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EPA Superfund Removal Underway at Dixie Barrel and Drum Site in Knoxville

Release Date: 05/07/2004
Contact Information: Laura Niles, (404) 562-8353, [email protected]

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun a Superfund hazardous substance removal at the Dixie Barrel and Drum Site in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Removal is a short-term cleanup intended to stabilize or clean up a site that poses an imminent and substantial threat to human health or the environment. The removal is taking place under the authority and direction of the Agency's Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB). The cleanup will include some or all of the following actions: securing the site and minimizing the risk of trespassing and intrusion; sampling and conducting on-site field testing and off-site analytical testing to determine the types of waste on the site; consolidating like chemicals into waste streams (types of waste determined to be compatible), and treating waste streams on-site to prepare for off-site disposal; transporting and disposing of all waste streams at an EPA-approved facility; and demolishing and disposing of a small building on-site. The removal is expected to be completed by summer 2004, at an estimated cost of $800,000. The Dixie Barrel and Drum Site is located at 2120 Jones Street. The site operated as a plastic and steel drum recycling and reconditioning facility from approximately 1976 to 2002. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation referred the site to the ERRB in August 2003. A removal site assessment was conducted in October 2003. As a result of the evaluation, a removal action was proposed. Contaminants of concern include lead, chromium, ethyl benzene, and trichloroethylene. To obtain additional information, please contact David Andrews, EPA On-Scene Coordinator, at (404) 562-8763, or Sherryl A. Carbonaro, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at (404) 562-8611.