Kalama Specialty Chemicals

Overview

The Kalama Specialty Chemicals site covers 50 acres near Beaufort, South Carolina. The facility made various chemicals from 1973 to 1977, then switched to herbicides and plant-growth regulators. In 1979, a reactor exploded and caught fire, spilling organic chemicals into the surrounding soil, sediment, and groundwater. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984, which means it formally qualified for federal Superfund cleanup funding and oversight.

EPA identified 24 contaminants of concern at the site, all within Operable Unit 1 (OU01). They include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and dichloromethane. Heavy metals and metalloids found at the site include antimony, chromium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Benzoic acid has also been detected. These contaminants were found in soil, sediment, and groundwater both on and off the property.

Goodrich, the responsible party, led cleanup work under EPA and state oversight. In 1995, crews removed more than 600 cubic yards of contaminated soil and 80 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. A pump-and-treat system started running in 1998 to pull contaminated groundwater out of the ground and treat it. All soil exceeding residential cleanup standards has been removed. EPA determined that groundwater does not pose a drinking water threat because residents in the area do not use it for that purpose. A vapor intrusion assessment also found no threat to residents or workers from groundwater vapors entering buildings. A Five-Year Review completed in September 2023 is the most recent review of the site. The 2018 Five-Year Review confirmed human exposure and groundwater migration are both under control. Goodrich samples groundwater twice a year to track progress, and additional studies are underway to check whether a nearby cement plant has contributed to contamination. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL, and some cleanup goals tied to future land uses have not yet been fully met.

Community members can stay informed through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that EPA holds as part of its community involvement program. Site records are available for public review at the Beaufort County Library at 311 Scott Street in Beaufort, South Carolina. Two EPA staff members handle questions about the site directly.