Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Wayne Division Dresser Equipment Group in Salisbury, Maryland
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Since 2001, Dresser Industries, Inc. (DII) has conducted investigations of contamination in soil, groundwater, and soil gas at the Facility. The investigations have centered largely on investigating release from key features and chemicals associated with former operations, including gasoline constituents, surrogates for gasoline used in the testing of the dispensing pumps (i.e., mineral spirits), diesel fuel, solvents, and metals. In 2001, DII transferred the Facility to Dresser RE, LLC (Dresser), but retained certain environmental responsibilities. In 2010, Dresser removed equipment, structures, and subsurface features from the Facility, revealing additional contaminant impacts to soil and groundwater, which DII subsequently investigated. DII has conducted various interim corrective measures at the Facility including remediation of chromium impacted groundwater and removal of impacted soils, groundwater, light nonaqueous phase liquid floating above the groundwater (LNAPL), and over 25 tanks. DII continues to monitor remaining contaminant impacts to groundwater, measure LNAPL thickness, and recover recoverable LNAPL.
In 2004, EPA determined that environmental indicators for “Current Human Exposures Under Control” and for “Migration of Contaminated Groundwater Under Control” were met. In September 2018, EPA updated its finding that "Migration of Contaminated Groundwater Under Control" continues to be met
Cleanup Status
Contamination remains in onsite soils, groundwater, and in the form of residual LNAPL (mineral spirits) that floats above the groundwater.
Two groundwater contaminant plumes extend offsite into deeper groundwater towards the northwest. The western plume is lightly contaminated with a chlorinated solvent (tetrachloroethylene, commonly referred to as "PCE"). The eastern plume is contaminated with the dissolvable fraction of mineral spirits being released from the LNAPL. There is no known current exposure to either plume.
Recent activities have focused on determining remedial objectives and evaluating a remedy for the remaining contamination.
Over the last couple of years, DII has submitted various documents in support of selecting a remedy. EPA is reviewing these documents.
DII continues to monitor remaining contaminant impacts to groundwater, measure LNAPL thickness, and recover recoverable LNAPL.
Background:
Since 2001, DII has conducted numerous investigations of contamination associated with release from former operations at the Facility.
In 2009 and 2010, the current owner, Dresser, removed equipment, structures and subsurface features from the Facility, including subsurface pipes wrapped with covered asbestos, foundations, and other subsurface features.
Thereafter, DII conducted investigations of additional impacts to soil and groundwater. Polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) were found in certain surface and subsurface soils. Hexavalent chromium was found in certain soils and groundwater beneath the Facility. Mineral spirits were found in certain subsurface soils and as a light non-aqueous phase liquid (“LNAPL”) in certain monitoring wells screened across the water table. Two groundwater plumes were found to extend offsite into deeper groundwater, a western plume containing PCE and an eastern plume containing the dissolvable fraction of mineral spirits from the LNAPL.
DII has implemented various interim corrective measures, including (1) batch extraction of groundwater containing hexavalent chromium; (2) in situ treatment to remediate hexavalent chromium in groundwater (via in-situ reduction of hexavalent chromium to the insoluble form of trivalent chromium); (3) removal of LNAPL from monitoring wells with recoverable amounts of LNAPL; and (4) removal of impacted soils from certain areas at the Facility, including soils that contain chromium, PCBs, PCE, and PAHs
Site Description
Interactive Map of Wayne Division Dresser Equipment Group, Salisbury, Maryland
Industrial operations took place at the Facility from approximately 1938 until 2001. The former manufacturing plant initially may have operated as a machine shop, but it is primarily known for its manufacture of fuel dispensing pumps for both domestic and international markets. Hoists for trucks and buses were also manufactured at the Facility for a limited period of time. During the manufacture of pumps, mineral spirits were used to test the pumps. During the manufacture of hoists, the hoists were chrome plated in chrome plating baths in deep pits. During the history of operations at the Facility, various wastes were reportedly generated including wastewater treatment effluent and sludge; used petroleum hydrocarbons; spent solvents from equipment cleaning; paint-based solids and sludge; and corrosive liquids and sludge from metal pre-treatment and coating operations.
From approximately 1960 to the late 1990's, a parcel of land located on the north side of West College Avenue and consisting of approximately 8.65 acres was used as a parking lot for employees. In the late 1990s, this parcel was sold and redeveloped as a shopping center.
In approximately 2001, the remaining Facility was transferred from Dresser Industries, Inc. (DII) to Dresser RE, LLC (Dresser). An affiliate of the Salisbury University Real Estate Foundation has since agreed to purchase the Facility, subject to certain closing conditions. The property currently owned by Dresser consists of the following parcels: approximately 16.4 acres comprising the Former Manufacturing Plant and the East Parking Lot properties, and the South Parking Lot property (approximately 1.66 acres).
Contaminants at this Facility
Releases of gasoline, diesel fuel, solvents, mineral spirits, PCBs, metals and nitrates have been found soils and/or groundwater at the Facility. Various historical releases occurred in connection with the use and handling of petroleum products (e.g., waste oil and mineral spirits) and other volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”). Chlorinated solvents [tetrachloroethylene ("PCE") and trichloroethylene ("TCE")], metals (hexavalent chromium and lead), petroleum constituents (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, trimethylbenzene, and naphthalene) and nitrate have been found in groundwater beneath the Facility. An area of LNAPL consisting of mineral spirits has been observed in on-site soils and certain monitoring wells in the northern portion of the Facility. PCB contaminated soils were delineated and removed. Hexavalent chromium contaminated groundwater was delineated and remediated via reducing the hexavalent chromium to the insoluble valence state of trivalent chromium. Asbestos used to insulate subsurface pipes (covered with an external jacket) was removed in accordance with applicable regulations as part of the demolition process.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
EPA anticipates that it will require the implementation of institutional controls as part of its final remedy for the Facility.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
An affiliate of the Salisbury University Real Estate Foundation has agreed to purchase the portion of the Facility where the former manufacturing plant was located and properties to the east and south which are currently leased to Salisbury University and used as parking lots.
A parcel of land located on the north side of West College Avenue that was historically used as a parking lot for employees was sold in the late 1990s and has been redeveloped as a shopping center.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of the EPA Region 3 with assistance from the Maryland Department of the Environment.