Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Virginia
Chesterfield County
8 miles south of Richmond

EPA ID# VA3971520751

4th Congressional District

Last Update: October 2009

Other Names

Defense Supply Center Richmond
Richmond Defense General Supply
U.S. Defense General Supply Center

Current Site Status

The Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR) has nearly completed remedial action construction at the Area 50 Land Fill soils project and they are working on an area of soil contaminated with polychlorinated-aeromatic hydrocarbons(combustion by-products)that is designated as OU-13. In an ongoing effort to address groundwater contamination at DSCR, options are being explored to replace an existing groundwater treatment system which had been operating as an interim remedy for the groundwater associated with the former Area 50 Landfill. Currently, analytical data is being evaluated to further characterize the nature and extent of the groundwater contamination at the site. Innovative treatment technologies are being evaluated for the cleanup of the groundwater associated with the Former Fire Training Area and the Area 50 Landfill. Currently, the option of monitored natural attenuation (monitored method of letting nature cleanup the contamination) is being considered as one of the most viable treatment alternatives for the groundwater associated with the Fire Training area. Another development is formation of a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) which is open to the public to provide citizen input into the cleanup process.

Site Description

Defense Supply Center Richmond is a federal facility site located in Chesterfield County, Virginia, about eight miles south of Richmond. The site consists of approximately 640 acres that have been used as a Defense Logistics Agency supply center since 1941. Past operations conducted on site include parachute manufacturing and repair, mess kit/canteen repair, and refrigerator repair. Current industrial operations include refurbishing helmets and steel compressed gas cylinders using dry (ball blasting) processes and tent fabrication and repair. Chemical operations at the site have included storing and shipping flammable, toxic, corrosive, and oxidizer chemicals as well as pesticides. In the 1960s and early 1970s, DSCR disposed of some of their waste material in a shallow ravine called the Area 50 Landfill. In the 1980s, groundwater contaminated primarily with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was detected downgradient of the landfill, and the site was placed on the National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites.

Off-site residents are primarily served by a Chesterfield County-operated water supply system, although a few private home water supply wells remain in use in the locale. These are not in locations where a contaminated plume of groundwater has been detected.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through Federal actions.

NPL Listing History

This site was proposed to the National Priorities List of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long-term remedial action on October 15, 1984. The site was formally added to the list July 22, 1987.

Threats and Contaminants

Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and possibly metals from former chemical wastes disposal practices. Sediments are contaminated with pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The soil contains VOCs and pesticides, and the surface water is contaminated with metals and pesticides. Those who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated groundwater, surface water, soil, or sediments may be at risk.

Contaminant descriptions and risk factors are available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC.

Cleanup Progress

Under the Federal Facility Agreement for this site, the cleanup has been divided into several different parts. Two records of decision (RODs) were signed in 1992; the Open Storage Area was recently evaluated for its third five-year review, and work at the Acid Neutralization Pits was completed in December 1994.

In December 1996, a treatment system was installed to clean the groundwater. This system includes 17 upper aquifer and five lower aquifer extraction wells, a collection system, and a 100 gallon-per-minute air stripping groundwater treatment plant with air emission controls. Through the end of December 1998 , 21.9 million gallons of groundwater have been treated, and all effluent discharge limits have generally been met.

In early 1997, a hot spot of contaminated soil was excavated in the National Guard Area. The ROD for this area stipulated that institutional controls would be employed as the remedy, but it also required the removal of approximately 100 cubic yards of moderately contaminated soil from a small area of the site. The excavation has been completed and the site is stabilized. Confirmatory testing indicates this site can be closed out.

In July 1998, a one-year pilot study of the treatment of groundwater and soils was completed. This new dual phase extraction technology has been successful, reducing the estimated site remediation time by 75 percent. After reviewing analytical data obtained during post-pilot study completion sampling efforts, it was determined that the system should be expanded and continue operating as a partial remedy for the site.

In December 1998 an additional pilot study was implemented utilizing a technology known as density driven convection to treat ground water contamination resulting from activities at the Former Fire Training Area. This technology is designed to remove contaminants from the groundwater without extracting the water from the aquifer. It is likely that this technology will provide another viable option for treating the groundwater at the site.

In July 1999, a ROD for the soils associated with the Fire Training Area (OU-4) was signed. Although there was evidence of contamination at this site, based on current risk assessment data, the soils at this site and the water/sediment in Kingsland Creek were determined to pose no significant risk to human health or the environment. However, it is recognized that soils in this area may act as a source for groundwater contamination and that possibility is being evaluated under OU-7.

During 2001 and 2002, the U.S. Public Health Service's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry was asked to evaluate the public health significance of environmental contaminants found in surface waters near DSCR. The evaluation concluded that "adverse health effects are not expected from exposure to surface waters."

During 2002 and 2003, DSCR prepared a sitewide Five Year Review(FYR) Report, as required by CERCLA. In September of 2003, EPA concurred with the final draft of this report and stated, "EPA concurs with DSCR's determination that the remedies in place are interim in nature and protective to a limited degree, and we recognize that further studies are underway to complete final remedy implementation measures". Another sitewide FYR was completed in 2008 and the findings were similar to those found in the previous Report.

Also, a Remedial Process Optimization (RPO) Study was completed by DSCR's engineering consultants. The RPO study recommendations point to the need to collect some additional data on groundwater to fill data gaps and to complete a Site Wide Assessment of groundwater flow directions. The study also contains recommendations related to operational improvements at existing groundwater treatment facilities. In addition, a Feasibility Study for OU-12 (Former Pesticides Building) was developed and reviewed by EPA and the Virginia DEQ. Following these reviews, a Proposed Plan was prepared and a public meeting was held to present the preferred remedy. After that process was completed, a Record Of Decision(ROD) was signed in October of 2005 and the selected remedy is presently in the Remedial Action complete stage. In addition, a Feasibility Study has been completed for the OU-8 Acid Neutralization Pits area groundwater and a ROD has been developed for the preferred alternative. Also, In December of 2006, a public meeting was held in conjunction with a RAB meeting to present the preferred alternatives for OUs 10(Building 68) and 11(Transitory Shelter 202). At the public meeting, there were no objections to proceeding with these operable units and RODs that provide an institutional controls/vegetative covers remedy were signed in July, 2007. Since then, the vegetated covers for both operable units have been constructed and the institutional controls have been put in place. Also, in 2007 a Proposed Remedial Action Plan was developed for OU-2, which includes the Area 50 Landfill. A Public Meeting on the proposed plan was held in December and there were no citizen objections to proceeding with the proposed alternative. A ROD was signed for this Site in 2008 and construction began during July of 2009. The construction work is nearly complete and the final inspection has been scheduled.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations