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Showing posts with label General Alum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General Alum. Show all posts

Apr 17, 2026

Bay history April 1998. BDN: CWP vs GAC Soiled Flats

Parts 1 and 2 two part series: "Soiled Flats" by  Bangor Daily News reporter Wyatt Olson 4/6/98  Pt 1:  He accompanies us as bay fisherman Herbert Hoche, joined Peter McFarland  and myself  as we probe probe the tainted mud  below the abandoned acid plant and its eroding waste-filled shore.  Then, two two days later: emergency cleanup!

Soiled Flats Pt 1 4/6/98 "Volunteers wonder where the clams have gone."     Page 1   Page 2                                                                           


\








                                          

 

"Soiled Flats Part 2   The Clean Up "Oily Muck Vacuumed in Searsport."






Aug 10, 2025

Kidder Point GAC, Delta and Northern Chemical

 Two acid sources for the plumes (1) leaked sulfuric acid from 30 years of sulfuric acid making, (2) more than sixty officially reported sulfuric acid spills at the site beween 1983 and 2004, alone.

GAC aerial photographs
Use Back Button to Return Here aerial photos from 1940 and 2011. See expansion of the point into the harbor.
See a large 1993 map of then-Delta Chemical's waste sites and landfills .
News &reports from 1903 -1974 about this site & nearby Mack Point
Google earth aerials of site 1997-2011
2011 GAC Chemical aerial w/company property lines.
(5) Kidder Point waste fill areas
2004 Aerial with now-razed fertilizer-then-bauxite quonset hut. *** w/o quonset hut (2011).

FOPB GAC Shore visits
7/21/13 ** 3/10/13 ** 5/6/12 ** 4/22/12
Kidder Point Industrial Site History

Use back Button to return
1984 DEP consultant's 1984 sulfuric acid spill report.
1984 Surface sampling
1984 pH testing of acid spill. Drawn map
1990 Testing of 'Alum Reactor Waste' 9/14/90
1993 DEP consultant's 1993 site summary
1998 photo of tainted mud (acid tank in background)
1998 site assessment by Delta Chemical 3/17/98 pt1
1998 site assessment 3/17/98 pt2
1998 media coverage of spill detection & cleanup
2002 draft settlement agreement CLF & GAC

MDEP staff with oversight responsibilities

July 17, 2014 Lighthawk Flight
GAC property, Sears Island & upper Penobscot Bay
Abandoned Peninsula, old acid factory, plume
Abandoned sulfuric acid plant, plume
Abandoned acid plant from above, close-in plume
*

May 3, 2013 LighHawk Flight
Tainted cove looking South. ** looking North.
Kidder Point tainted cove & Sears Island.
Old acid factory, eroding wastes & leacheates

Jul 8, 2025

Kidder's Point , Searsport ME news media coverage 1905 - 1968

Newspaper coverage 1905 to 1968 of  the shipping   that moved  passengers, fertilizer and industrial chemicals  to and from Kidder's Point, a 5 acre promontory jutting out into SW Stockton Harbor.(It was shortened to Kidder Point  to conform to new map rules  in the 1960s . 

This began in the 1960s  due to its sheltered position at the Penobscot River/Bay interface,   This harbor hosted a myriald of wildlif in that  mixing atreas  

1900s  

1905  11/02/1905 Capt Nichols appted agent & treasurer Knyvetta  & American shipping Co. at Kidder's Pt office. Republican Journal

1906

 July 1, 1906 Along the Seaport Railroad    Industrial Journal 

August 16, 1906.  Along the Seaport Railroad Republican Journal 

Sept 20. 1906 The NM Seaport RR Terminal Republican Journal

1907

Development of Searsport and Stockton Springs Jan 18, 1907. Sun-Journal 

1908

April 17,1908. At the Terminal. BDN

October 22, 1908_1st_steamboat To Kidder's Pt.  Republican Journal 

1909

July 24 1909 Pen Bay Steamer Silver Star Bangor - Kidders Pt BDN  

1910  

Bangor & Aroostook RR  new trips to Kidder's Pt. The Commercial unknown exact  date

1920s

1924

Nov 13 1924  Abandoned Kidder's Pt dock to be reused  BDN 

Nov 16, 1924  B&A Railroad  to use  Kidder's Point. PPH 

Nov 23, 1924 Abandoned idder's Point Dock  to beused  by B&A RR BDN  


Dec 23, 1924 Kidder's Pt Docks 

1925

Sept 9, 2025 Liquor shipment seized. Arrived at Kidder's Ptd

1926

https://www.penbay.org/baytowns/searsport/kidders_pt/kp_1920s/1926_120826_bdn_.jpg

July 19, 1926  Steamer Aaro brings fertilizer to Kidder's Pt. PPH

https://www.penbay.org/baytowns/searsport/kidders_pt/kp_1920s/1928_071924_pph_1928_phosphate_july_19_1928.jpg

1930s

1931

Oct 13, 1931 The Commercial . Aroostook Potatoes again to be shipped by the water route

1934  

Aug 5 1934 Evening Express  two foreign steamers bring phosphate to Searsport

August 18, 1934 Ships Delfshaven & Vaga bring phosphates to Kidder's Pt.

