| Republic Gypsum Company, Street address unknown, Highway 62, Duke, Oklahoma |
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| EPA Region |
Location of facility | Type of facility | Amount of ore received (in tons) |
Did EPA visit the site? |
Were samples taken? |
Results of evaluation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Street address unknown, Highway 62, Duke, Oklahoma | Gypsum board manufacturer | 900 | Yes-July 28, 2000 | No | According to an EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices, 900 tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby mine were shipped to this facility between February 1967 and April 1977. On the basis of records searches and interviews with company officials, EPA determined Republic Gypsum had been operating at this site since 1964. The facility was located in a rural area and there were no residential structures near it. At the time of EPA's visit, Republic manufactured gypsum wallboard and used vermiculite to produce fire-resistant wallboard. The facility received the vermiculite in 50-pound bags. The vermiculite was poured manually into a system that directed the vermiculite into feeder hoppers where it was measured into the gypsum slurry. The vermiculite was stored under shrink-wrap in bags on pallets until it was needed. The company officials said they obtained their vermiculite from Carolina Vermiculite in Woodruff, South Carolina. (This site is listed separately in this database.) Because the company used the vermiculite so infrequently, at the time of EPA's visit, it had not purchased any in 2 years. There was no vermiculite waste because all of the ore was consumed in the production process. One company official said Libby ore may have been purchased many years ago. The officials had documentation indicating the vermiculite being used was from South Carolina. The company officials said asbestos sampling had been conducted in the past at the site as part of an abatement action and no asbestos was found. EPA did not observe any vermiculite waste debris at the site. EPA determined no further action was needed. |
| GAO-09-6R |