Diercks Forests, Inc. (Weyerhauser), 794 Highway 369 N, Nashville, Arkansas |
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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 | 794 Highway 369 North, Nashville, Arkansas | Gypsum board manufacturer | 2,500 | Yes-July 24, 2000 | No | According to an EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices, 2,500 tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby mine were shipped to this site between January 1968 and September 1983. At the time of EPA's visit, this facility was owned by the James Hardie Gypsum Company and manufactured gypsum wallboard. Hardie had acquired the plant in 1997. Between 1969 and 1989, Weyerhauser-Diercks had owned and operated the plant. Briar Gypsum Company had also previously operated at the site, although the timeframe during which this company operated was unknown. This facility was far from other commercial and residential structures. At the time of EPA's visit, Hardie produced two fire-resistant products that contained vermiculite. Vermiculite products made up less than 2 percent of the gypsum product mix. Hardie purchased vermiculite from two sources--American Vermiculite and Carolina Vermiculite. Representatives from Hardie said Weyerhauser-Diercks used vermiculite ore from the Libby mine in the past but they believed the company stopped receiving Libby ore in the mid-1970s when W.R. Grace started labeling the ore as potentially containing asbestos. At the time of EPA's visit, Hardie received vermiculite ore by tanker truck and stored it in a silo located outside the production warehouse. From the storage silo, the vermiculite was pumped to feeder hoppers that fed the vermiculite into the production process as needed. EPA did note spillage of vermiculite in the storage silo/production warehouse area. EPA determined no further action was needed. |
GAO-09-6R |