Superfund Record of Decision (EPA Region 4): Celanese Fibers Operations, Shelby, North Carolina (First Remedial Action), March 1988

摘要

The 450-acre Celanese Fiber Operations (CFO) site is occupied by a polyester raw-material production facility and is located in Cleveland County, one mile north of Earl, North Carolina. The plant began operations in 1960 as Fibers Industries, Inc. and manufactured polyester polymer chip and filament yarn using the chemicals dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol. The CFO waste treatment plant was constructed in phases concurrent with the manufacturing plant. This resulted in the disposal of chemical wastes directly into a drainage ditch during the early years of operation prior to completion of the waste treatment plant. Several areas around the plant have been used for waste disposal, including old burning pits for normal plant wastes (polyester and trash), a glycol recovery unit sludge burial area, and a former drum storage and staging area (drums contained solutions that failed to polymerize) excavated and backfilled in the mid-1960s, and two soak-away ponds formerly containing treated sanitary sewage. The primary contaminants of concern affecting the ground water include: VOCs including benzene and PCE, organics including phenols, and metals including chromium. The selected remedial action for the site is included.