Olin Corp. said this week that it has completed most design work
for the groundwater containment and treatment system it plans to
install at its former Morgan Hill plant site.
Olin Corp. said this week that it has completed most design work for the groundwater containment and treatment system it plans to install at its former Morgan Hill plant site. The design was provided to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board last Friday.
It was Olin’s safety flare plant on Tennant Avenue that has contaminated hundreds of wells in Morgan Hill and San Martin with perchlorate. The Regional Board has ordered Olin to provide a plan, followed by action, to clean up polluted soil on its property and, eventually, water in the underground aquifer. Since January hundreds of residents with contaminated wells have been drinking bottled water.
Two extraction wells already installed. More on-site work, including installation of a third extraction well and several performance monitoring wells, is also planned over the coming weeks as construction ramps to meet a Dec. 31 startup goal, a company spokesman said.
The extracted groundwater will be treated by an ion exchange treatment system that will remove perchlorate and which is similar to other perchlorate treatment systems currently operating in Santa Clara County. The treated groundwater will be discharged to surface water, under appropriate permits. On-site discharge options (infiltration or aquifer recharge) are also being evaluated for potential future use.
“Olin is proceeding with the design, construction and operation of this on-site groundwater containment and treatment system on a highly accelerated schedule,” said Rick McClure, Olin project manager for the site. “There are a number of critical milestones that we must meet to achieve Olin’s goal to initiate start-up by the end of December. Provided there are no unforeseen delays associated with regulatory approvals or other matters beyond Olin’s control, we will meet this goal,”
Olin submitted its quarterly groundwater monitoring report to the Regional Board on Tuesday. The report summarized the results of the third quarter on-site and off-site monitoring and reporting program and analyzes the results. Olin is also preparing a feasibility of on-site soil remedial options.
Since perchlorate was discovered, Olin has expedited multiple environmental investigations that include testing of on-site soil and groundwater conditions as well as off-site private water supply wells.
