EPA in the Riverbank Area where water with a pH equal to or greater than 11.5 s.u. discharges into the NFHR to create a physical barrier to the seeps, collect and direct the seeped material into mixing areas to lower the pH toward neutral, and allow for mixing of the seeped material with river water prior to potential direct human exposure; (2) posting No Trespassing signs along the entire reach of the Riverbank Area and at the top of the berms of waste disposal Ponds 5 and 6; (3) providing markers sufficient to deter trespassers from entering the areas of identified seeps until the work required in items (1) and (2), above, is completed; (4) performing Site assessments along the entire Riverbank Area twice per year for three years, to identify any additional seep areas with a pH equal to or greater than 11.5 s.u., and after conducting three years of assessments, evaluating the need for additional assessments; and (5) placing riprap at and near any additional seeps identified in a Site assessment as having a pH equal to or greater than 11.5 s.u. EPA has notified the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) about the Removal Consent Order and VADEQ continues to be an active participant in overall Site management.

Defendants (1)

• OLIN CORPORATIONNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• SALTVILLE WASTE DISPOSAL PONDS

  ALLISON GAP RD., SALTVILLE, VA, 24370

  Registry ID: 110009320207

• SALTVILLE WASTE DISPOSAL PONDS

  168 PERRYVILLE RD, SALTVILLE, VA, 24370

  Registry ID: 110009320207

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 122A — Agreement to Perform Work Under 104B
• CERCLA 106A — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• OLIN CORPORATION (SALTVILLE WASTE DISPOSAL PONDS)entered 2017-08-10

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2017-08-10Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2017-08-10Final Order Issued