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Alaric Area GW Plume
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Sweeping Corp. Warehouse
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: FLD012978862Location: Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL
Lat/Long: 27.964080, -082.375130
Congressional District: 11
NPL Status: Proposed: 02/04/00; Final: 12/01/2000
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction Complete: Physical cleanup activities have been completed.
Human Exposure Under Control: Yes
Groundwater Migration Under Control: Yes
Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use: No
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: In continued use –
Site Manager: James Hou (hou.james@epa.gov)
Current Site Status
The Alaric Area GW Plume site includes an area occupied by several businesses since the 1970s. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2000 because of contaminated ground water and soil resulting from facility operations. EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) 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 monitoring ground water, planning additional treatment of contaminated soils, and conducting required Five-Year Reviews, EPA and FDEP continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination.
Site Location and Background
The 1.7-acre site is located near Tampa, Florida, in a mostly commercial and industrial area of Orient Park. The site currently includes a 5,000-square-foot metal building. Industrial and commercial businesses surround the site to the north, east and west. A railroad corridor is directly south of the site. An active industrial facility at the Helena Chemical Co. (Tampa Plant) site is located directly east of the site. In addition, the Stauffer Chemical Company (Tampa) site is located across Orient Park Road southeast of the site.
Several businesses have occupied the site since the early 1970s, including Alaric, Inc., which operated a plastics recycling facility at the site from 1981 until 1992. The current site owner leases the site property to a company that operates a street sweeper fleet storage and maintenance facility on site.
In 2000, EPA listed the site on the NPL.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations identified contamination in ground water and soil that could potentially harm people in the area. Contaminants of concern include chlorinated solvents. The operations of a previous site tenant, Concrete Equipment Supply, may have caused the release of significant quantities of degreasers, including the chlorinated solvents tetrachloroethylene (also known as PCE or PERC) and trichloroethylene. Although the current site tenant uses various petroleum products to maintain its fleet of trucks, the company does not use chlorinated solvents in its operations.
Initial ground water monitoring at the site by FDEP in the late 1990s documented an area of contamination several acres in size. The ground water contamination also appeared to have spread to the adjacent Helena Chemical Co. (Tampa Plant) site.
Despite treatment efforts from 2003 until 2008, EPA continues to detect trace concentrations of site-related contaminants in the upper ground water aquifer, which is a primary source of drinking water for the Tampa area. A potable well survey, conducted in 1986, indicated that a safe public water supply system connects to all users in the affected area. The St. John’s Water Florida Water Management District has listed the site and nearby surrounding area as a ground water delineation area, which means all wells placed in the area require the District’s approval.
Cleanup actions have addressed the primary threats related to soil contamination. Remaining soil contamination is located within a fenced and secured area.
EPA has determined that vapor intrusion is not a threat at the site.
EPA considered children’s health issues as part of the site’s risk assessment.
Investigation and Cleanup Responsibility / Oversight
EPA leads site investigation and cleanup activities in cooperation with FDEP.
Site Cleanup Plan
In 2002, EPA issued an interim cleanup plan (an interim Record of Decision, or ROD).
- Removing shallow soil contamination and a septic tank believed to be the main source of the chlorinated solvents.
- Treating deeper belowground soils using chemicals called oxidants – a process known as chemical oxidation.
- Containing upper- and intermediate-aquifer ground water using a ground water pump-and-treat system.
Cleanup Progress
Between 2003 and 2008, EPA carried out the actions required in the 2002 cleanup plan. Key activities included:
- Replacing the septic tank and related drain field in 2003.
- Installing the pump-and-treat system in 2004.
- Injecting over 220,000 pounds of solution into the upper aquifer between 2003 and 2004 to treat chlorinated solvents.
- Adding a solution to a soakage pit system in 2006 and 2007 to address contaminated materials under the concrete slab at the southeastern comer of the main site building.
- Recovering and treating over 13 million gallons of ground water through the upper aquifer pump-and-treat system by January 2008.
- Recovering and treating over eight million gallons of ground water through the intermediate aquifer pump-and-treat system by October 2007.
In mid-2008, EPA shut down the upper aquifer pump-and-treat system since the system was removing a minimal amount of contamination. EPA also temporarily suspended ground water treatment and recovery from the intermediate aquifer. EPA then began an in-depth study to further assess remaining contamination at the site and to determine the effectiveness of past cleanup activities.
EPA found that concentrations of chlorinated solvents in belowground soils remain on site. As a result, EPA issued a ROD Amendment in 2010 that updated the soil treatment approach in the site’s Interim ROD. Instead of using chemical oxidation to break down contamination in belowground soils, EPA selected a process that treats soil using heat, known as thermal remediation. The amended cleanup plan also clarified cleanup goals for the site. After carrying out the amended approach for three years, EPA will determine whether it needs to take more action.
The site's first Five-Year Review, completed in 2008, found that the site's cleanup approach currently protects people and the environment from remaining site contamination.
Enforcement Activities
EPA was unable to identify any viable potentially responsible parties for the site. EPA is using federal funds for site cleanup activities.
The ROD, ROD Amendment and Five-Year Review online provide additional information.
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 public meetings.
Future Work
EPA continues to sample upper-aquifer monitoring wells annually.
EPA plans to begin treating remaining contaminated soil as funding becomes available.
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
78th Street Community Library
7625 Palm River Road
Tampa, Florida 33619-4131