NCD980602163_19990201_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_Warren County PCB Landfill Chronology, 1978 - 1999-OCR

CHRONOLOGY
1978
July 30 First report of a chemical spill which was later identified as PCB on NC 58 in
Warren County. PCBs are polychlorinated biphenyls, a chemical that was widely used as a liquid
insulation material in electrical transformers. The chemicals were banned in 1978.
August 2-5 PCB located along roadsides in several other North Carolina counties including
Johnston, Alamance, and Chatham.
August 3
August 5
First NRCD laboratory confirmation of PCBs Qohnston County).
Meeting of concerned citizens in Johnston County with state officials
August 10 Conference held with representatives of the Department of Human Resources,
Department of Agriculture, Attorney General's Office, Department of Transportation,
Environmental Protection Agency, and the news media to discuss the PCB dumpings.
Memo to local health directors (DHR).
August 15 Activated charcoal solution and liquid asphalt applied along 210 miles of North
Carolina highways where shoulders had been contaminated by PCB. This action was taken at the
recommendation of specialists at NC State University, who submitted a plan for temporarily
deactivating the PCB to prevent migration and to reduce any hazard to the public.
Governor requested the President to declare 14 counties as disaster areas.
August 17 Request for emergency relief funds made to the Federal Highway Administration,
US Department of Transportation.
Flyers concerning health effects delivered to residents along spills (DHR).
August 18?? The NC Department of Transportation began applying a solution of activated
carbon and liquid asphalt to the 210 miles of contaminated roadside.
Governor requested federal assistance through the Federal Disaster Assistance
Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Blood samples taken from 20 people along spill sites (DHR).
August 28???? NC Department of Transportation begins applying a solution of activated carbon
at the rate of one gallon per square yard and an application of liquid asphalt at the rate of 1/10 gallon
per square yard to the 210 miles of contaminated highway shoulder
August 29 Flyers concerning health effects to crops and livestock delivered to residents along
spill (AGRIC).
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September
September 1
Search begins for solid waste landfill sites.
Memo to physicians in affected counties (DHR).
September 6-19 Tests conducted along uncontaminated road shoulders to determine the safety and
effectiveness of equipment to be used in picking up the PCB.
September 29 Governor's request for assistance from the Federal Disaster Assistance
Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, is denied.
October 4 Notified by Federal Highway Administration, US Department of Transportation
that our request for emergency relief funds denied.
October 5 Test of pick-up equipment conducted along a contaminated road shoulder on
Highway 58 in Warren County.
November 6 Test results of the pick-up of contaminated soil along the roadside in Warren
County show that the contaminated soil can be picked up and and treated without harming the
environment or personnel involved.
November 20 Chatham County Commissioners passed a resolution "agreeing to sell the the State
of North Carolina six acres of land at the county landfill site to be used for the storage and disposal of
PCB contaminated soil to include all PCB contaminated soil known to be in Chatham County."
December 1 The state obtained an option on 142 acres of land in Warren County to be used to
dispose of the contaminated soil that would be picked up along the roadsides in 14 North Carolina
counties.
December4
county
December 6
Public hearing in Chatham County Courthouse on Chatham Landfill site held by
commissioners and attended by state officials.
Application filed with EPA for Chatham County site.
December 12 Application filed with EPA for approval of the Warren County site as a disposal
area for the PCB contaminated soil.
1979
January 4
Guard Armory.
January 6
County.
Public hearing on the Warren County site conducted in Warrenton National
Test of in-place treatment on uncontaminated highway shoulder material in Wake
January 17 Robert Burns and sons pleaded guilty to a violation of the federal Toxic Substances
Control Act. Burns received an active jail sentence and his sons were placed on probation.
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January 29 Secretary Hyde and other North Carolina officials met in Washington, DC, with
Deputy EPA Administrator Barbara Blum and other federal officials to discuss in-place treatment.
February 2 North Carolina petitions EPA to modify its regulations to permit alternative
methods of disposal of PCB contaminated soil and debris (i.e. in-place treatment).
