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Harris Corporation (Palm Bay Plant)
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
East side of the Harris Corp. property.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
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: FLD000602334Location: Palm Bay, Brevard County, FL
Lat/Long: 28.030280, -080.601380
Congressional District: 15
NPL Status: Proposed: 04/10/85; Final: 07/22/87
Affected Media: Ground water
Cleanup Status: Construction complete: physical cleanup activities have been completed.
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Continued use - industrial (manufacturing, warehouse, and administrative facilities; paved parking areas)
Site Manager: Michael Taylor (taylor.michael@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Harris Corporation (Palm Bay Facility) site is located in eastern Central Florida approximately three miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The site occupies approximately 310 acres along the north and south sides of Palm Bay Road, within the City of Palm Bay, Brevard County, Florida. The Harris site is surrounded to the east, west and north primarily by commercial and other industrial-zoned properties, which in turn are bounded by residential properties. A municipal park (Knecht Park) lies east of the site.
An electronics firm supporting the aerospace industry operated at the site in the 1950s and 1960s. Harris Corporation purchased the firm and has been operating in Palm Bay since 1967. Harris Corporations expanded from the original facilities onto undeveloped property, with the exception of the former Building 100 area. Two previous manufacturing firms operated at the former Building 100 area and used the site for painting operations, a chromium plating operation, a machine shop, and drum storage area.
Intersil Corporation later acquired the semiconductor operations from Harris, located north of Palm Bay Road. Harris Government Communications Systems Division is located south of Palm Bay Road, both the Harris and Intersil Corporations continue to manufacture equipment on site.Threats and Contaminants
Plumes of contaminated ground water were identified beneath the Harris Corporation facility and the adjacent well field owned by Palm Bay Utilities Corporation (PBUC) in the early 1980s. PBUC provides potable water supply, sewage treatment and disposal for residents of Palm Bay. Numerous contaminants were eventually identified in on-site ground water, including vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene, and chromium. EPA determined that concentrations of some of these contaminants in ground water could cause unacceptable human health risks.
Site Cleanup Plan
The cleanup plan for the Harris Corporation (Palm Bay Plant) site covered two operable units (OUs). OU-1 includes ground water contamination associated with the Harris Government Communications Systems Division property, including the former Building 100 area, located south of Palm Bay Road. OU-2 includes ground water contamination associated with the Intersil Corporation property located north of Palm Bay Road.
The Record of Decision for OU-1 was issued in 1990. Major components of the cleanup approach included:- Continued operation of the existing contaminated ground water pump and treat system.
- A design analysis for contaminated ground water containment and treatment.
- Modification of the contaminated ground water extraction and treatment system based on results of the design analysis.
- Continued sampling and monitoring of the cleanup.
- A review of the contaminated ground water extraction and treatment system by EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Resources (FDER) within five years after implementation of the cleanup approach.
EPA approved the deactivation of the ground water treatment system as of October 2002, based on the decreased contaminant concentrations in monitoring well samples at OU-l. Ground water cleanup at OU-l is currently being addressed by monitored natural attenuation (MNA) (use of existing microorganisms to break down contaminants).
The Record of Decision for OU-2 was issued in 1995. Major components of the cleanup approach included:
- Continued operation of the existing contaminated ground water pump and treat system.
- Extraction of contaminated ground water from the surficial aquifer.
- Treatment of the extracted ground water by air stripping (a process of forcing air through polluted ground water or surface water to remove harmful chemicals).
- Injection of the treated ground water into the Floridan Aquifer.
- Elimination of recovery well SC-TS4.
- Ground water monitoring.
EPA approved the deactivation of the 0U-2 ground water treatment system in 2000, based on decreased contaminant concentrations in monitoring well samples and the relatively small amount of contaminant mass being removed from the ground water at 0U-2. Ground water remediation at 0U-2 is currently being addressed by MNA.
The cleanup approach for both areas also relies on institutional controls in the form of a Florida Ground Water Delineated Area. Since the site is located in a Delineated Area, stricter well-construction requirements apply.
Cleanup Progress
In 1984, Harris Corporation began constructing an air stripping system to treat contaminated water from the PBUC wells.
In 1985, Harris Corporation began using a pump and treat system on a portion of the Harris property (south of Palm Bay Road) to treat contaminated ground water associated with OU-1. In 2002, Harris Corporation deactivated the pump and treat system, in agreement with EPA, and is currently using MNA to address remaining ground water contamination.
In 1990, Harris Corporation began using a pump and treat system to address ground water contamination associated with OU-2 (north of Palm Bay Road). Harris Corporation deactivated the pump and treat system in 2000, in agreement with EPA, and is currently using MNA to address remaining ground water contamination.
The 2009 Five-Year Review found that the cleanup approach for the site is functioning as designed. The immediate threats have been addressed and the cleanup approach is expected to be protective when ground water cleanup goals are achieved.
Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by Harris Corporation with oversight by EPA.
Enforcement Activities
Harris Corporation entered into a Consent Order with FDER in December 1983, with amendments in January 1984 and October 1984. Under the Consent Order, Harris Corporation agreed to conduct a ground water investigation to determine the extent of chemical impacts and to develop and implement a ground water restoration program.
EPA issued a general notice letter to the Harris Corporation in 1989, notifying the company of its potential liability under the Superfund law. In this notice letter, EPA recognized the cleanup efforts taken by Harris Corporation at the site in compliance with the Consent Order executed between the company and the State of Florida.
Harris entered into a Consent Agreement with the FDER in March 1990 to implement a pump and treat remedy for contaminated ground water associated with OU-2.
In January 1992, Harris entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with EPA to conduct a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Review and Modification. These studies were undertaken to confirm the nature/extent of chemical impacts associated with OU-2 and to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing pump and treat remedy.
Harris entered into a Consent Decree with EPA in 1996/1997 to complete a Remedial Design and Remedial Actions at OU-2.Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Harris Corporation (Palm Bay Plant) site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices and information meetings on cleanup progress and activities.
Future Work
The next Five-Year Review for the site is expected to be completed in 2014.
Site Administrative Documents
Site Repository
For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.
Franklin Degroodt Memorial Library6475 Minton Rd.
Palm Bay, FL 32909
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.