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Ward Transformer
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Ward Transformer October 2009.
Ward Transformer Before Remediation.
- 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: NCD003202603Location: Raleigh, Wake County, NC
Lat/Long: 35.901940, -078.773610
Congressional District: 13
NPL Status: Proposed: 09/05/02; Final: 04/30/03
Affected Media: Fish Tissue, Sediment, Soil
Cleanup Status: Early Action Initiated/Completed and Remedy Selected – Physical cleanup activities have started.
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Potential for Commercial/light Industrial
Site Manager: Luis Flores (flores.luis@epa.gov)
Site Background
The 11-acre Ward Transformer Company, Inc. site is located in a predominantly industrial area of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. The facility was built in 1964 and operated until 2006. While operating, the facility manufactured, repaired, reconditioned, rebuilt, purchased, and sold transformers, switchgear, and other similar types of electrical equipment.
Threats and Contaminants
Elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), have been found throughout the Ward Transformer facility. Lower levels of PCBs have been detected in sediments and fish downstream of the facility. Fish consumption advisories currently in effect for the water bodies related to the Ward Site are:
Area
|
North Carolina Fish Consumption Adivisory |
|---|---|
Brier Creek Reservoir Little Brier Creek (downstream of Brier Creek Pathway) Tributaries to Little Brier Creek |
Do Not Eat Fish |
Brier Creek |
Do Not Eat Fish |
Lake Crabtree |
Do not eat carp or catfish. Limit consumption of all other fish to no more that one meal per month |
Crabtree Creek (above Lake Cabtree and below Lake Cabtree to where it enters the Neuse River) |
Limit consumption of carp, catfish, and largemouth bass to no more than one meal per month |
Site Cleanup Plan
The cleanup plan for the Ward Transformer site covered two operable units (OUs). OU 1 addresses soil, sediment, surface water and fish on areas downgradient from the Ward Transformer facility including Reaches B, C and D; Brier Creek Reservoir; Lake Crabtree; and Lower Crabtree Creek. OU2 will include the final remedy for all media; at the Ward Transformer facility, certain parcels adjacent to the facility, and nearby drainage pathways upgradient of Reach B.
The Record of Decision (ROD) for OU-1 was issued in 2008. Major cleanup elements for the site included:
- Continue or enhance existing North Carolina fish consumption advisories and signs.
- Implement educational and community outreach programs.
- Conduct pre-excavation sampling of sediment and floodplain soil.
- Conduct a pre-excavation endangered mussel evaluation study.
- Excavate sediment/soil from Reaches B, C, D, and lower Brier Creek, and transport sediment/soil off site for appropriate disposal.
- Restore site and stream to pre-remediation conditions.
- Implement monitored natural recovery in Brier Creek Reservoir, Lake Crabtree and Lower Crabtree Creek.
- Conduct periodic monitoring of sediment and aquatic biota.
- Implement Institutional Controls.
- Conduct Five-Year Reviews.
A Record of Decision (ROD) for OU2 has not yet been issued. This ROD will be issued after the ongoing removal action is completed.
Cleanup Progress
Potentially responsible parties (PRPs) are conducting a Time-Critical Removal Action at the Ward Transformer facility and other surrounding properties. The Removal Action aims to permanently eliminate the main source of PCB contamination to the downgradient water bodies and fish in the area. By the end of September 2009, more that 350,000 tons of contaminated material had been addressed. It is estimated that when the Removal Action is completed, close to 400,000 tons of PCB impacted material would have been addressed.
A remedy has been selected for OU-1 and negotiations for the remedial design and remedial action are presently underway.
Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by PRPs with oversight by EPA.
Enforcement Activities
On October 20, 2004, EPA sent Notice/Demand letters and draft Administrative Orders on Consent to 43 PRPs notifying them of their potential liability, and providing them 60 days in which to enter into an agreement to conduct or finance a Time-Critical Removal Action at the site, pursuant to the Action Memorandum, and to reimburse EPA for its costs incurred to date. EPA was unable to reach a settlement agreement with the PRPs prior to the end of the negotiation period two months later.
In September 2005, EPA signed an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent with a group of PRPs to implement a Time-Critical Removal Action including contaminated soil/sediment removal at the Ward Transformer facility and some immediate surrounding areas.
At the end of September 2008, Special Notice letters were sent to the identified PRPs for implementation of the OU-1 ROD, and negotiations between EPA and the PRPs are ongoing.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Ward Transformer 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, fact sheets, interviews, and public meetings on cleanup activities and updates.
Future Work
Negotiations over implementation of the remedial design and remedial action for OU-1 are currently underway.
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.
North Regional Library
7009 Harps Mill Road
Raleigh, NC 27605
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.