February 6 Filed petition with EPA to amend rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
February 15 Test of in-place treatment on contaminated highway shoulder material in Johnston
County (NC 210).
March 22 Test of in-place treatment on contaminated highway shoulder in Alamance
County (SR 1010).
March 31 Option on Warren County site (Pope) expires--unable to renew.
May 7 State agrees to EPA request for an additional 10 days to announce decision on
petition to amend rules.
June 4 Couglas Castle, EPA administrator, rules against petition to change rules to allow
consideration of alternate methods of treatment.EPA denies North Carolina's petition.
the state's
EPA's Region IV Administrator John White approved Warren County site, and
application to construct a PCB landfill there.
June 6 Robert Burns and sons pleaded guilty to state charges surrounding the PCB
dumping in Halifax County Superior Court. Burns later received an active jail sentence and his sons
were placed on probation. Buck Ward, the owner of Ward Transformer, Inc. (where PCB
contaminated oil originated and was later dumped along roadsides by Robert Burns and sons) was
found not guilty on state charges.
August 16 Suit filed by Warren County What kind of suit, to do what???
Sept -Dec Draft EIS prepared, filed on December 28, 1979
July -Aug Comments received on EIS. Why would comments be received before the draft
was prepared???
1980
September 12 Envineering consultant firms were interviewed by the state and a recommendation
was made to the Capital Building Authority for selection of a firm to develop plans for a PCB landfill
in Warren County.
1981
May22 Buck Ward tried and found guilty of a violation of the federal Toxic Substance
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Control Act. He received an active jail sentence and a $200,000 fine.
November 25 Judge Earl W. Britt grants summary judgment in favor of state and EPA in Warren
County and Twitty suits, resolving legal obstacles delaying constructing of the landfill. Appeals taken
in both cases.
1982
May 13 Contract for construction of the PCB landfill awarded by the Capital Building
Authority pending the approval of federal Superfund money to fund the PCB cleanup project. The
contract was awarded to the low bidder, Jim Lineberger Grading and Paving Company of Gastonia.
May 26 North Carolina and EPA officials announced the signing of a cooperative
agreement which provided $2.5 million in federal Superfund money to construct a PCB landfill in
Warren County, and to clean up the PCB contaminated soil along 210 miles of North Carolina
roadsides.
State deeded 120 acres surrounding the landfill site to Warren County as buffer
zone. Voluntary dismissal taken by Warren County in suit on appeal.
June 21 Construction began on the PCB landfill in Warren County.
July 2 NAACP files discrimination suit in federal court requesting preliminary
injunction to prohibit placement of soil in Warren County.
July-September Background sampling of groundwater, surface water, and surface water sediments
conducted (documented in June 30, 1983 letter from Tom Karnoski to O.W. Strickland and is part of
the Final Technical Report to Al Hanke.
August 4
August 10
Hearing held before Judge Earl Britt.
Preliminary injunction denied.
September 15 Removal of PCB from roadsides begins by DOT crews. Protests begin in Warren
County and a total of 423 adult arrests were made and 100 juveniles were taken into custody over the
following 4½ weeks.
October????? Gov. Hunt meets with residents of Warren County.
October 6 Fort Bragg begins removal operation for PCB on base.
October 12 State finishes roadside removal of PCB. There were 241 shoulder miles picked up;
6,455 truckloads taken to the landfill.
October 20 Gov. Hunt's open letter to the citizens of Warren County.
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October 27 Fort Bragg finishes removing PCB from base; 768 truckloads put in landfill. Total
state/Ft. Bragg truckloads were 7,223.
November 1 Capping operation begins; plastic liner and clay liner in place, soil layer added.
Bad weather prevents final soil layer and seeding of cap to be accomplished.
December Heavy rains during the month cause soil erosion on cap and exposes plastic liner.
Bubbles develop in exposed liner from gas in the landfill caused by decomposition of vegetation mised
in with soil. Bubbles vented, soil erosion temporarily corrected and a temporary seed cover is installed
on the cap. Landfill will be completed in spring.
