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Former MacMillan Oil Refinery Site Cleaned

Release Date: 7/15/1997
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

Cleanup was recently completed at the former MacMillan Ring Free Oil Refinery in Norphlet, Arkansas, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Jerry Clifford announced in Dallas today.

The property was cleaned under the national Superfund program. Established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, Superfund is our country's program for cleaning uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.

"For many citizens, EPA's Superfund program is their only protection from the health hazards of toxic wastes. This site, near a high school and residential area, had materials containing asbestos as well as oil refinery waste. Cleanup cost about $3.8 million," Mr. Clifford said.

Involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against MacMillan began in 1987, after more than 50 years of manufacturing diesel fuel, naphtha, fuel oil, lube oil and asphalt. In 1989, the site was purchased by Nor-Ark Industrial Corporation, and around 1991 it was abandoned.

In addition to buildings and aboveground storage tanks, the site included nine large open pits used to collect oil wastes. EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard responded in 1992 when rain caused the pits to overflow. The oil spill contaminated two adjacent creeks that flow into the Ouachita River.

EPA removed hazardous waste from the property, including about 50,000 gallons of waste oil from the pits, for proper off-site disposal. The water remaining in the pits was treated to allow safe discharge on the property.

About 30,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil were removed from the pits. After cleaning, the soil was returned to the pits and the ground was graded to prevent rainwater ponds. The area was seeded to prevent erosion.

"Work was completed at the site June 28, 1997," Mr. Clifford said.