BCP Ingredients Facility/Syntex Facility National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site, Verona, Lawrence County, Missouri - Fact Sheet, December 2021

EPA Announces Public Availability Session

Upcoming Public Availability Session:

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Verona High School New Gym
101 E. Ella St.
Verona, MO 65769

The purpose of this session is to update the public on the site and discuss the public’s concerns regarding BCP air emissions. Increased public interest in the local community prompted EPA to hold this session.

Ethylene Oxide Emissions at BCP Ingredients Facility in Verona, Missouri

In 2016, EPA updated the risk values for ethylene oxide, and in 2018, released the updated National Air Toxics Assessment. After this, EPA Region 7 proactively engaged BCP Ingredients in Verona, Missouri, regarding ethylene oxide emissions at their facility. BCP Ingredients is a subsidiary company of Balchem Corporation. BCP manufactures and markets choline chloride, which uses ethylene oxide as a reactant and repackages ethylene oxide for other users. Learn more about ethylene oxide.

EPA Region 7 worked with BCP to review their operations, analyze their emissions, and conduct a specialized review of the air pollution controls configuration of the facility. In 2019, EPA Region 7 also engaged the Verona community to inform them of ethylene oxide risks and voluntary emission reduction measures to be taken. In October 2019, EPA presented information to the Verona City Council regarding ethylene oxide emissions risks associated with the BCP facility. In November 2019, EPA held an Open House at the Verona High School to provide the same information to the public at large.

EPA understands that the company has begun evaluation of the air pollution control equipment; completed additional characterization of other sources of ethylene oxide emissions at the facility through implementation of a leak detection and repair program; and installed wastewater treatment equipment to reduce ethylene oxide in the wastewater from the process. In 2020, EPA requested that BCP Ingredients conduct a retest of the facility’s scrubber and also requested information to substantiate earlier scrubber test results. On Nov. 23, 2021, EPA held a meeting with BCP officials to discuss previous requests for information and emphasize the need for up-to-date, corroborating information related to the facility’s reported emissions.

About the Syntex Facility National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site

The site covers approximately 180 acres and is located at 299 Extension Street in Verona, Lawrence County, Missouri. In the 1960s, Hoffman-Taff Inc. owned and operated the facility to produce 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (also known as 2,4,5-T) for the U.S. Army. 2,4,5-T is one component of the defoliant commonly referred to as Agent Orange. Between 1969 and 1972, Northeastern Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company (NEPACCO) leased a portion of the facility for the production of hexachlorophene. Syntex purchased the facility in December 1969.

Dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) was created as an unwanted byproduct in the production of 2,4,5-T and hexachlorophene. Manufacturing waste residues were released and disposed on the property, contaminating the soil and groundwater with dioxin and other contaminants. For additional information, visit ATSDR’s Toxicity FAQs (ToxFAQs^TM) about dioxin.

Syntex owned and operated the facility from 1969 to 1996 and manufactured choline chloride and other food additives for both human and animal consumption. DuCoa LP purchased the east portion of the property from Syntex and then sold the property to the current owner/operator, BCP Ingredients Inc. (BCP), in 2001. BCP manufactures choline chloride and repackages bulk ethylene oxide.

Since 1980, federal and Potential Responsible Party (PRP) actions have been taken to assess and address contamination at the site. Between 1988 and 1990, dioxin-contaminated soils were excavated and incinerated. The remedy in other areas included capping and/or vegetative covers. These areas were reassessed recently and found to be acceptable for industrial use. In 1993, EPA selected a remedy of “no further remedial action” for groundwater at the site, since off-site contamination was within the range of relevant EPA standards at that time. The remedy included additional groundwater monitoring and surface water sampling of Spring River, which was completed in 1999. For additional information on the site history, contaminants of concern, and the results of recent investigations, see the Supplemental Information addendum to the December 2020 Fact Sheet on EPA's Missouri Cleanups page.

1,4-Dioxane

EPA conducts regular checkups, called Five-Year Reviews (FYRs), at Superfund sites where cleanups have been completed. The Fourth and Fifth FYRs, completed in 2012 and 2017, found that when the Remedial Actions for soils, groundwater, and surface water were implemented, they were protective of human health and the environment. However, these FYRs concluded that additional information was necessary to evaluate overall protectiveness. This was due to changes in the methodology, assumptions, and toxicity values used for risk assessments that occurred after the remedies were implemented.

In 2016, with oversight from EPA, the PRP began conducting additional site characterization activities to address data gaps identified in the 2012  FYR. These included groundwater investigations around the facility in the Spring River floodplain. Using more sensitive analytical methods that were recently developed, 1,4-dioxane was detected in several permanent and temporary monitoring wells. For additional information on site-related contaminants and public health risks, visit ATSDR’s Toxicity FAQs (ToxFAQs^TM) about 1,4-dioxane.

Completion of Private Well Testing

Testing of domestic water wells surrounding the site has been completed. Responding to community concerns voiced in 2019, and current site conditions, EPA Region 7 sampled over 90 private, domestic drinking water wells for site-related contaminants. None of these results were above the relevant EPA health-based standards. For additional information, see the December 2020 Fact Sheet (at the link above).

Start of the Sixth Five-Year Review

EPA has started the Sixth FYR for the site. FYRs are required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) when hazardous substances remain on-site above levels that permit unrestricted use and unlimited exposure. FYRs provide an opportunity to evaluate the site remedy to determine whether it remains protective of human health and the environment. The Sixth FYR Report should be completed by September 2022.

Community Involvement Plan

EPA is developing a Community Involvement Plan (CIP) for the site. A CIP describes how EPA will involve the community and address local needs throughout the Superfund cleanup process. Community interviews are conducted to gather information to learn about site-related needs, concerns and expectations, as well as how the community gets information and prefers to receive site-related information from EPA. Contact the Community Involvement Coordinator listed below to schedule an interview.

Information Repositories

Site project information is available to the public at web repositories. To view cleanup documents, please visit EPA’s Site Profile Page. If you don’t have internet access, you can view these documents online at this location:

Barry-Lawrence Regional Library
202 S Jefferson Ave.
Aurora, MO 65605
417-678-2036
www.blrlibrary.com

Note: Please call for operational status due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EPA Contact Information