Aug 27 1934 Evening Express Kidder's Point phosphate arrives 

Sept 23, 1934  Evening Express Norwegian freighter brings phosphate to Kidders's Point.  

1936

 Jan 24 1936 Shipping News Barge  transfers fertilizer Kidder's Pt to Mack's Pt  BDN 

1938

 January 31, 1938  Evening Express Danish ship Viola brings "full cargo" of fertilizer to Kidder's Pt

July 19, 1838 Evening Express Steamer Aaro  brings 'fertilizer' to Kidders Pt

 July 19, 1938  2,200 tons Fertilizer off loads at  Kidders Pt for Summer's Fertilizer company  PPH 

1939

July 21, 1939 BDN   Fertilizer-laden Norwegian vessel Lysaker piloted by Capt John G Snow  to Summers Fertilizer, Kidders Poin

1940s

1941  

 Sept 11, 1941  Steamer Monroe Unloads fertilizer at Summer's Fertilizer, Kidder's Pt.

1944_

Jan 31 1944. K.J. _Summers Fertilizer to build new superphosphate plant

Jan 31, 1944 Evening Express,. New Searsport Fertilizer plant to open in July

July 27, 1944 The Commercial.  #1 industrial  chemical  in Searsport plant  of Northern Chemical.  (Sulfuric Acid)

Aug 5, 1944  BDN Northern  Chemical seeks employees  

Sept 12, 1944_BDN  Summers Fertilizer seeks men . 

Sept 27, 1944_KJ. New plant makes first sulphuric acid in Maine

Oct 2944_BDN Summers Fertilizer free  workers bus 

Nov 17, 1944_BDN Northern Chem, Summers Fert seek  workers

1949

May 12, 1949. The Commercial. B&A RR expansion Kidders Pt

1950s

1955

May 6, 1955 Lewiston Daily Sun  $650,000 Acid plant for Searsport

May 16, 1955 Chemical Firm to build second Searsport plant

 Nov 10. 1955 BDN  $650,000 plant being planned for Searsport

Nov 10, 1955 BDN  31st anniversary of Stockton Springs dock fire

Nov 10, 1955 BDN.  Air Force asks Searsport fuel depot, pipeline to Limestone

1960s

1963

Aug 20, 1963 bay sport fisheries BDN 

1964

Feb 28,1964  State closes Stockton Harbor shellfishery Feb-April 

1966

Oct 26, 1966 new Searsport pier pt 1 

1968

Jan 27, 1968 Chemical Firm WR Grace serves Industry


[TO BE CONTINUED]























































