EPA finishes clean up at Diaz in Holley

EPA finishes clean up at Diaz in Holley

The dismantling of buildings at the former Diaz Chemical plant in Holley has been completed - a major step toward the completion of the clean up of the contaminated site.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been a presence in the Village of Holley for many years now, but its work is nearing its end, Michael Basile, public relations coordinator of the EPA said. "Once we went in to the plant, following the chemical spill in 2003, we staged the chemicals that needed to be removed and began the clean up," he said. "The demolition of the buildings that were contaminated or structurally unsound has been finished. The buildings that are still standing will remain and could be used in the future."

Kevin Matheis, EPA on-scene coordinator, hosted a press conference on September 6 to discuss the work the EPA has done. Clean-up work included the removal of hazardous substances within drums and tanks, facility piping and the dismantling of the buildings.

Background

The site, that was home to the former Diaz Chemical facility at 40 Jackson Street in Holley, was initially developed in the 1890s and used for tomato processing and vinegar production before it was purchased by Diaz in 1974.

Diaz operated the facility from 1974 to 2003. It manufactured and stored industrial organic chemicals and specialized in the production of halogenated aromatic compounds. An accidental air release of 2-chloro-6-fluorophenol on January 5, 2002 forced the evacuation of some residents near the site and eventually resulted in the EPA purchasing the residents' homes. "It was for the convenience of the families that we purchased their homes. They had been displaced for more than three years," Basile said.

Diaz abandoned the facility in June 2003 and filed bankruptcy. In July 2004, the site was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List and clean-up began.

Currently, the EPA is conducting a remedial investigation and feasibility study on the site - the study was begun in March 2005 and will identify the nature and extent of contamination and will help develop and evaluate potential remedial alternatives to address remaining contamination. The study will include the Diaz grounds and the surrounding neighborhood

Additional studies are being planned to determine the appropriate course of action for the acquired properties and for the site. Basile said the EPA anticipates the work will be completed in 2009.