| Abstract |
The 450-acre Celanese Fiber Operations (CFO) site is a polyester raw-material production facility located in Cleveland County, North Carolina. The plant's facilities include a plant production area, wastewater treatment area, former waste disposal areas, and a land farm area. The plant began operations in 1960 as Fiber Industries, Inc. and manufactured polyester polymer chip and filament yarn using the chemicls dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol. Chemical wastes were dumped directly into a drainage ditch. Treated effluent has been discharged to Buffalo Creek since the mid-1960s when Fiber Industries, Inc. completed construction of the treatment facility. Celanese Corporation bought the site and facilities in 1983. In addition to the discharge from the wastewater treatment plant, CFO also discharges also discharges alum-treated bandcaster water directly to Buffalo Creek. A 1988 Record of Decision addressed extraction and treatment of contaminated ground water. The primary contaminants of concern affecting the soil and sediment are VOCs including benzene and TCE; other organics including phenols and PAHs; and metals including lead and chronium. |