Mar 5, 2025

HOSS: GAC and predecessors

From Maine DEP's 
Hazardous and Oil Spill System

Date Range: 01/01/1970 - 03/04/2025, Muncipality: SEARSPORT, Keywords: kidder

Delta & Genral Alum's reported spills October 14, 1983 to March 18, 2020

NOTE: Links are to the the DEP pdf . Use back button to return to this page  

Spill NumberReport DateTown/MCDLocationSpill TypeTank Type
B-257-1983Oct 14, 1983SEARSPORTDELTA CHEMICALS INC KI...Hazardous Material IncidentUnknown/Unspecified
B-271-1983Nov 9, 1983SEARSPORTDELTA CHEMICAL KIDDER ...Hazardous Material IncidentUnknown/Unspecified
B-101-1984May 27, 1984SEARSPORTDELTA CHEMICALS INC KI...Hazardous Material IncidentUnknown/Unspecified
B-344-1993Jun 29, 1993SEARSPORTDELTA CHEMICAL KIDDER ...Oil IncidentUnknown/Unspecified
B-398-1993Jul 22, 1993SEARSPORTDELTA CHEMICAL KIDDER ...Hazardous Material IncidentUnknown/Unspecified
B-91-1994Feb 23, 1994SEARSPORTDELTA CHEMICAL KIDDER ...Non-Oil, Non-Hazardous Incident
B-567-1994Sep 22, 1994SEARSPORTDELTA CHEMICALS, INC. ...Non-Oil, Non-Hazardous Incident
B-64-1995Feb 7, 1995SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material Incident
B-319-1996Jun 19, 1996SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material Incident
B-383-1996Jul 19, 1996SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material Incident
B-425-1997Aug 5, 1997SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material Incident
B-573-1997Oct 7, 1997SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material Incident
B-668-1997Nov 20, 1997SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Non-Oil, Non-Hazardous IncidentUnderground Tank(s) Involved
B-220-1998Apr 3, 1998SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Oil Incident
B-308-1998May 4, 1998SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Non-Oil, Non-Hazardous Incident
B-375-1998Jun 9, 1998SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-32-2000Jan 20, 2000SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material Incident
B-695-2000Nov 14, 2000SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM CHEMICAL ...Hazardous Material Incident
B-215-2001Apr 19, 2001SEARSPORTTRUCK LOADING AREA &am...Hazardous Material Incident
B-478-2001Aug 27, 2001SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Oil Incident
B-496-2001Sep 7, 2001SEARSPORTGAC KIDDER POINT ROADHazardous Material Incident
B-62-2002Feb 5, 2002SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-174-2002Mar 20, 2002SEARSPORTACID LOADING AREA - GA...Hazardous Material Incident
B-261-2002May 6, 2002SEARSPORTGAC CORP KIDDER POINT ...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-297-2002May 28, 2002SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM CORP KIDD...Hazardous Material Incident

Spill NumberReport DateTown/MCDLocationSpill TypeTank Type
B-434-2002Aug 20, 2002SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material Incident
B-656-2002Dec 10, 2002SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM CORP KIDD...Hazardous Material Incident
B-345-2003Jul 20, 2003SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM CORP KIDD...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-556-2004Oct 14, 2004SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-627-2004Nov 17, 2004SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM & CHE...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-112-2005Mar 4, 2005SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL CORP KIDD...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-389-2006Jul 11, 2006SEARSPORTMONTREAL, MAINE & ...Oil Incident
B-35-2008Jan 19, 2008SEARSPORTMONTREAL, MAINE & ...Hazardous Material Incident
B-291-2008May 25, 2008SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL 34 KIDDER...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-356-2008Jun 22, 2008SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL FACILTITY...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-183-2009Mar 13, 2009SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL CORP KIDD...Oil IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-306-2009May 11, 2009SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL COMPANY K...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-57-2010Feb 3, 2010SEARSPORTGAC KIDDER POINT RDHazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-85-2010Feb 20, 2010SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL CO KIDDER...Hazardous Material Incident
B-412-2010Aug 5, 2010SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL/MM&A ...Hazardous Material Incident
B-305-2011May 19, 2011SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL CORPORATI...Oil Incident
B-452-2014Aug 21, 2014SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL CORPORATI...Oil Incident
B-437-2016Jul 14, 2016SEARSPORTGENERAL ALUM CHEMICAL ...Hazardous Material IncidentAbove Ground Tank(s) Involved
B-112-2020Mar 18, 2020SEARSPORTGAC CHEMICAL CORP. 34 ...Oil Incident



Dec 24, 2024

GAC Chemical Links by Year 1998 - 2024

 GAC Chemical video and image links by Year  1998 - 2024

                                                1998 

Video 1998

MP4s  

GAC_1998_60min_pt1_12min.mp4

GAC_1998%20coast.mp4

GAC_1998_waste_coast_examined.mp4

GAC_1998%20coast.mp4

GAC_1998/gac_1998_cleanup_1.mpg

GAC_1998_waste_coast_examined.mp4

 

AVIs 

  GAC 1998_a_022098_waste_erosion_b_040798_cleanup.avi    (700mb)

GAC_vid_1998 2 parts: _A_022098_waste_erosion_B_040798_cleanup (AVI)


Images 1998

JPEGS

GAC 1998_acidplant_superphosphate_plant.jpg

GAC 1998_031698_hist_pt1.jpg  

 gac_1998_031698_hist_pt2.jpg

GAC_1998_cleanup_republican journal_070198_mcarpenter.jpg

GAC_1998_derelict_acid_plant_tank_from_flats.jpg

GAC_1998_filled_shore_below_factory_elevated_pipeline

gac_1998_flats_alumwastes_under_red_surface_layer

GAC 1998_flats_tarpaper_from_superphosphate_plant.

