JULY 6, 2023 - Litigation Referral Report for the Wright Chemical Corporation Superfund Site in Riegelwood, Columbus County, North Carolina
The Wright Chemical Site is located in an industrial/rural area of Columbus County, North Carolina, next to Livingston Creek, a tributary of the Cape Fear River. Industrial operations at the Site began in the 1880s and have historically included manufacturing operations associated with sulfuric acid, phosphate fertilizer, and specialty chemicals, including formaldehyde, hexamine, and chloropicrin. Oak-Bark Corporation was formed in 2004 and acquired Site property, operations, and liabilities at that time. In 2011, the Site was added to National Priorities List, and in 2014, Remedial Investigation activities began. Site investigations to date have revealed significant contamination, principally associated with lead, arsenic, and radium-226, among other hazardous substances. The EPA?s outstanding response costs at the Site exceed $240,000 and reasonably anticipated future response activity is expected to cost at least $5 million. Action against Oak Bark Corporation, Cronly Bluffs LLC and others is intended to recover Site-related response costs.