Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Ashland Distribution Company in Roanoke, Virginia
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
The approximate 1.6 acre facility is located at 2410 Patterson Ave., S.W. in Roanoke, Virginia, approximately 2.5 miles west of downtown Roanoke. Ashland Distribution Company was a chemical and plastics distribution facility. The facility began operation sometime between the late 1960s and early 1970s. The facility is no longer active. Chemicals and plastics were received via truck, stored in bulk in containers, and then distributed to customers. On-site storage was limited to less than ten days. Transportation occurred in facility operated vehicles which were maintained off-site. The facility operated with five employees, Monday thru Friday from 7AM to 4PM and occasional weekends as required. Blending of paint thinners did take place at the facility and no chemical manufacturing occurred at the site.
Cleanup Status
An on-site meeting and a site visit were conducted on October 17, 2007, to discuss the Ashland facility located at 2410 Patterson Ave., S.W. in Roanoke, Virginia. EPA evaluated the information obtained during the October 17, 2007 , site visit and after completing a second site visit in November, 2009, determined that additional sampling was needed to assess potential contamination at SWMU 5, a former storage area. The results of this sampling would help to determine if further Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action will be necessary. A sampling plan was provided by Ashland Inc., and sampling was conducted at the facility on December 11, 2009. The results of the investigation indicated that the site did not require remediation, but institutional controls to limit property to industrial/commercial use would be warranted. EPA prepared a Statement of Basis to present the remedy decision by EPA and provided a 30-day public comment period. After the 30-day comment period no comments were received and on May 7, 2012, EPA issued a Final Decision and Response to Comments letter for the facility.
Site Description
Interactive Map of Ashland Distribution Company, Roanoke, VA
View larger mapThe Ashland facility maintained and operated 18 above ground storage tanks (ASTs) for product storage. Facility representatives indicated two of the 18 tanks were compartmentalized to create 21 separate storage compartments. One compartmentalized tank had three compartments; the other compartmentalized tank had two compartments. The tanks ranged in size from 1,500 gallons to 10,000 gallons. Three of the tanks had a 10,000 gallon capacity.
The storage tanks held methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone and other solvent type materials. The Product Tank-Farm is surrounded by a concrete dike which ranges in height from 24" to 48", with an approximate capacity of 13,600 gallons. The Product Tank Farm containment also collects storm water which is pumped out and surface discharged after visual inspection. Site storm water from the facility parking area and loading dock is collected in a separate gated containment structure which is also surface discharged.
Contaminants at this Facility
The contaminants of concern were 18 above ground storage tanks (ASTs) for product storage which included MEK, acetone and other solvent type materials.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The final remedy for the facility included Institutional controls to limit the property to industrial/commercial use and the requirement that the company would develop and implement a materials management plan.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
This facility is under continued use.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of the EPA Region 3 with assistance from Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.