December 13 Buck Ward begins sentence at Danbury, Connecticut, Federal Prison after being
denied petition for certiorari by US Supreme Court.
December 27
1983
January
PCBs.
January 26
Federal Appeals Court affirms Judge Britt's ruling in Twiddy case.
EPA monitors gas venting from landfill and reports no significant emissions of
Sampling of 55 private wells within a three-mile radius of the PCB Landfill.
US files civil suit in federal court against Buck Ward and Ward Transformer, Inc.
February 17 State dismisses state law suits against Buck Ward and state allowed to intervene in
federal suit. All counterclaims dismissed by Ward against state.
March 4
May 11
May24
Voluntary dismissal taken by plaintiffs in discrimination suit.
Contractor resumes work on completion of landfill construction.
EPA grant period extended until July 23, 1983.
June The Intergovernmental Working Group on PCB Detoxification began meeting.
This group met nine times beginning in June 1983.
July 14
July 15
July 23
August 3
Construction completed.
Inspection held at the site and acceptance made by state officials.
Grant period ended.
Inspection held at the site by EPA officials and approval given.
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1984
The four monitoring wells at the site and the four surface water monitoring sites
(upstream and downstream on Richneck Creek and an unnamed tributary are sampled twice yearly.
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in June and December. The PCB
landfill was inspected on a monthly basis and minor maintenance and repairs were performed as
needed.
December 12 The Final Report and Recommendation of the Intergovernmental Working Group
on PCB Detoxification was submitted to Governor Hunt.
1985
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in May and
November. The PCB landfill was inspected on a monthly basis and minor maintenance and repairs
were performed as needed.
May 30 Division of Environmental Management permit re-issued for nondischarge type
wastewater treatment and disposal facility.
1986
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in May and
November. The PCB landfill was inspected on a monthly basis except for April and minor
maintenance and repairs were performed as needed.
1987
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in June. A
1996 review of the monitoring files showed that actual inspection forms were missing for April, June,
July, August, September, October and December; however, there were monthly inspection cover
memos for April, July, August and September. Minor maintenance and repairs were performed at the
landfill as needed.
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in February
and July. A 1996 review of the monitoring files showed that actual inspection forms were missing for
October, November and December. Minor maintenance and repairs were performed at the landfill as
needed.
1989
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in March and
October. A 1996 review of the monitoring files showed that actual inspection forms were missing for
January and February. Minor maintenance and repairs were performed as needed.
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1990
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in April and
October. The PCB landfill was inspected on a monthly basis and minor maintenance and repairs were
performed as needed.
January 4 Memorandum from Solid Waste Section to division discussing maintenance and
operation needs at the PCB landfill and the need for appropriations for an operations and maintenance
budget.
March Study of landfill leachate system results in an estimate of approximately 13.3 feet
of head in the PCB landfill cell. It was discovered that the foot valve in the leachate collection system
had failed and needed to be replaced. This explains why no leachate had been pumped in recent years,
since the system would not hold the prime water. Other maintenance needs also identified at the PCB
landfill site. Plans were initiated for additional investigation of the leachate head and the leachate
pumping system.
In the spring, Division of Waste Management notified officials in the Secretary's
office that there was water in the landfill that needed to be removed, but that funds were not available.
A request for funds to dewater the landfill was not a high priority in the department's legislative
budget package in 1991, and did not make it to the General Assembly.
March 6 The Division of Solid Waste Management notified the department of the status of
the PCB landfill and some operations and maintenance needs at the facility, and made
recommendations on actions to be taken.
March 28 Letter from Dept. of Crime Control and Public Safety to the Division of
Environmental Management requesting the transfer of the wastewater treatment and disposal facility
permit to the Dept. of Administration.
