Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Virginia
Portsmouth

EPA ID# VA1170024813

3rd Congressional District

Last Update: September 2009

Other Names

Main Shipyard, Southgate Annex, Scott Center Annex,
New Gosport Annex, St. Helena Annex (Norfolk),
Paradise Creek Disposal Area

Current Site Status

OU2 – Sites 3 through 7, Paradise Creek Landfill. This is a sanitary landfill that was used as the shipyard landfill from 1945 through 1983. Waste disposed of at the site includes salvage waste, abrasive blast grit material, boiler fly and bottom ash, residential trash, and industrial wastewater treatment plant sludge. Within the overall boundaries of OU2 are Site 3, eastern and western landfills; Site 4, liquid waste holding ponds; Site 5, oil reclamation area; Site 6, former liquid waste disposal area; and Site 7, liquid waste holding area (also calcium hydroxide disposal area). An Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) was completed in 2004 to identify, evaluate and compare alternatives for OU2. The work will be completed in 3 phases to facilitate project funding. Phase I is complete and included excavation/restoration of the Site 7 marsh. A Record of Decision (ROD) is planned for early FY10 that will address Phases II and III. Phase II includes a soil cap for Site 3 (Eastern Landfill). Phase III includes a soil cap for Sites 3 (Western Landfill), 4, 5 and 6 and improvements to a salt marsh wetland near the Western Landfill. Phase II and III construction is scheduled for FY10. Groundwater under OU2 will be subsequently addressed as OU7.

OU4 - Site 17, Metal Plating Shop Building 195 was the main plating shop at the NNSY from the early 1970s through the mid 1980s. The ground surface surrounding Building 195 is completely paved. The formerly unpaved area north of Building 195 was used for coal storage from the 1920s until approximately 1966. The site is currently under industrial land use and the surficial aquifer is not used as a potable water source. Based upon additional soil data and field investigations in 2001 and 2004, an addendum to the Human Health Risk Assessment and Final Remedial Investigation was issued in February 2005. The Focused Feasibility Study was finalized in December 2005. A Record of Decision (ROD) was completed in 2006 the selected remedy includes land use controls to prohibit residential development. EPA is currently reviewing the Remedial Design language for the site.

OU6 - Site 10, 1927 Landfill The 1927 Landfill and vicinity is located in the southern portion of the Main Shipyard in an area covered with paved roads, buildings, and parking lots. The landfill was utilized prior to 1927 until 1941. Wastes disposed of at the site reportedly include various solid wastes generated by the NNSY, salvage waste, sandblast grit, flyash, and asbestos waste; there is no design information for the landfill. The Site 10 disposal area consists primarily of dredge fill material and small amounts of construction debris rather than waste consistent with an industrial landfill. A Site Screening Process (SSP) investigation for the 1927 Landfill and Vicinity was conducted in September 2001. A Supplemental Site Investigation was conducted in 2004, and risks present in soil and groundwater are currently being assessed. The Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study was finalized in 2006. A ROD for this site was signed in October 2008. EPA is currently reviewing the Remedial Design language for the site.
Site 15 - Past Pier Side Industrial Operations Site 15 was established as an additional site screening area in the 2004 Federal Facilities Agreement. The site is located on the eastern boundary of the NNSY along the Southern Elizabeth River waterfront. A work plan will be developed to study the water body/sediment issues associated with past pier side operations.

OU7 - Groundwater. This site addresses the groundwater contamination under OU2. Past investigations show that groundwater contamination includes VOCs, SVOCs, metals and petroleum products. Further investigations are planned for FY10 to further evaluate the nature and extent of groundwater contamination.

Site Description

The NNSY is the oldest shipyard in the United States devoted exclusively to ship repair and overhaul dating to 1767. The shipyard is located in the tidewater region of southeastern Virginia along the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and Paradise Creek, near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Fisheries and other sensitive environments are located near the site. NNSY is also adjacent to the Atlantic Wood Industries NPL site. Activities at the shipyard include metal forming, repair and installation of mechanical and electrical equipment, metal fabrication, metal plating, and painting operations. Industrial shops generate large quantities of industrial wastes, scrap metal, waste oils, hydraulic oils, cutting oils, and oils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (‘PCBs’), spent cleaners, solvents, paint, paint sludges, thinners, blasting residues, asbestos, batteries, plating wastes, and cleaning boilers solutions.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed though 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 March 6, 1998. This site was formally added to the list on July 22, 1999. The St. Helena Annex (in Norfolk, VA) was not included in the final listing, and has been addressed under separate cleanup authorities.

Threats and Contaminants

Before the shipyard began using the industrial waste treatment plant (‘IWTP’) in 1979, numerous industrial wastes generated in shops or by waterfront maintenance of naval vessels frequently reached storm drains. The storm sewer system drains all areas of the shipyard, independent of the sanitary sewer system, and discharges without treatment to the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and Paradise Creek at various locations. Other industrial wastes that were not suitable for reuse or reclamation were disposed on site. Historically, solid waste disposal areas were located in the southern portion of the shipyard, and at Annexes which border along Paradise Creek, i.e., Scott Center Landfill, Sanitary Landfill, Chemical Waste Pits, Hydraulic Fill Area, Bermed Chemical Disposal Area, and Acetylene Waste Lagoon. Solid wastes included abrasive blast media residues, sludge from the IWTP, and fly and bottom ash.

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

Cleanup Progress

In 1983, the Navy conducted an Initial Assessment Study at NNSY pursuant to the Department of Defense IR Program. The Navy's base-wide evaluation of all potential areas of concern in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and EPA, and the subsequent ongoing site-specific sampling in three general areas within the Main Shipyard has been used to determine any impacts. Any additional studies or response actions that may be warranted are incorporated into a Site Management Plan, subject to yearly update. The Navy strategy has been to complete the Paradise Creek studies first. Studies have continued for marsh sediments adjacent to Paradise Creek and Scott Center and Paradise Creek landfills. Removal Actions have been completed for the following sites:

OU5, Site 1, New Gosport Landfill Area In 2001, the Navy excavated 55,000 tons of ABM residues that Norfolk Naval Shipyard used in the 1970s to fill approximately four acres at the New Gosport Annex, which borders along Paradise Creek. As a result of the removal action, the Navy was able to create 1.9 acres of new tidal wetlands to help reduce urban sediment contamination in Paradise Creek and increase wetlands buffers in the Elizabeth River watershed. In July 2004 a Site Screening Document was finalized to close out the site with no further action.

OU3, Site 9, Calcium Hyroxide Disposal Area In 2002, EPA, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Atlantic Wood Industries Inc., and the Navy reached an important agreement to undertake a joint approach response action at Site 9 within the Main Shipyard. A removal action was initiated in January 2003 and completed in August 2003. At the completion of this removal action 44,000 tons of material (including 16,000 tons of fly ash used to stabilize the waste calcium hydroxide) was removed and 1.3 acres of engineered wetlands was created. In May 2004 a Decision Document was finalized to close out the site with no further action.

OU1 - Site 2, Scott Center Landfill This is a 1.7 acre site that lies adjacent to Paradise Creek. In the 1950s the site was used for disposal of waste generated from dry-dock operations. Waste disposed of includes ABM, paint residues, sanitary wastes, solvents, and other industrial waste products. A removal action of the landfill contents was completed in June 2005. As part of the removal action, adjacent impacted marsh sediments were removed, and an engineered tidal wetland was created. A Record of Decision (ROD) for no further remedial action was completed for the site in October 2005.

In September 2004 a Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) was signed by the Navy, State, and EPA to enable the Navy to complete necessary environmental remediation work in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 120.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations