Clinch River Corporation

Overview

The Clinch River Corporation site is a 30.5-acre former paper and pulp mill in Harriman, Tennessee. The mill ran from 1929 to 2002, leaving behind contaminated debris, soil, sediment, and groundwater. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in May 2013. The site sits in the 100-year floodplain along the Emory River, which shapes both the contamination concerns and the cleanup approach.

The main contamination concerns are metals in a small area of groundwater and soils that are safe for commercial, industrial, and recreational use but not for residential or unrestricted use. EPA has determined that human exposure is under control and that contaminated groundwater is stabilized, posing no unacceptable risk to nearby surface water. EPA will continue monitoring to confirm groundwater stays within the existing contamination area. Trespassers previously faced risks from industrial debris, but fencing has reduced that exposure pathway.

Several removal actions addressed urgent problems between 2011 and 2019. In early 2012, EPA removed drums and process fluids because of flood risk. In July 2012, EPA removed asbestos from a former turbine house. A non-time critical removal action later demolished old buildings, built a stormwater management system, and repaired a breached flood wall. WestRock, formerly Mead-Westvaco, is bound by an administrative order and consent decree to carry out the required investigation and feasibility study work. WestRock and EPA agreed to this work in March 2018.

The remedial investigation for Operable Unit 1 began in March 2018 and is expected to finish between August and October 2026, when EPA will issue a Record of Decision selecting the final cleanup method. Remedial design is estimated for late 2027 to early 2028, with construction projected to finish between September and November 2028. The City of Harriman currently uses portions of the site as a riverfront park with boat slips and walking trails. Once remediation is complete, the city plans to add the remaining parcels to David Webb Riverfront Park. Institutional controls and zoning restrictions are already in place to prevent residential development and other incompatible land uses.

Community members can stay informed through EPA public notices and information meetings held throughout the cleanup process. Site documents are available at the Harriman Public Library at 601 Walden Avenue, Harriman, Tennessee 37748. For questions, residents can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly using the contact information below.