April/May (??) Additional investigation and sampling at the PCB landfill facility including
sampling of cover soils, cover vegetation, sand and carbon from the treatment system, and soils from
the sediment basin, in addition to the regular sampling of the monitoring wells, streats, stream
sediments, leachate influent and leachate effluent. No PCBs were detected in the cap samples. Only
one sediment sample from the leachate pond showed a detectable concentration of PCBs. PCBs were
detected at a level of 0.27 ppm in this sample, which is below the 1.00 ppm cleanup level for PCBs in
soil. State officials think this residue occurred when the pumps in the leachate collection system were
primed after the landfill was closed.
May3 The leachate detecton probe was repaired and tested.
May 16 Memorandum from Secretary Bill Cobey, DEHNR, to Secretary James Lofton,
DOA, summarizing responsibilities of the various departments to provide support and assistance to
the Dept. of Administration as the permit holder for the state PCB landfill in Warren County.
June 26 Memorandum from Solid Waste Section to the division regarding additional
equipment and measures necessary to study the collection and disposal of leachate at the PCB landfill.
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August 28 The irrigation system at the PCB landfill was tested and found to be broken.
September 25 Memorandum from division to the Solid Waste Section authorizing purchase of a
water level indicator and other equipment necessary to measure leachate levels, leachate pumping rates,
volumes, etc.
1991
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in April and
October. The PCB landfill was inspected on a monthly basis and minor maintenance and repairs were
performed as needed.
February 13 The Dept. of Administration made repairs to the irrigation system.
March 20 A leachate measurement system was installed to measure the level of leachate in
the PCB landfill cell.
April 25
system.
Pump-down and recharge measurements were made for the leachate collection
September Division Task Force established to study further action needed to pump and treat
leachate in the PCB landfill cell. Calculations made to estimate time required to remove leachate from
cell. Estimations of cost of installing a recovery well in the landfill cell were made. Calculations made
of the possible volume of leachate in the landfill cell based on varying vertical head levels and varying
pororsities.
The division notified the department of fluctuations in the leachate levels
measured at the PCB landfill.
October 7 Carolina Power & Light Company made cost estimate of providing electric power
to the PCB landfill site.
October 10 SPATCO submits report on "Landfill Water Recovery/Treatment Cost Estimate."
October 17 A survey of the landfill cell and monitoring wells was done in order to be able to
estimate subsidence levels during landfill dewatering operations and in order to estimate relative water
table elevations for the monitoring wells.
????? Discussion regarding Memorandum of Agreement to outline responsibilities of the
various departments (DOA, DOT, DEHNR) for the PCB landfill.
1992
The monitoring wells, streams, and stream sediments were sampled in May and November.
The PCB landfill was inspected on a monthly basis and minor maintenance and repairs performed.
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May29 PCB landfill resurveyed to verify elevations of October 1991 survey.
July 6 Report submitted by Randy McElveen regarding "Alternatives and Procedures for
Evacuating Fainfall From The Warren County PCB Waste Disposal Facility Located In Warren
County, North Carolina."
August 28 The division submitted to the department a budget request to perform operations
and maintenance at the PCB landfill.
November James B. Hunt Jr. re-elected Governor of North Carolina.
November 20 S&ME submitted a report to the division assessing the current conditions at the
PCB landfill and proposing methods for the recovery, treatment, and disposal of leachate from the
facility.
1993
January Gov. Hunt takes oath of office. Later briefed on status of PCB landfill.
March Gov. Hunt directed state officials tomeet with Warren County officials in a public
meeting to determine what to do about the water in the landfill. Several citizens demanded that
detoxification be considered as a prerequisite to dewatering or done simultaneously with dewatering
the landfill. DEHNR set up a 16-member working group composed of Warren County citizens,
environmentalists, and state officials to make recommendations to Gov. Hunt about future
management of the landfill.
Check inspection reports for dates
1994
Check inspection reports for dates.
January/March?? Joint Warren County/State PCB Working Group met for the first time.
March Warren County awarded $100,000 form the Solid Waste Grants Program to be
used for capital improvements on the PCB landfill.
May 1 Working Group enters into contract with Pauline Ewald, head of Environmental
Compliance Organization (ECO) for $82,950 to serve as the group's science advisor for one year. Her
duties were to recommend site evaluation procedures, a methodology for water removal, a
detoxification technology, and long-term controls for the PCB landfill.
