| U.S. Gypsum, 81 N. State, Sigurd, Utah |
| Table of Contents || Return to Map || Return to State Listing |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 81 N. State, Sigurd, Utah | Gypsum board manufacturer | 1,550 | Yes-May 23, 2000 | No | According to an EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices, 1,550 tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby mine were shipped to this site between June 1968 and October 1975. EPA visited this site with a representative of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. The plant manager said that the facility had been built in 1948 and U.S. Gypsum used vermiculite in only one specialty wallboard product. Another company representative who had been with U.S. Gypsum for 29 years said vermiculite was delivered to the site in bags by rail. The bags were then placed in a storage area until needed. As needed, an employee would retrieve a bag of vermiculite from storage, cut the bag open, and pour the vermiculite into a hopper. The vermiculite was then gravity-fed into the liquid wallboard mixture. On the basis of this information, EPA concluded that since the vermiculite was delivered in bags, not bulk, the only significant asbestos exposure may have occurred when an employee cut the bags open and poured the vermiculite into the hopper. EPA also concluded that the shipping and handling practices as described by the company officials should not have resulted in any widespread contamination. EPA determined no further action was needed. |
| GAO-09-6R |