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Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (USDA)
Current Site Information
EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)
MarylandPrince George's County
Beltsville
EPA ID# MD0120508940
5th Congressional District
Last Update: January 2012
Other Names
NoneCurrent Site Status
The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, Prince Georges County, Maryland is currently undergoing site screening at 62 areas of concern (AOC) to determine whether they warrant remediation under Superfund’s cleanup process. All AOCs undergo an initial “Site Screening Process” (SSP) to conservatively evaluate human health risks.Five of these AOC/sites are in the remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) phase. These sites include Biodegradable Site, College Park Landfill, Low-Level Radiation Burial Site, Chemical Disposal Pits, and Beaverdam Road Landfill.
Perchloroethylene contaminated groundwater associated with the Biodegradable Site possibly emanates from a former dry cleaning distribution center located up gradient of the site. Further studies are planned to support a revised RI. Five additional monitoring wells were installed and sampled in August 2010 to provide the technical data needed to further define groundwater movement in the area.
The Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment for the College Park Landfill and Feasibility Study (FS) are complete. A Pilot Study on vegetative capping was conducted over a three year period from 2005 to 2008. A Proposed Plan is being developed and should be completed in Fiscal Year 2011.
The Decommissioning Plan for the Low-Level Radiation Burial Site was submitted to NRC in November 2009. RI activities will commence after the site is decommissioned; however, decommissioning activities are not expected to commence until the Decommissioning Plan is approved by the NRC. It is anticipated that decommissioning activities will commence in Fiscal Year 2012.
A revised RI is being developed for the Chemical Disposal Pits. A Source Identification Study is being conducted to support the revised RI and should be completed in 2011. The Composting Storm Water Retention Pond is being assessed independently from the Chemical Disposal Pits. Currently, a SSP risk screening report is being developed for the CSWR.
The Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment for the Beaverdam Road Landfill and Feasibility Study (FS) have been completed. The remedy for the site will be selected in Record of Decision that is planned for signature in Fiscal Year 2011. The remedial action to address groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene will take place in 2011-2012.
A Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) between EPA and the Agricultural Research Servicebecame effective on May 19, 1998. The FFA outlines cleanup goals and schedules, and establishes enforcement protocols such as dispute resolution.
Site Description
BARC in Beltsville, Prince Georges County, Maryland covers 6,500 acres. The facility is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Research at BARC addresses soil, water and air conservation, human nutrition, and integration of agricultural systems as well as plant and animal science. In addition to large agricultural plots, wooded areas and wetlands, there are more than 800 buildings on the premises including research laboratories, administrative offices, shops, greenhouses, barns, and several houses.
Site Responsibility
The site is being addressed through federal and state actions by the USDA.
NPL Listing History
Proposed Date: 05/10/93Final Date: 05/31/94
Threats and Contaminants
USDA’s initial investigations in 1990, 1991, and 1992 revealed elevated levels of PAHs, several pesticides, PCBs, organic solvents, and a variety of heavy metals in soil, surface water, and sediments. Several former landfills and other disposal sites have been identified. Any contaminated surface water leaving the site could threaten several creeks and streams such as the Paint Branch, Little Paint Branch, Beaver Dam Creek, and Indian Creek that receive drainage from the site. These waterways all flow into the Anacostia River, which, in turn, flows into the Potomac River. Contaminants in the groundwater and surface water also threaten nearby wetlands adjacent to Beaver Dam Creek. Fisheries in the Northeast Branch as well as the Anacostia River provide a habitat for the Bald Eagle, an endangered species, and the Swamp Pink flower, which is a threatened species.
Contaminant descriptions and risk factors are available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC.
Cleanup Progress
The EPA and USDA entered into a Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) that established the framework for response actions at the facility. Site screening continues at the facility on 62 areas of concern (AOC) that were identified through a review of historical operations.
In 1993 a removal action was conducted at an area known as the Biodegradable Landfill and 70,000 tons of waste were disposed of off-site. Groundwater contamination in the area remains and is currently under investigation. Four removal actions have been completed for the removal of PCB or pesticide contaminated soils. Several other sites are under investigation and may be subject to further removal actions.
There are five sites where remedial investigations and feasibility studies are being conducted. These include areas where groundwater is contaminated with organic solvents, landfills, a low-level radiation waste disposal site, and chemical disposal pits. Field work is underway or has been completed at each of these sites. USDA has recently completed a three year vegetative landfill cover pilot study at one of these sites, the College Park Landfill. A Feasibility Study has been finalized and a draft Proposed plan is under review. A final Proposed Plan for the Beaverdam Run Landfill has been completed and a public meeting was conducted in July of 2009. A Record of Decision is slated for finalization in 2011. A reactive bio-wall has been selected to address groundwater contamination down-gradient of this site.
Semi-annual groundwater sampling continues in the vicinity of the various disposal sites on the property.
Several site-specific ecological studies have been completed. When coupled with the human-health studies completed earlier, risk management decisions have been made on approximately 40 areas of concern which will not require further study or remediation.