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Mowbray Engineering Company
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Mowbray site, overlooking Tanyard Branch creek
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: ALD031618069Location: Greenville, Butler County, AL
Lat/Long: 31.831660, -086.613050
Congressional District: 02
NPL Status: Proposed: 12/30/82; Final: 09/08/83; Deleted: 12/30/93
Affected Media: Soil
Cleanup Status: Deleted from the NPL
Human Exposure Under Control: Yes
Ground water Migration Under Control: Not a ground water site
Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use: No
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: None
Site Manager: Erik Spalvins (spalvins.erik@epa.gov)
Current Site Status
The Mowbray Engineering Co. site includes an area where Mowbray Engineering Company discharged used transformer oil from its facility operations. EPA placed the site on National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 because of contaminated soil resulting from waste handling practices. EPA, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and Alabama Power Company, the site’s primary potentially responsible party (PRP), have investigated site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site in order to protect people and the environment from contamination. Site contamination does not currently threaten people living and working near the site. By conducting operation and maintenance activities, placing institutional controls on the site property and undertaking Five-Year Reviews, EPA, ADEM and the site’s primary PRP continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination.
Site Location and Background
The 2.7-acre site is located at 300 Beeland Street, 50 miles southwest of Montgomery in Greenville, Butler County, Alabama. The site includes a grassy area across the street from the Mowbray Engineering Company facility. A forested area borders the site to the north and west. First Street borders the site to the south. Beeland Street borders the site to the east. Fencing borders three sides of the site and Tanyard Branch Creek borders the site to the southwest. The site’s broader surroundings include residential areas and industrial land uses. Residential areas include some low-income residents.
Mowbray Engineering Company repaired electrical transformers at its facility. From 1955 until 1974, the company disposed of used transformer oil from facility operations onto the ground at the facility. The used transformer oil entered a stormwater drainage system, which discharged onto the site. In 1983, EPA listed the site on the NPL. In 1985, Mowbray Engineering Company filed for bankruptcy. Following completion of site cleanup activities, EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 1993. Currently, the site is not in use. Fencing and gates limit access to the site.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations found contamination in soil that could potentially harm people in the area. Contamination resulted from waste handling practices at the site. The contaminants of concern include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
EPA has addressed soil contamination at the site. The Agency also placed institutional controls on the site property to restrict future use of the site and interference with the cap placed over contaminated soil on site.
Investigation and Cleanup Responsibility / Oversight
EPA led site investigation and cleanup activities in cooperation with ADEM.
Alabama Power Company, the site’s primary PRP, leads site operation and maintenance activities, with oversight provided by EPA and ADEM.
Site Cleanup Plan
In 1986, EPA issued a cleanup plan (a Record of Decision, or ROD) for the site. The plan included the following activities:
- Digging up, removing and disposing of underground storage tanks on the Mowbray Engineering Company facility property.
- Treating or disposing of waste oils found at the site.
- Digging up contaminated soil.
- Treating or disposing of contaminated soil using off-site incineration, on-site incineration or on-site stabilization.
- Diverting surface water runoff around the site using a runoff diversion ditch.
- Grading and revegetating the site.
- Closing an on-site city well.
- Conducting operation and maintenance activities.
- Placing institutional controls on the site property, if necessary.
Cleanup Progress
In 1981, EPA sampled contaminated soil and dug up the top six inches of contaminated soil at the site.
In 1985, EPA completed a remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) for the site.
In 1987, EPA began cleanup activities at the site. EPA dug up contaminated soil, solidified the soil and placed a cap over the solidified materials. During cleanup activities, EPA dug up 3,350 transformers on the northwest side of the site.
EPA completed cleanup activities in 1991 and deleted the site from the NPL in 1993.
The site’s fourth Five-Year Review, completed in 2008, found that the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment.
Summaries of cleanup activities are also available in Five-Year Reviews online.
Enforcement Activities
EPA used federal funds for site cleanup activities.
EPA negotiated legal agreements with the site’s PRPs to fund operation and maintenance activities. The site’s primary PRP continues to lead operation and maintenance activities.
Community Involvement
EPA has worked with the community and its state partner to develop a long-term cleanup plan for the site, reflecting the Agency’s commitment to safe, healthy communities and environmental protection. Community engagement and public outreach are core components of EPA program activities.
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities to solicit community input and to make sure the public remains informed about site activities throughout the cleanup process. Outreach efforts have included public notices, interviews and information meetings.
Future Work
The site’s primary PRP continues to conduct operation and maintenance activities at the site.
EPA completed the last Five-Year Review in 2008 and plans to complete the next Five-Year Review in 2013.
Additional Information
EPA keeps additional site documents and information in a site information repository at the location below. EPA also posts site documents, when available, on EPA’s CERCLIS Site Profile page. For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.
Site Repository
Greenville Public Library309 Fort Dale St.
Greenville, AL 36037