The Celanese Corp. Shelby Fiber Operations site covers 450 acres in Shelby, North Carolina, where Celanese has run a manufacturing facility since 1960. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1986 after operations contaminated groundwater, soil, and sediment. Cleanup is active but not yet complete, and the site remains on the NPL.
EPA has identified 37 contaminants of concern across groundwater, soil, sediment, and solid waste. Key contaminants include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and vinyl chloride, plus metals including lead, chromium, and nickel. Benzene and chromium show up in all four media types. Groundwater holds the largest number of contaminants and is the primary focus of ongoing treatment.
Cleanup is split into two operable units. For groundwater, Celanese built a pump-and-treat system in 1989 and ran it until 2004, when EPA and the state approved a shift to monitored natural attenuation. Three extraction wells were added between 2010 and 2012 to handle residual contamination in the former waste disposal area. For source control, Celanese excavated, incinerated, and solidified 10,000 cubic yards of contaminated waste between 1991 and 1992, then backfilled the treated materials into onsite quarries. EPA deleted the cleaned-up portion from the Superfund list in 1998. Operable Unit 2 was also modified in 2019 to add institutional controls as part of the remedy. Celanese funds all cleanup and monitoring under EPA and state oversight.
EPA has determined that human exposure to site contaminants is under control and that contaminated groundwater migration has been stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site has achieved sitewide ready for anticipated use status, meaning all cleanup goals for current and reasonably anticipated future land uses have been met. A 2010-2011 drinking water well survey found no private wells in use in the area. Semi-annual groundwater monitoring continues, and the pump-and-treat system is expected to operate through early 2028. A five-year review was completed in September 2021, and the next review is estimated between August and October 2026. One business currently operates on site, employing 79 people and generating roughly $54.2 million in annual sales.
Community members can stay involved through EPA public notices, public meetings, and interviews about site activities. Physical copies of site documents are available at the Cleveland County Memorial Library at 104 Howie Drive in Shelby.