GAC 1998_flats_wastes_flocculants

GAC 1998 superphophate plant (derelict)_

 GAC 1998  superphosphate_plant. closed 1998.jpg

GAC 1998_superphosphate_plant_elevated_pipeline

gac_1998_acidplant_superphosphate_plant.jpg

gac_1998_cleanup_repjournal 070198_murray_carpenter.jpg

1998_video_stills/gac_1998_derelict_acid_plant_tank_from_flats.jpg

1998_video_stills/gac_1998_filled_shore_below_factory_elevated_pipeline.jpg

1998_video_stills/gac_1998_flats_alumwastes_under%20_red_surface_layer.jpg

gac_1998_flats_tarpaper_from_superphosphate_plant.jpg

gac_1998_flats_wastes_flocculants.jpg

gac_1998_superphosphate_plant.jpg

gac_1998_superphosphate_plant_elevated_pipeline.jpg

https://www.penbay.org/baytowns/searsport/gac_1998

https://www.penbay.org/av/gac_1998


February


March 

gac_dep_031698_history.jpg

gac_dep_031798_deltachem_phtest_060684.jpg

DEP Notice of Violation

gac_032798_dep_nova/gac_nova_dep_032798a.html

gac_032798_dep_nova

gac_nova_dep_032798a.jpg

gac_nova_dep_032798a.jpg

gac_nova_dep_032798a_small.jpg

gac_nova_dep_032898b.html

gac_nova_dep_032898b.jpg

gac_nova_dep_032898b.jpg

gac_nova_dep_032898b_small.jpg

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg1.html

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg1.jpg

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg1.jpg

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg1_small.jpg

ac_nova_resp_042098_pg2.html

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg2.jpg

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg2.jpg

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg2_small.jpg

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg3.html

gac_nova_resp_042098_pg3.jpg

/gac_nova_resp_042098_pg3.jpg

gac_nova_resp_041998_pg3_small.jpg

gac_nova resp 042098_reply to MDEP re NOVA 


PenBay Archive/CWP_1995 1998_GAC_oil


northern_chemical 1998_ Quonset fertilizer plant 




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JPEGs

1999

1999_111599_epa_devillars_leaves_legacy.jpg



2000


2001

*  gac_2015_vrap_012215_no_action_assurance.pdf


2002 



Kidder Point 2002 derelict fertilizer plant.jpg



2003


2004


2005


2006


2007


2008


2009


2010


2011


2012

https://www.penbay.net/waste/gac/gac_101512_images_sent_dep/


2013

https://www.penbay.net/waste/lf_050113_gac_leachate_intertidal.jpg

https://www.penbay.net/waste/lf_050113_gac_leacheate.jpg

https://www.penbay.net/waste/lf_050113_gac_leacheate_sm.jpg

https://www.penbay.net/waste/gac/gac_071613_searsport_plboard_intro_ronhuber15min15sec.mp3

https://www.penbay.net/waste/gac/gac_101512_images_sent_dep/

2014


2015

https://penbay.org/gac/vrap/searsport%20gac%20vrap%20naa%20ltr%20012215.pdf

gac_2015_town_letter_vrap_022615.pdf

2016


2017


2018


2019


2020


2021


2022


2023


2024


Jun 3, 2023

1998 video investigation of Stockton Harbor's Kidder Point waste & pollution sites. Index

My 1998 video investigation & subsequent partial  cleanup  of Stockton Harbor's Kidder Point waste & pollution sites.   Index and video 

Download this video  2hrs, 20minutes long   https://penbay.org/baytowns/searsport/gac_1998/gac_1998_a_022098_waste_erosion_b_040798_cleanup.avi   (may take 45 mins to download)

PART 1.  52min 32sec  February 20 1998 investigation of wastefilled  shore and intertidal mud 55 Minutes Penobscot Bay Watch site investigation. Will Neils, videographer.     NOTEPart 1 starts after 53 seconds of blank

PART 2   1hr 20min   April 7m, 1998  We discover waste problems in an outfall and a nearby seawater  intake out take pipeline bldg.  DEP orders Clean Harbors to clean it up   We witness that and chat wiith various officials       

PART 1 

START AT 53 sec  Driving to Searsport

55sec  Panorama show of Stockton Harbor - no condos on Cape Jellison.

2:18  More panoramas of the facility   One notes the larg and aged wooden quonset  structures

2:52 Closer in to old acid and superphosphate plant

4:00  Layered filled area near base of point on east side. Notes how far along bank the wooden fill corrals  extend (all the way to in front of the acid plant)

4:55 closer up up water dripping against exposed fill 

5:50  Closeup of another nearby dripping waste slump. 

6:50  Eroding slope  below the acid plant itself.

