| Abstract |
The Saltville Waste Disposal site is located along the North Fork of the Holston River (NFHR) between Saltville and Allison Gap in Western Smyth County, Virginia, and partly extends into Washington County, Virginia. The Jefferson National Forest is located approximately one-half mile north of the site. From 1895 to 1972, Olin Corporation and its predecessors (Mathieson Chemical Corporation and Mathieson Alkali Works) used the site for various chemical manufacturing operations. The site includes a former plant area and two waste ponds, 5 and 6. Between 1951 and 1972, the Olin Corporation operated an electrolytic chlorine and caustic soda plant which released mercury into the process wastes and onto the plant grounds. Mercury losses were estimated by Olin Corporation to be 100 lbs/day from the chlor-alkali processes. In 1963, Waste Pond 6 was constructed to receive waste overflow from Waste Pond 5. According to Olin corporation, no wastes containing mercury were dumped into Waste Pond 6, but structural components of the old plant reportedly were buried at the eastern edge of the pond. |
