Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Fasloc Incorporated - Potomac River Plant (Formerly: Chemours, DuPont) in Falling Waters, West Virginia
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
In February 1999, EPA issued the Corrective Action portion of the RCRA Permit for the Site. In October 2008, EPA extended the expiration date of the RCRA permit until a new permit is issued by WVDEP. As required by the RCRA permit, DuPont completed a release assessment and RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) at 21 solid waste management units (SWMUs) and one area of concern (AOC). In addition, DuPont investigated several former operating areas at the site that were not identified as SWMUs or AOCs. These areas are referred to as voluntary investigation areas (VIAs).
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a Statement of Basis (SB) to solicit public comment on a proposed remedy and Post Closure Permit modifications. DEP's proposed remedy for the Facility consists of soil excavation and offsite disposal, groundwater monitoring, engineering controls consisting of capping and fencing, and institutional controls to implement land and groundwater use restrictions.
DEP provided a forty-five day public comment period on the SB and Permit modifications. No comments were received on the proposed remedy and DEP will modify the Permit to incorporate the remedy into the Permit.
Cleanup Status
The RFI was conducted in three phases for the PRW site. All units were fully investigated for releases and for potential impact to human health and the environment. The RFI findings were presented in the Comprehensive RCRA Facility Investigation Report (URS, 2013a), which concluded that the RFI was considered complete and recommended initiation of a Corrective Measures Study (CMS) for the following units: eight SWMUs (SWMUs 3, 16, 22A, 36, 37, 46A, 46B, and 47), one AOC (AOC A), and two VIAs (VIA C and VIA G). In addition, groundwater monitoring was recommended for wells located downgradient and in the vicinity of SWMUs 16, 21A, 21B, 21C, 22A, 36, and 22C. The Comprehensive RFI Report was approved by EPA on August 7, 2013.
Following the approval of the RFI report, DuPont developed a CMS Work Plan (URS, 2013b) for the site pursuant to Section II.D and Attachment E of the RCRA permit. The CMS work plan was submitted in November 2013, and was approved by EPA in December 2013. The CMS work plan identified potential corrective measure technologies to be evaluated further in the CMS; briefly described the potential technologies; discussed how the remedies will be evaluated in the CMS; and specified how the CMS will be prepared consistent with the HSWA permit. The CMS work plan also identified additional data collection activities to support corrective measure alternative evaluations in the CMS.
In 2015, DuPont created Chemours Company FC LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, to take over management of the PRW site. Later that year Chemours began operating as an independent publicly owned company fully responsible for the PRW site. The CMS Report was submitted to EPA and WVDEP for review on August 2, 2016. The CMS included the elements required to evaluate proposed remedies including Media Cleanup Standards and a Monitored Natural Attenuation Groundwater Evaluation. The final revised CMS was submitted to EPA and WVDEP on February 28, 2017.
Site Description
Interactive Map of Fasloc Incorporated - Potomac River Plant
(Formerly: Chemours, DuPont) Falling Waters, WV
The 1,242-acre Chemours PRW site is located on U.S. Route 11 in Berkeley County at Falling Waters, West Virginia. Manufacturing facilities were constructed between 1950 and 1952 and operations began in 1953. From 1953 to 1977 the plant manufactured nitroglycerine (NG) and dynamite. Water gel explosives and smokeless powder were manufactured at the plant in the 1970s, and ammonia nitrate fuel oil explosives were manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s. Flexible explosives were also manufactured until 1994. In 1994, DuPont ceased all explosive manufacturing operations.
Currently, the only remaining manufacturing operation, Fasloc, is leased and operated by JENNMAR-Systems USA (Jennmar). Current operations at the plant consist of the manufacturing and assembly of Fasloc cartridges (non-explosive roof bolt grouting systems used in mining and construction).
Current land use at the site consists of the following:
- 63 acres of Active Manufacturing Area (long-term lease)
- 354 acres of Buffer Land
- 163 acres of Former Manufacturing Area
- 662 acres of Former Landfill and Product Storage Area
Contaminants at this Facility
The main constituents found in the site's soil and groundwater include nitrates, a few volatile organic compounds such as methylene chloride, and 1,2-Dichloroethane and lead. Some areas where spills occurred, are potentially contaminated with explosive compounds such as nitroglycerin.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The need for Institutional Controls is yet to be determined.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
There is an unused parcel on the facility which also maintains its current use.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3 with assistance from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.