Biweekly update 5/30/25
Removal work is
underway at the Fairmont Brine site. Activities have included:
- Disassembling of the filter press in the upper complex building and packaging materials from inside the press for disposal.
- Removal of contaminated filter cake material from all 6 roll-off containers on the site and repackaging the material into shippable containers secured on-site.
- Empty roll-off containers were secured and staged onsite for future disposal
- Conducting air monitoring for radiation and particulates throughout the duration of site activities. To date no air exceedances have been observed indicating that no airborne contamination is leaving the site.
- Excavating contaminated material near the burned tank in the upper complex. Excavated material was placed in shippable containers and is secured on-site.
- Screening all personnel, tools, equipment, and vehicles prior to exiting the hot zone to ensure contamination does not exit the zone.
Other Updates
include:
- Security cameras have been installed at the site allowing for 24/7 video surveillance.
- The EPA and contractor personnel regularly screen AFR Drive with radiation monitoring equipment.
- EPA is coordinating the disposal of the repackaged materials.
Previous
site updates have been archived and made publicly available under the
“Documents” tab. The most recent document can be found here: Archived Site Updates 5/30/25
Site
Overview:
The Fairmont Brine site is located at 168 AFR
Drive in Fairmont, West Virginia. The Brine processing facility was constructed
between 2009 and 2010 by the AOP Clearwater LLC. The plant was acquired
by Fairmont Brine Processing (FBP) in 2012. FBP began pre-treatment
operations at the site in 2013 and fully
operated the plant in fall of 2014. FBP ceased operations at the
site in March 2018.
The plant accepted flowback and produced fluids , known as "Brine" from the
hydraulic fracturing process used to extract natural gas. FBP used chemical and carbon filter media,
multiple-effect evaporation, and crystallization to treat and process the brine
they received. This produced sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and distilled
water. By-products created from the process include sludge
and filter cake material. Produced fluids from fracking operations
can contain Technically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials,
known as "TENORM". Click
here to learn more about TENORM.
On May 30, 2023, there was a fire and subsequent explosion
at the site damaging an above ground storage tank and the upper process
building. Following the fire, elevated readings of TENORM radiation were
found in several areas of the site. Click here
for general information about radiation sources and doses.