July 12 Draft field sampling plan prepared for Working Group.
9
July Sampling event conducted at the PCB landfill. Surface soil, air, groundwater,
surface water, sediment, and landfill samples taken by both state and ECO. No PCBs found outside of
the landfill. The laboratory that analyzed the state's samples detected some dioxin at the ppq (parts
per quadrillion) level in three of the monitoring report date????? wells around the landfill. Opinions
varied as to where the dioxin orginated. Pauline Ewald tried to discredit the state's findings, but then
used those finding to conclude in ther report that the PCB landfill is the likely source of the dioxin
and furan contamintion at the site. Ewald's report was not acceptable to the state, and peer reviews by
outside sources were critical of her report.
September
group.
1995
Working Group's membership increased to 22(24??????) at the request of the
Check inspection reports for dates.
Senator Frank Balance, at the request of the Working Group, introduced
legislation to the General Assembly to appropriate $10 million for cleanup of the PCB landfill. Bill
not enacted. However, Sen. Balance did get General Assembly to appropriate $1 million from the
Highway Fund for pilot projects to determine the most appropriate technology for cleanup of the
landfill.
Pauline Ewald recommended base catalyzed dechlorination (BCD) as a
detoxification method and the Working Group agreed because it was suitable, acceptable to the
community, and could be done on site.
May/June???? Pauline Ewald's contract expired.
1996
Check inspection reports for dates.
February RFP (request for proposal) sent to potential vendors for excavation,
handling, and storage of PCB contaminated soils from the landfill for pilot scale tests. The Working
Group wanted the input of science advisors, so the effort was put on hold.
March 7 The Working Group decided they needed the services of another science advisor as
well as support staff. On March 7, Mr. Joel Hirschhorn and Mr. Patrick Barnes were hired as science
advisors with contracts of $100,000 each.
March 18 Ms. Doris Fleetwood was hired as a part-time secretary for the Working Group.
March 25 A joint agreement was made between DEHNR and the Warren County Board of
Commissioners to provide office space, furniture, equipment, supplies, conference room, kitchen,
restroom facilities and parking for the secretary and the two science advisors. Working Group's
office opened on March 25 in the CP&L building in Warrenton. The $1 million appropriated by the
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General Assembly used to pay science advisors at the rate of $100 per hour, and for office space and
half-time secretary at $25,000 for one year.
Fall????? Work began with CP&L to provide electrical service to the landfill for the pilot
projects, dewatering, full-scale detoxification, or other activites that might require electrical service.
CP&L paid $64,384 for this service from the capital improvements account.
April 25 Working Group approved "Master Plan" developed by the science advisors. The
master plan called for less expensive, off-site bench scale projects to be conducted by technology
companies rather than pilot scale studies, and a better case could be made to the General Assembly for
funding if more money was spent on a thorough site investigation and remedy design.
June 23 Division of Waste Management receives fax from Joel Hirschhorn titled
"Explanation of Selection of Two Detoxification Technologies." This document explains why
Hirschhorn eliminated/ selected certain technologies to detoxify the PCB landfill.
September The science advisors modified the plans for the detoxification studies, and the RFP
was modified, reactivated, and sent to vendors for excavation, handling, and storage of PCB
contaminated soils from the landfill.
October Four responses received regarding RFP, reviewed by science advisors, who then
recommended Camp Dresser & McKee for the job.
October 2 Mike Kelly sent draft PCB Landfill Sampling Plan to the two science advisors for
review and comment. Patrick Barnes presented some amendments to the draft sampling plan at the
October 23 meeting of the Working Group, but no comments were received from Joel Hirschhorn.
October 23 Science Advisor Joel Hirschhorn presented the Working Group with a draft letter
to EPA Region 4 Administrator John H. Hankinson, Jr., accusing the state of a serious and prolonged
lack of compliance. The letter stated that the state did not carry out all required groundwater
monitoring; failed to analyze early data that shows that the landfill has had water entering and
escaping it; failed to act or plan to remove large amounts of water inside the landfill; and failed to
repair a dysfunctional leachate collection system. The letter also acused EPA Region 4 for failing to
provide oversight and enforcement. Letter actually sent November?????
