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Ram Leather Care
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Ground water treatment system at the Ram Leather Care site.
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: NCD982096653Location: Charlotte, Mecklenberg County, NC
Lat/Long: 35.228050, -080.606800
Congressional District: 01
NPL Status: Proposed: 04/30/03; Final: 09/29/03
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Early Action Initiated/Completed and Construction Underway – Physical cleanup activities have started.
Human Exposure Under Control: Yes
Groundwater Migration Under Control: There is insufficient data to determine
Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use: No
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: None
Site Manager: Beverly Stepter (stepter.beverly@epa.gov)
Current Site Status
The Ram Leather Care site includes an area where the Ram Leather Care company restored leather goods and operated a dry cleaning facility from 1977 until 1993. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2003 because of contaminated ground water and soil resulting from facility operations and waste handling practices. EPA and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) have investigated site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site in order to protect people and the environment from contamination. A water line connects nearby residences and businesses to the public water supply. EPA issued the site's interim cleanup plan in 2004; EPA is currently undertaking investigations and studies in preparation for the site's final cleanup plan. By conducting site investigations and studies, EPA and NCDENR continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination.
Site Location and Background
The 10-acre site is located at 15100 Albemarle Road (Route 24/27), four miles from Charlotte, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Albemarle Road borders the site to the north. Residential properties and forested areas border the site to the south, east and west. A gravel road running southeast from the site driveway provides access to two residences located southeast of the site.
From 1967 tol 1977, a construction business operated at the site. From 1977 to 1993, the Ram Leather Care company restored leather goods and operated a dry cleaning facility at the site. In 2003, EPA listed the site on the NPL. The site is not in use.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations found contamination in ground water and soil that could potentially harm people in the area. Contamination resulted from facility operations and waste handling practices at the site. Contaminants of concern include chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE), petroleum-related compounds, pesticides and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP).
Contamination affected ground water on site and off site. EPA found contaminated ground water in four residential wells during well sampling activities in 2008. However, a water line connects residences near the site to the public water supply.
EPA also found dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in ground water at the site.
EPA plans to assess vapor intrusion as part of the site’s remedial investigation to determine whether residents or workers might be at risk from harmful ground water vapors in buildings.
EPA is considering children’s health issues as part of the site’s risk assessment.
EPA cleaned up surface soil contamination at the site to support commercial and industrial land uses. Subsurface soil contamination remains on site.
Investigation and Cleanup Responsibility / Oversight
EPA leads site investigation and cleanup activities in cooperation with NCDENR.
Site Cleanup Plan
In 2004, EPA issued an interim cleanup plan (an interim Record of Decision, or ROD) for the site. The plan included the following activities:
- Installing a ground water pump-and-treat system.
- Treating ground water on site using air stripping, activated carbon or chemical/ultraviolet radiation.
- Discharging treated ground water to a nearby surface water body.
- Conducting treatability studies to determine the effectiveness of the selected ground water treatment system.
- Monitoring ground water.
- Digging up contaminated soil.
- Disposing of contaminated soil at an off-site facility.
- Backfilling the dug-up areas with clean soil and reseeding the areas.
Cleanup Progress
In 1999, EPA began the remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) at the site.
In 2007, EPA began cleanup activities, including digging up contaminated soil and disposing of it off site.
EPA also conducted sampling of site monitoring wells and nearby residential wells.
In 2008, EPA completed soil cleanup activities and installed the ground water pump-and-treat system. EPA began additional soil and ground water sampling as part of the site’s remedial investigation. EPA also connected nearby residents to the public water supply.
From 2008 to 2011, EPA conducted operation and maintenance activities for the ground water pump-and-treat system. The system operated until 2011, when EPA shut the system down to perform RI/FS activities in preparation for the site's final cleanup.
Enforcement Activities
In 1991 and 1992, NCDENR issued violation notices and legal documents requiring the site owner to clean up the site. However, the site owner filed for bankruptcy.
EPA is using federal funds for site cleanup activities.
The ROD online provides additional information on specific legal agreements for the site.
Community Involvement
EPA is working 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, fact sheets, interviews and public meetings. EPA also sent letters to nearby residents to inform them of contamination in ground water wells. After EPA proposes the final cleanup plan (the ROD) for the site, the Agency will hold a public meeting to discuss the plan.
Future Work
EPA is conducting the remedial investigation for the site.
EPA plans to begin the feasibility study for the site in 2012.
Following the completion of the RI/FS, EPA will issue the final cleanup plan (the ROD). Based on the findings of the RI/FS, EPA will determine whether operation of the ground water pump-and-treat system will continue.
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
Mint Hill Branch Library
6840 Matthews - Mint Hill Road
Charlotte, NC 28227