THE GRANVILLE SOLVENTS SUPERFUND SITE: APPLICATION OF RCRA REGULATIONS WITHOUT REGARD FOR GEOLOGIC SETTING

With the development of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1980), control of hazardous materials in the US was greatly increased. Industries became responsible for the materials they used in manufacturing, even after they left their plants. A new industry sprang up to provide for the treatment, storage and disposal of listed hazardous materials. In theory, these TSD facilities enhanced the safety of the public by application of responsible management practices. Tracking the fate of certain materials used in manufacturing attacked illegal disposal of hazardous chemicals. However, existing chemical operations could be grandfathered, and secure a permit-to-operate a TSD with little regard for geologic setting.

Granville Solvents Inc. had operated for years on the Raccoon Creek flood plain in the central Ohio town of Granville, handling bulk quantities of fuels and solvents. The site was located between the abandoned village well field and the active well field, which produces about one million gallons of ground water per day. This well field draws from a substantial buried-valley aquifer, which is vulnerable to surface influences and contaminants. Although the grandfathering of TSDs under RCRA Part A permits was seen as a stopgap process, Granville Solvents was able to expand their operations to the point of near bursting; prior to a court-ordered closure in 1986. During this expansion, continued negotiations, permit applications and modifications were conducted; with continued disregard for site contamination. Although a Part B permit was never granted, GSI operated for six years under RCRA. Today the site is a Superfund operation and more than 3 million dollars has been expended on clean up and maintenance of contaminated soil and ground water. Management of the site, for the protection of the adjacent well field, is likely to continue well into the future.