Background/ History
The PM Resources Inc. site, formerly the Purina Mills Inc., Health Industries facility, is located on about 37 acres at 13001 St. Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton. Since 1970, PM Resources, Inc. and the preceding occupants of the site historically produced animal health products at this facility, including pharmaceuticals and medicated feeds, rodenticides, sanitizers, cleaners and various pesticide products used mainly on animals and around animal quarters. In 1986, British Petroleum purchased the agricultural division of Ralston Purina and the facility’s official name became Purina Mills Inc. In 1993, PM Resources a private Missouri corporation purchased the facility from BP and continued operations. In 1994, PM Resources went public as AgriNutrition Group. In 1999, AgriNutrition Group merged with Virbac Corp.
A variety of hazardous wastes were produced as part of the facility operations. Purina Mills/PM Resources stored these hazardous wastes in a 16,000-gallon underground storage tank, located along the east side of the building, until the wastes were shipped off-site for disposal. A 1200-gallon concrete spill catchment tank was installed at the offloading area to collect and contain spills. Purina Mills/PM Resources operated the storage tank and catchment basin under two hazardous waste permits, one issued by the department and one issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), both effective May 25, 1987. The department issued the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part I Permit. EPA issued the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Part II Permit. The Part I permit expired in 1997 and was not renewed.
Cleanup Summary
In September, 1994, PM Resources removed the spill catchment/tank system. During removal, it became apparent that a release of hazardous chemicals had occurred at this location. Initial investigations revealed relatively high concentrations of ethylbenzene, xylenes and TPH in the soil immediately surrounding the 1,200-gallon tank and catchment area. The department accepted PM Resources/Purina Mills’ closure report for the 12,000-gallon UST in 1998. The department has not accepted the closure certification as of yet. The tank was closed in place and was referred to corrective action for soil and groundwater investigation related to the tank. Low concentrations of miscellaneous volatile organic compounds were identified along the perimeter area of the former hazardous waste UST.
In 1999, PM Resources/Purina Mills entered into a Consent Judgment with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Consent Judgment and permit issued to Purina Mills required them to investigate and clean up releases of hazardous waste and hazardous constituents to the environment at their facility resulting from present and past hazardous waste handling practices. In 2001, PM Resources submitted a remedial action plan to address the issues raised during past subsurface investigations surrounding the former catchment tank, hazardous waste UST and hazardous waste ASTs. Groundwater monitoring was also included in the Remedial Action Plan. In 2006, PM Resources proposed to construct a new building over the location of the 16,000-gallon tank. The facility submitted a work plan to investigate the soil and groundwater in the vicinity of the tank. The tank and approximately 213.5 tons of impacted soil were removed and properly disposed of off-site. Construction of the new building was completed in 2008. A human health risk assessment is currently under review by EPA and the department. In July 2020, the department approved the final remedy for the site, which includes an Environmental Covenant containing activity and use limitations, developing health and safety and soil management plans, long-term groundwater monitoring and a contingency plan. The department and PM Resources voluntarily entered into a Letter of Agreement in August 2020, in an effort to simplify and streamline the corrective action process.
