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Occidental Chemical Corp. Moves Forward with Cleanup at New Castle, Delaware, Facility

Release Date: 08/21/2012
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (August 21, 2012) -- In a settlement announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Occidental Chemical Corporation will continue to remediate contamination at its 300 acre facility located three miles northwest of Delaware City, Del.

Occidental, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, has agreed to implement the final cleanup remedy selected by EPA to address contamination resulting from the former operations at the Delaware facility. EPA's cleanup plan includes the excavation, onsite consolidation, and capping of contaminated soils, along with administrative and legal safeguards to minimize exposure to contamination. In addition, the current use of slurry walls and removal of free product to clean up and prevent further groundwater contamination will continue, along with targeted in-situ treatment and institutional controls. Occidental and EPA will work together to implement this cleanup work and return the property to beneficial use. The total estimated cost to implement the final remedy is $8 million in capital, and $11million in operation and maintenance costs.

The Occidental property has undergone demolition and decommissioning which paves the way for economic redevelopment. Along with generating jobs, the cleanup at this site will convert a vacant industrial property into a community asset.

The Occidental facility lies south of the confluence of Red Lion Creek and the Delaware River. The facility, surrounded by a heavily industrial and commercial area, operated as a chlor-alkali plant from 1964 through 2007. Chlorine production ceased at the facility in 2005, and the production of anhydrous potassium hydroxide ceased in 2007. Decommissioning and demolition of most plant structures was completed in 2007 and 2008. The site is currently fenced and contains seven buildings, several concrete slabs, a wastewater treatment plant and groundwater extraction and treatment system.

For more information go to: https://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/ca/de/webpages/ded003913266.html.