Alcoa – Badin Business Park Information | NC DEQ

Alcoa began operations at its Badin Works facility, located on Highway 740 in Badin (Stanly County), in 1916 as a primary aluminum smelter, manufacturing products like carbon cathodes and anodes, specialty metals and continuous cast sheets. Aluminum production was reduced in August 2002, but the plant continued to manufacture anodes and high-purity aluminum until 2007. The plant ceased operations and was permanently closed in 2010. Prior to closure, the facility generated approximately 2,700 tons per year of spent potliner, which has been identified as a hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Now known as the Badin Business Park, the former Alcoa Badin Works facility encompasses 123 acres but only 90 acres comprised the active facility. The main plant area consists of the facility area plus two capped and closed offsite landfills. The Former Ball Field has been identified as an area of interest due to reports of past disposal of spent potliner.

The former Alcoa Badin Works facility has a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Hazardous Waste Permit issued by the Hazardous Waste Section in DEQ’s Division of Waste Management. This permit covers assessment and remediation activities of hazardous waste contamination at the site.  Previously, a Hazardous Waste Management Permit was issued to Alcoa on March 30, 1992 for the storage of spent potliner. The North Carolina Hazardous Waste Section has the authority (under 40 CFR 261.32) to regulate the storage of spent potliner from primary aluminum reduction as a listed waste from a specific source (K088). 

The site is required to secure and maintain an active NPDES permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System), for regulated and controlled discharge of wastewater and storm water, in accordance with all applicable State and Federal laws. The Permit is issued and regulated by the Division of Water Resources, responsible for monitoring and enforcement actions.

Badin Lake and Lake Tillery are located on the Yadkin River, and are two of a series of reservoirs constructed along the main stem of the river in the early to mid-1900s to provide hydropower to industries and area residents. The lakes straddle the border between Stanly and Montgomery counties. Both waterbodies are classified as WS-IV and contain a total of three drinking water intakes. They are also popular destinations for recreation, including multi-use trails, fishing, swimming and boating.