STATE OF ARK-\1'\JSAS 


M IKE BEEBE 


GovER!\OR 

July 29, 2013 

Ron Curry, Regional Administrator 

United States EPA Region VI 

1445 Ross A venue, Suite 1200 

Dallas, TX 75202-2733 

Re: 	 State ofArkansas's concurrence for United States EPA (USEPA) to add the 

MacMillan Ring-Free site to the National Priorities List (NPL) 

Dear Mr. Curry: 

The State of Arkansas concurs with the USEPA that MacMillan Ring-Free site 

should be added to the NPL. This site is considered one of Arkansas's priority sites 

requiring investigation and remediation to mitigate contamination on- and off-site in 

order to protect human health and the environment. 

MacMillan Ring-Free is an abandoned industrial refinery located in Norphlet, 

Arkansas, in Union County. The facility is bordered by a residential subdivision and the 

Norphlet Public School on the west, Hayes Creek on the north and east, and Massey 

Creek and bottom lands associated with the creek to the southwest. MacMillan Ring-Free 

ceased operations in 1987. The property on which MacMillan Ring-Free operated was 

inactive from 1987 until 1989, when the property was sold to Nor-Ark Industrial Corp 

(Nor-Ark) which used the on-site storage tanks for asphalt products until March of 1991 , 

when Nor-Ark filed for bankruptcy. The abandoned refinery was refurbished by Norphlet 

Chemical as a chemical manufacturing plant in early 2004 to produce tetrafluoroethane 

(Freon 134A) refrigerant used in automobiles. Norphlet Chemical never operated as 

intended and failed to produce its intended product. In 2007,the property was once again 

abandoned and has remained vacant. The site is approximately 100 acres. 

The USEP A removal actions occuned at both the McMillan Ring-Free and 

Norphlet Chemical sites. Total USEPA removal costs to date are in excess of $8 million 

dollars. Following the removal action at Norphlet, the site was placed on the State 

Priority List under the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission's Regulation 

No. 30. The site was listed due to the potential for soil, surface water, and/or ground 

water contamination on- and off-site and the need to remediate the site to protective 

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levels. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) conducted a 

Comprehensive Site Assessment that evaluated remedial alternatives to be implemented 

at the site, ranging from $4-to-$15 million dollars. Due to the large cost of the projected 

action, ADEQ referred the site to the USEP A for NPLconsideration. Sampling results by 

the USEPA in 2012 indicated contamination of the surface and subsurface soil, ground 

water, surface water, and sediment. Contaminants of concern include polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons (PAHs), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and metals. 

The State of Arkansas is committed to working cooperatively with the USEPA 

and the local community throughout the listing and subsequent Superfund cleanup 

process. For a fund-financed remedial action prior to initiation of the remedial action, the 

State of Arkansas agrees to work cooperatively with USEP A in the development of a 

superfund state contract to provide the State assurances required by CERCLA, including, 

for example, the State' s statutory cost share for the remedial action and responsibility for 

operation and maintenance activities. 

The State of Arkansas concurs with the USEP A for the listing of the MacMillan 

Ring-Free Site on the NPL. The ADEQ is available to answer questions or provide any 

additional information you may require. Thank you for your kind consideration of this 

important matter. 

Sincere

MB:jb