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GAC CORP (General Alum & Chemical Corp)
2.0 SITE HISTORY AND LANDFILL DESCRIPTION
2.1 Site Setting
The Delta site consists of a 157-acre parcel, situated on the west shore of Stockton Harbor in Searsport, Maine. Man-made features at the site consist mainly of several plant and administration buildings; various storage tanks; two large diameter, spherical, empty ammonia storage vessels; and the landfill. Drawing C-101 contained in Appendix 4 is an existing conditions map of the site showing the general solid waste disposal area locations. '
Natural topography at the site ranges in elevation from sea level to approximately 80 feet (NGVD Datum), and slopes downward from west to east. Much of the site has been reshaped as a result of past and present activities which include construction of site buildings, water storage ponds, the landfill area, and a large marsh/pond area as a result of beaver damming.
2.2 _ Site History
In 1943, Northern Chemical, Inc., a division of Summers Fertilizer, assumed operation of the site and expanded the manufacturing operation to include production of super-phosphates, sulfuric acid, and ammonium sulfate.
In 1953, an aluminum sulfate process was added to the
In 1956, an ammonia plant, an ammonia nitrate plant and a nitric acid plant were constructed at the site.
In 1966, W.R. Grace & Company leased the manufacturing facility. The ammonia production was then discontinued. By early 1970, W.R. Grace discontinued the production of super phosphates, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid. Delta Chemicals, Inc., the present site owner, succeeded W.R. Grace & Company in 1970.
Presently [1993] Delta manufactures and sells aluminum sulfate (liquid alum, A12[S04]3), ammonium sulfate ([NH4 ]2]S04), sodium aluminate
(Na2A1204'2H20), and polyacrylamide based water soluble polymers.
Delta also receives in bulk and resells sulfuric acid (H2S04).
2.3 Landfill Setting
Railroad tracks owned by Bangor and Aroostook
Railroad separate the landfill from Stockton Harbor. A
marsh/beaver pond and water storage pond (north fire pond) border
the landfill on its north and west sides.
The nearest portion of
Delta's present manufacturing facility is located approximately
500 feet south of the landfill.
The landfill is comprised of six
sludge disposal cells. Two former carbon sludge ponds, Cells 1
and 2 (see Drawing C-101), are currently situated at
approximately Elevation 45 feet. Cells 3 through 6, which are
mainly comprised of carbon and bauxite sludges, are currently at
approximately Elevation 70 feet.
In addition, four small debris
fill areas are located on-site. Three debris fill areas are
located adjacent to the southwest portion of the landfill at
approximately Elevation 70 feet. One debris fill area is located
southeast of the landfill adjacent to the Bangor and Aroostook
railroad tracks at approximately Elevation 25 feet.
In addition
to the debris areas, there is also an area located southwest of
landfill Cells 1 and 2 at approximately Elevation 45 feet which
contains soil containing asbestos. Drawing C-101 also shows the
approximate location of the debris areas.
2.4 Landfill History
Based on information supplied by Delta, the present landfill site
consisted of farmland prior to 1956. At that time, two man-made
settling units, denoted as Cells 1 and 2 on Drawing C-101 were
made to receive byproduct carbon from an on-site ammonia
2-2
Following pages missing)
May 19, 1993 (Revised December 1993) Sevee & Maher Engineers, Inc.
EMAIL penbay@justice.com
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE KIDDER POINT INDUSTRIAL SITE
by Sevee & Maher Engineers, May 19, 1993 (Revised December 1993)
1927. Site development began in 1927 and consisted of an agricultural fertilizer manufacturing plant which was owned and operated by
the Summers Fertilizer Company.
The Delta landfill is situated near the north boundary of Delta's
site and is approximately 400 feet west of Stockton Harbor
(Atlantic Ocean).