Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Delaware
New Castle County
About 5 miles northwest of Kirkwood

EPA ID# DED980713093

1st Congressional District

Last Update: August 2008

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

The cleanup action, overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was completed in June 1994. Contaminated soils were capped and contaminated sediments excavated. The groundwater/surface water monitoring program continues to ensure that the remedy is protective of human health and the environment. The site is currently undergoing a five-year review to ensure the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. The review will be complete and available to the public no later than October 2008.

Site Description

The Harvey & Knott Drum, Inc. site in Glasgow, Delaware, operated as an open dump and burning area between 1963 and 1969 on a portion of a 20-acre site. The facility accepted sanitary, municipal, and industrial wastes believed to be sludge, paint pigments, and solvents. Wastes were emptied onto the ground surface into excavated trenches or left in drums, some of which were buried on site. The site is set back several hundred feet from the highway in an open field in a relatively undeveloped area. There are approximately 300 people living within one mile of the site.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup of this site was the responsibility of federal and state governments and parties potentially responsible for site contamination.

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 December 30, 1982. The site was formally added to the list September 8, 1983, making it eligible for federal cleanup funds.

Threats and Contaminants

Specific contaminants detected in the ground water during the Remedial Investigation include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as ethyl benzene and toluene and heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Heavy metals were detected in on-site sediments and surface water. Contaminants detected in soils and sediments include VOCs, heavy metals, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs). The groundwater/surface water monitoring program is ongoing to ensure that the remedy is protective of human health and the environment.

Contaminant descriptions and associated risk factors are available at: (ATSDR web site) http://www.atsdrcdc.gov/hazdat.htm

Cleanup Progress

In 1982, the EPA contained the site by installing a security fence around the disposal area, over packing and staging 43 leaky drums, and conducting a sampling survey. Seventeen monitoring wells were installed to identify the nature and extent of ground water. In 1983 and 1984, 46 drums were removed and disposed of off site, a soil berm and a surface drainage ditch around a PCB-contaminated waste pile were constructed, 500 empty drums were crushed and staged, and 200 partially full drums were staged.

EPA entered into a mixed-funding settlement (Consent Decree) with General Motors (GM) to design and implement the remedy selected in the September 30, 1985 Record of Decision. In 1988, GM began site clean-up. Over 100 drums and 955 cubic yards of contaminated soil were excavated and removed to an offsite disposal facility. Approximately 180,000 gallons of water were pumped from the pond located in the disposal area.

The Record of Decision was subsequently modified by an Explanation of Significant Differences on December 29, 1992. The contaminants of concern for soil were lead, cadmium, and chromium. The modification included capping of the lead contaminated soils, excavation of the pond sediments, and implementation of a groundwater/surface water monitoring program. The remedial action was completed in June 1994. The contaminants of concern for groundwater include benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene. The groundwater/surface water monitoring program is ongoing to ensure that the remedy is protective of human health and the environment.

A Five Year Review for the Harvey & Knotts Site was completed in September of 2003. While no new contamination was detected, it was decided that the Site is not ready for unrestricted use and will continue to be monitored.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations