EPA Reaches Agreement with Companies to Remediate Contaminated Site in Ravenswood, West Virginia

EPA Press Release:

EPA Reaches Agreement with Companies to

Remediate Contaminated Site in Ravenswood, West Virginia

PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 14, 2012) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today TRC Companies, Inc., TRC Environmental Corp. and Ravenswood Holdings Company, LLC (TRC) have signed an EPA consent order outlining work to be done to prevent releases of cyanide into soil and groundwater for a 2.7 acre site in Ravenswood, W.Va., where a former aluminum manufacturing facility deposited contaminated waste.

The TRC Spent Cathode Storage Pile is located within an active industrial facility at 2/20 County Road in Ravenswood. The spent potliner pile consists of approximately 50,000 cubic yards of waste material and is completely surrounded by two other parcels. The site is completely enclosed by a chain-link fence.

Aluminum smelting waste, contained in the spent potliner pile, accumulated between 1972 and 1980, and was awaiting shipment for mineral recycling. The recycling of this type of waste material subsided in the late 70’s, thus necessitating the need to cover it. The entire waste pile was covered with a polymeric liner in 1981 to prevent contact with storm water, which could leach cyanide compounds in the waste pile into the ground water.  

In November 2011, EPA determined that the waste material should remain in place and that repair and maintenance of the existing rubber membrane liner should continue until the liner is replaced. The final decision and the consent order require TRC to perform maintenance and comply with required controls to prevent further contamination.

TRC has agreed to repair and maintain the rubber membrane liner to prevent the escape of cyanide from the site.

For more information about the site, go to:   http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/ca/wv/webpages/wvd988766127.html#contaminants.