U.S. Gypsum Company, 1 USG Road E. Highway 80, Sweetwater, Texas
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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 1 USG Road E. Highway 80, Sweetwater, Texas Gypsum board manufacturer 572 Yes-July 20, 2000 No According to an EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices, 572 tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby mine were shipped to this facility between March 1973 and November 1974. When EPA visited, this facility was an active gypsum manufacturing plant, producing wallboard and ceiling panels. According to a company official, the plant had been in operation since 1923. At the time of EPA's visit, the company received vermiculite from the W.R. Grace facility in Enoree, South Carolina. (This facility is listed separately in this database.) The vermiculite was received in 3,000 pound, semi-bulk bags and introduced into the manufacturing process through feeder hoppers. The vermiculite was used as an additive to products to help make them fire-resistant. According to a company official, fire-resistant products made up a small percentage of all products manufactured at the plant. The company official said, to his knowledge, Libby ore had never been approved for use by the company. EPA did not observe any waste piles or other vermiculite debris at the site. The company provided documentation to EPA that indicated the ore being used at the time of EPA’s visit was from the mine in Enoree, South Carolina. EPA determined no further action was needed.

GAO-09-6R