Site Background:
The former
Nedlog and Williams Strategic Metals property is located about 2.5 miles south
of Laramie, Wyoming. The site first began operating in 1943 during World War II
as a small alumina plant. Alumina is the base material used to make aluminum.
In the mid-1950’s, the Ideal Cement Company took over and used the facility to
make lightweight construction aggregate until the mid-1960’s.
In the
mid-1970’s, Nedlog Technology Group began using the site for secondary metal
recovery. They brought in materials such as coke, smelter dust, and waste ore
and processed them to extract metals including mercury, indium, and arsenic
acid. In 1982, Nedlog sold part of the property to Williams Strategic Metals
Inc., which continued similar operations.
Cleanup History:
- 1980: Cleanup work at the site
began in the late 1980’s. In 1988, EPA issued a consent agreement with
Williams for violations of federal hazardous waste rules under RCRA.
Cleanup work under this agreement started in 1988 and continued through
2001.
- 2011: The site entered Wyoming’s
Voluntary Remediation Program for additional cleanup and oversight.
- 2012: EPA conducts site
characterization.
- 2015 – 2019: Responsible party
conducts removal and cleanup activities, including asbestos removal and
decommissioning of storage tanks.
- 2022: EPA conducts a Phase I
Brownfields Assessment.
- 2023: WYDEQ and EPA hold a public
meeting to discuss current and proposed cleanup activities.
- 2024: EPA conducts a Phase II
Brownfields Assessment, and an emergency removal action under the
Superfund and Emergency Management Division. This included monitoring,
sampling, and removal of hazardous waste from the site. (Link)
- 2025: WYDEQ and EPA hold a public
meeting to discuss current and proposed cleanup activities.
Next Steps:
EPA’s
Emergency Response Program is planning additional cleanup activities at the
site, including removing contamination where arsenic acid was handled and
evaluating the remaining buildings to determine additional cleanup needs.
Additionally, EPA’s team will be conducting sampling activities at or near
properties in the vicinity of the site.
