Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Maryland
six miles southeast of downtown Baltimore
Anne Arundel County

EPA ID# MD4690307844

2nd Congressional District

Last Update: December 2008

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

The Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard was listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) on September 5, 2002.

EPA performed a preliminary assessment of the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard in 1993 and identified 13 potential sources of contamination. Four of the sources were petroleum related materials according to the U.S. Coast Guard which are exempt from Superfund cleanup laws. Six of the nine remaining areas were evaluated to prepare Hazard Ranking System package, which was considered by EPA headquarters in its decision to place the facility on the NPL.

EPA and the Coast Guard are currently negotiating an Interagency Agreement as required by Section 120 of CERCLA, as amended by SARA.

Site Description

The Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard occupies 113 acres on the east side of Curtis Creek, south of Hawkins Point Road. The site is six miles southeast of Baltimore in Anne Arundel County. The facility provides support for the U.S. Coast Guard, including the design, construction and repair of ships and boats. During its peak use during World War II, the yard was a fully operational shipbuilding facility employing over 3,000 workers round-the-clock.

Site Responsibility

The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for the site.

NPL Listing History

Proposed to the National Priorities List in September 2001. Final Date: September 5, 2002.

Threats and Contaminants

Former site related activities are suspected to have to contributed to contamination of soils, groundwater, surface water and sediments at the site. Samples collected at the site show that the soil is contaminated in certain areas with semi-volatile organic compounds, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides and dioxin. Sediment samples taken in Curtis Creek have indicated elevated metals concentrations suspected to be associated with dry-dock operations. Current Coast Guard activities/waste management practices have been modified and/or discontinued to minimize contribution potential future release of contaminants from the site.

Contaminant descriptions and associated risk factors are available at: (ATSDR web site).

 

Cleanup Progress

The Coast Guard, with regulatory oversight from EPA finalized the remedial investigation (RI) report for Site 7 (former Burn Pit) and Site 4 (former salvage lot). A feasibility study (FS) is expected to be completed for Site 7. Contaminants at Site 4, which include lead and PCBs, are being addressed with a removal action and no further action Record of Decision (ROD). Site 1 (Curtis Creek Sediments) was signed in September 2007. The ROD was for no action. The remaining six sites are scheduled to begin the RI/FS CERCLA process in FY 2008.

A Public Health Assessment (PHA) was completed and finalized by the Agency for Toxic and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The results of the PHA did not determine that Coast Guard activities in the area have contributed to or have the potential to contribute adverse impact to workers or residents in the area.

The Coast Guard has proposed to the Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) to scale back the number of meetings from quarterly to biannual meetings with community representatives and industry to keep them informed of site activities and as a forum to solicit questions and concerns.

Contacts

Site Contacts