Hirschhorn presented the Working Group with a signed declaration stating that detoxification
technology appropriate for use at the PCB landfill is now commercially available. The two
technologies he named are gas phase chemical reduction and base catalyzed decomposition.
November? Patrick Barnes releases his report titled "PCB LANDFILL HYDROLOGY AND
LINER LEAKAGE."
November 5 RFP to conduct dioxin/furan testing on water, soil and sediment samples from and
around the PCB landfill was sent to potential respondents. Proposals due by noon, November 22.
November 6 RFP to construct monitoring wells (9 deep, 3 shallow) at the PCB landfill was sent
to potential vendors.
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November 12 Press conference held at State Capitol Building at 10 am by some members of the
Working Group to announce that there is feasible technology to detoxify PCB landfill, and that the
group wants EPA and the state to perform compliance audits. State members of the Working Group,
staff, and a few other members of the group were not informed that the press conference time was
changed from 11 am to 10 am.
November 18 Pre-bid meeting held for vendors who wished to submit quotes for constructing
monitoring wells. An amendment to this RFP tconstruct three off-site background wells presented to
the Working Group and approved.??????
December 2 Final proposals due for constructing monitoring wells.
1997
January 13 PCB landfill surveyed. The boundary of the plastic liner was identified and
marked at 50 foot intervals and 12 inche deep bore holes were dug and capped for future evaluation.
January 29 During a routine inspection of the PCB landfill, methane testing was conducted
using the center vent as the methane source.
February 1 Contract budget with Environmental Investigations, Durham, NC, to install 15
groundwater monitoring wells at and near PCB landfill.
Contract budget with Southwest Laboratories of Oklahoma, Broken Arrow, OK,
to provide analytical testing for dioxin/furans on about 50 samples from/near PCB landfill.
February 7 Bore holes in landfill tested. Eight of the 22 bore holes were saturated with
rainwater, so a reading could not be conducted on these holes.
February 11 Region IV EPA authorizes state to conduct intrusive sampling and testing work in
the PCB landfill.
February 12 Division of Waste Management began site investigation and assessment at PCB
landfill.
Annie Davis (Warren County) signs lease agreement with the state for a 10' x 10' parcel of land
on which a background monitoring well will be installed. State agrees to pay a sum of $500 to Davis
for lease of property for three years. GET DATES FOR OTHER TWO LESSORS.
February 14 Letter from EPA Region IV Administrator John Hankinson to Dollie Burwell and
Henry Lancaster states that EPA staff will conduct sampling investigation at PCB landfill the week of
March 17, 1997.
February 17
February 19
Pre-bid meeting for potential vendors for bench scale studies.
Cooperative Agreement between the Warren County Board of Commissioners
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and DEHNR was amended to increase the amount payable by $23,161, making the total amount
payable under the agreement $48,161. It also changed the agreement ending date to December 31,
1997.
Extraction well for soil removal on south side installed and one methane reading
(each) taken at this well and center vent.
February 26 Extraction well installed on north side of center vent.
February 27 One methane reading taken at southern extraction well and center vent, and two
readings taken at northern extraction well.
February 28 An Alabama landfill liner company cuts section of plastic liner from two different
locations near the extraction wells and replaces with new pieces. S&ME is taking sections to Charlotte
for testing to determine current condition of top liner.
March 3 Drums of soil from extraction wells, pails of material for bench studies, drums of
rinse water, and drums of debris picked up by ECOFLO, a hazardous waste disposal company from
Greensboro. ECOFLO will dispose of waste materials and hold pails of soil in storage until shipping.
??????Spring S&ME selected to put in additional groundwater monitoring wells around the
landfill, and three off-site wells. Eighteen new monitoring wells were installed--seven around the
outside perimeter of the fenced-in area, seven in a perimeter from 100 yards to 1/2 mile from the
fenced in area, and three on private property about one to two air miles from the landfill (east, south,
and west) to serve as background wells. The additional wells help identify geologic and hydrologic
features around landfill and provide more locations where monitoring samples can be taken. Off-site
wells provide a broader scope of groundwater conditions at three different areas not impacted by the
landfill.
Environmental Investigations chosen to put two bore holes in the landfill to
extract soil for detoxification study, and replace the bore holes with extraction wells that could be used
to remove water from the landfill.
March 10 Memo from Wendy Peacock to Mike Kelly concerning results of methane gas
testing at PCB landfill.
March 19 Working Group sends letter to EPA Region IV Administrator John Hankinson
asking that compliance be linked to detoxification of the landfill. Group does not want EPA to issue a
compliance order only.
Completed bids due for RFP for bench scale studies of PCB-contaminated soil.
April Landfill activities and sampling completed.
April 23 Cochairs Dollie Burwell and Henry Lancaster receive letter from Winston A.
Smith, EPA Region IV director of Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, on behalf of John
Hankinson. He said a final assessment regarding NC's compliance with the disposal permit would not
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be made until after the sampling investigation is completed.
May 29 Bill Meyer, Ed Mussler, Pat Williamson, Patrick Barnes, and Joel Hirschhorn visit
ECO LOGIC at Aberdeen Proving Grounds near Baltimore, MD, to view bench scale operation on
soil from PCB landfill.
June 12 Letter sent from Bill Meyer to Dr. Gregory N. Richardson, G.N. Richardson &
Associates, Inc., Raleigh, to review 1997 sampling data from PCB landfill, and provide thoughts,
conclusions, recommendations or interpretations he might have as a result of the review.
June 17 Bill Meyer, Ed Mussier, Pat Williamson, and Patrick Barnes visit ETG
Environmental, West Chester, PA, to view bench scale operation on soil from PCB landfill.
June 30 Contracts expire for science advisors Joel Hirschhorn and Patrick Barnes.
July 10 Letter to Joel Hirschhorn and Patrick Barnes authorizing them to complete work
on the Site Investigation/ Assessment Final Report. Payment will not be made until report is signed by
bother science advisors and satisfactorily delivered to the Division of Waste Management.
August EPA issued a Notice of Non-Compliance for violating TSCA regulations to
regularly monitor leachate for pH and specific conductance, for failure to test groundwater monitoring
wells and surface water for pH and specific conductance, and for failure to have a leachate collection
system that would remove leachate as it was generated. The order also required North Carolina to
replace the cap on the landfill unless the state planned to detoxify the landfill.
Date The state began monitoring for pH and specific conductance and submitted a plan
to replace the cover system and upgrade the leachate system.
Date Both ECOLOGIC and ETG submitted phase I reports based on their bench scale
demonstrations. The reports were analyzed by the Working Group, state staff and the science
advisors, and BCD was selected as the preferred technology for detoxification.
Date ETG was subsequently awarded a contract to perform the Phase II preliminary
design of a full-scale BCD detoxification system.
Date A cost estimate was prepared and used as the basis for requesting funding from the
NC General Assembly. The cost estimate, including contingencies, is $24 million.
1998
Governor James B. Hunt Jr. requested a $15 million appropriation from the NC
General Assembly to detoxify the landfill using the BCD technology. The remaining funding would
come from the federal government and other sources. Senator Frank Ballance, who represents Warren
County, requested the full $24 million to detoxify the landfill.
Date The NC General Assembly approved $2 million to continue efforts toward
detoxification of the PCB landfill.
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1999
The Division of Waste Management has been given permission by State
Purchasing and Contracts to sole-source the Phase III full-scale detoxification plan. This contract is
being awarded to ETG.
February The Division of Waste has installed a pump to remove water from the landfill.
The Warren County PCB Working Group has requested DENR Secretary Wayne
McDevitt to set up an Advisory Committee in Warren County to continue detoxification efforts since
the Working Group's original goals have been reached.
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