7:32 Slope 

8:11 osprey...Flats at the tip of the point. Old wooden  superphosphate plant quonset

9:41 outfall piles 

10:17 view to abandoned pumphouse outfall & oily sump. Aerial photos of illegal discharge

11:33 closeup of old superphosphate  wooden plant.  Elevated insulated pipelines from offshore point

12:30 Wooden chimney structure. Scan of the wooden structure then to shore below with artificial filled shoreline

13:22 Closeup eroding pipeline to old pumphouse, then filled shoreline from there to cistern full of oily waste.  We go and examine it.

14:01 Cistern waterfilled. See  top of outfall pipe into the cistern. Probe cistern catch basin: full of oily goo. 

15:53  Old electric junk including transformer View out to rail line with landfill beyond track  Scan around back of existing working plant  and to old superphosphate plant 

17:00 scan superphosphate plant

17:20 Approach old pumphouse

17:55  Down stairs to floor with hatches to bay    Examine hatches and outfall pipes

19:19 Examine oil spigot allowing oil to be discharged into bay .

20:51  Climb out of pumphouse

21:46. Examine a test well near abandoned superphosphate plant

22:51  Observe gust of black smoke from a facility

23: 10  View from the GAC landfill

24:13 View from top of landfill

25:44 Sulfuric acid tank warnings

26:25  Railside acid warnings. walk toward acid plant and superphosphate plant.

PART 2  March 5.  TIDAL FLATS adjacent to Kidder's Point   

27:55   March 5th GAC tidal flats exploration

28:07 Herb Hoche digs test squares,   Dead clams

29:03 Ron discusses clam mystery with Stockton Harbor background

30:29  Herb Hoche digs another site

32:45 Another dig

35:18 Another dig

38:35 Another sample "much closer to the plant"

39:44 Hoche discovers buried tarpaper from roof  of old wooden factory 

43:37  Another dig.  4527   "Our braintrust goes to work."  observes Will Neils.

45:54  Another dig  4944 note dig is in flow of waste

50:21 Examining  discolored mud, with flocculants on top. Hoche  digs, reveals multicolored layers of intertidal mud.  The adjoining shore where a broad reddish band of  leachate is seeping along a layer of clay downslope to upwell there where the intertidal gravel and sand meet the mudflats ..  Hoche dabs the flocculants at several places along the red leachate 

52:40 Hoche  clamdigging in the discolored area Red layer, then an alum silver layer. then another  red Examine the mud there for signs of life; none.

54:05 Closeup of contaminated mud

54:20  Camera investigates the land adjacent to the acid plant

54:53 Top of  ditch running tainted water to the har4bor 

Part 3

56:24 At the old pumphouse again. The Cleanup crew is there at work on cistern

58:28 Ron sums up situation

59:40 Hoche examines seaweed in driftwood

60:03  Cleanup workers. Viewed from the beach - private property rights.   Pans down to  brook adjacent to site.  Herb Hoche  rinses hands in the stream.

63:00  DEP staffer Clarissa Trasko brings straw to below cistern  Goes uphill returns below discusses plan The big suction hose. more A DEP oilspill guy shows up we chat a bit.

71:30 Ron chats with  DEP official Clarissa Trasko at base of cistern.

76:00 2 Coast Guardsmen  arrive  discusses issue with Ron Huber He thanks them for convincing  the company to clean this up  talk ends at 83min

83:00  Suction hose underway

87:00 Officials congregate to watch from front of cistern

88:00 Suction starts up again.

88:38  Surface water removed by suction revealing the massive amount of oily goo there. 

1:29:50  cleanup guy gets suited up. 

1:31 cleanup guy continues 

1:32 test samples collected, snuck away by company official 

1:33 View into cistern

1:35:45 View of cistern with cleaner guy inside

1:36  See outfall choked with waste 

1:36:50 Guy in protective suit in front end of cistern

1:42:10  See old junk boards that were burried in the muck.  he scrapes muck off them

1:47 Protective suited guy climbs out. A lengthy cleaning process forhis   suit removal finally  removes his bootcovers, bags it all up and leaves

1:53 Inside of outfall half full 

1:54 Huber reviews the situation

PART 4

1:55:13   BACK TO PUMPHOUSE

1:56 Funky water alongside rail line. 

1:58:40 along rail line

2:00 Return to cleaned up cistern new wooden front, sheeny water...

2:02  Huber grabs muck sample

2:03:55 brook that goes to bay near the cistern b probed with a stick

2:04:40  Approach pumphouse 

2:05:30  Oil dump barrel is gone. Floor cleaned up. The oily glove still there.

2:08 Old lagoon alongside rail line

2:09 Panorama shot

2:11 Clean Harbors pumptruck.

2:11:51  Steam cranes at Searsport.  Clean Harbors is there, too  

END