Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Maryland
Washington County
Hagerstown

EPA ID# MDD003061447

6th Congressional District

Last Update: March 2009

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

During the 2005 construction season, all former pesticide and fertilizer manufacturing buildings were being decontaminated, demolished and disposed of in an appropriate manner. The final report document completion of demolition work was completed in September 2005.

In December 2006, the Potentially Responsible Parties (PRP) provided EPA with the final Remedial Investigation for the site. The final RI was reviewed by EPA, and for on-Site soils and wastes is considered to be substantially complete. Groundwater contamination has been confirmed to extend beyond the boundaries of the Central Chemical property. Therefore, further delineation of ground water contamination will be performed.

In 2006, the PRP provided EPA with early portions of the feasibility study, which evaluates the best cleanup options for the site. The draft feasibility study was provided to EPA in 2007, and a Proposed Plan, describing EPA's preferred cleanup alternative for the site soils and wastes, will be issued in 2009. When ready, the Proposed Plan will be presented to the public for review and comment.

In 2003, the City of Hagerstown completed a community-based report identifying future use scenarios for the site. The report identified a preference that, after the site is cleaned up, the property be redeveloped as a light industrial or commercial office park with a natural, tree-lined, buffer area. The project was funded by a grant under EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI) Pilot.
The Central Chemical Community Liaison Panel meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday on alternate months. Meetings are held at the Haven Lutheran Church and are open to the public.

Site Description

The Central Chemical Site consists of a 19-acre parcel of land located in Hagerstown, Maryland. From the early 1930's until the mid-1980's, the chemical plant at the site functioned as a blender of agricultural pesticides and fertilizers. Raw pesticides manufactured at other locations were blended with inert materials to produce commercial-grade products using air and hammer mills and wetting agents. Production ended in the 1980's and the old buildings are being demolished during the Spring/Summer of 2005. Site security is maintained with a chain-link fence. An electrical substation owned by the City of Hagerstown is located in the northeast corner of the property. A new subdivision is located to the northeast of the site near the substation.

Waste materials from the manufacturing processes, including waste generated during the cleaning of the processing equipment, were disposed in an on-site depression. Contaminants found in site soil, groundwater, surface water, and/or sediment, as well as in the tissue of fish caught downstream of the Site, include arsenic, lead, benzene, aldrin, chlordane, DDD, DDE, DDT, dieldrin, and methoxychlor. These contaminants can cause a wide variety of health problems in both humans and animals.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup of this Site is the responsibility of Federal and State governments and parties potentially responsible for site contamination.

NPL Listing History

This Site was proposed to the National Priorities List of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long term remedial action on June 17, 1996. The Site was formally added to the list September 25, 1997, making it eligible for federal cleanup funds.

Threats and Contaminants

Contaminants found in site soil, ground water, and sediment downstream of the site, include arsenic, lead, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, aldrin, a- chlordane, g-chlordane, DDD, DDE, DDT, dieldrin, and methoxychlor. At elevated exposure, these contaminants can cause a wide variety of health problems in both humans and animals. DDT is believed responsible for the decreased reproductive success of many bird species.

Cleanup Progress

In early 1997, it was discovered that elevated levels of site contaminants extended several feet beyond the old fence line along the northern end of the property. Land use north of the property is residential. In the spring of 1997, EPA entered into an agreement with the site owner under which the owner erected a new fence as an interim measure that now prevents people from coming into contact with these contaminants. EPA entered into an agreement with seven potentially responsible parties, including Allied Signal, FMC, Novartis, Olin, Shell Oil, Union Carbide, and Wilmington Securities, to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) at the site. These cooperating companies have notified EPA that an additional seven companies including the site owner, Central Chemical, have joined the group.

The RI/FS work plan was completed in February 2003 and most of the environmental sampling at the site was completed in 2004. Samples were collected of site soil, groundwater, and storm water. In addition, samples were collected from surface water and sediment from the nearby Marsh Run and Antietam Creek. Sampling confirmed that pesticides and metals are present at elevated levels in surface soil across the site, and high concentrations of pesticides and metals have been buried in a disposal area in the north end of the property. To a lesser degree, pesticides were also detected in storm water leaving the site and in surface water and sediment samples from Marsh Run and Antietam Creek. Groundwater contamination has moved beyond the property boundaries and additional wells are being installed and sampled in 2006/2007 to determine the extent of off-site groundwater contamination.

In December 2006, the Potentially Responsible Parties (PRP) provided EPA with the final Remedial Investigation for the site. The final RI was reviewed by EPA, and for on-site soils and wastes is considered to be substantially complete. Groundwater contamination has been confirmed to extend beyond the boundaries of the Central Chemical property. Therefore, further delineation of
groundwater contamination will be performed.

In 2006, the PRP provided EPA with early portions of the feasibility study, which evaluates the best cleanup options for the site. The draft feasibility study was provided to EPA in 2007, and a Proposed Plan, describing EPA's preferred cleanup alternative for the Site soils and wastes, will be issued in 2009. When ready, the Proposed Plan will be presented to the public for review and comment.

All former pesticide and fertilizer manufacturing buildings were decontaminated, demolished and disposed of in an appropriate manner. The final report documenting completion of demolition work was completed in September 2005.

Contacts

Site Contacts