Mid-Atlantic Corrective Action

DuPont Teijin Films

On This Page

• Status
• Background
• Contaminants and Risks
• Institutional Controls
• Community Information
• Documents and Reports
• Photos, Maps and Diagrams
• Reuse Information
• Questions

EPA ID: VAD000019273
Location:
1 Discovery Drive
Chester, Virginia 23836
Property Area 147 acres
Congressional District: 4
Other Names: ICI Polyester
Last Updated: October 2012

Contacts

Bulletin Board

Status

• RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the Facility Lead Program administered by U.S. EPA Region 3 in conjunction with the VDEQ. The DuPont Teijin Films Chesterfield Plant (Site) entered EPA's Region 3 Facility Lead Program in December 2006 to conduct RCRA Corrective Action activities. In 2007, DuPont Teijin Films prepared and submitted to EPA and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) a RCRA facility investigation (RFI) Work Plan for a phased approach to perform characterization activities at the site. Investigation activities associated with the Phase I RFI were completed in the spring of 2008 and the Phase II RFI report was submitted to EPA and VDEQ in late December, 2010, and approved March 16, 2011.
• In January 2011, EPA classified the site as meeting both Environmental Indicators: the EI 725 (site currently protective of human health) and the EI 750 (migration of contaminated groundwater currently under control). Based on available data, there are no imminent threats to human health and the environment.
• The Corrective Measures Study (CMS) was submitted to EPA and VDEQ for review on August 29, 2011. In the CMS, various possible remedial alternatives are evaluated against the three threshold performance standards and the seven balancing criteria per EPA guidance
• A Public Notice was published on June 12, 2012  announcing the proposed decision that Corrective Action is Complete requiring groundwater monitoring, and land and groundwater use restrictions under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (RCRA), for the Dupont Teijin Inc. Hopewell, Va. facility (Facility).
• The Final Decision for the site was signed by EPA on August 22, 2012. The Final Decision requires Dupont Teijin Films to continue to monitor groundwater until the appropriate levels for contaminants are achieved thru natural attenuation. EPA also requires Dupont Teijin Films to restrict groundwater use at the facility and restrict land use from residential development thru institutional controls. A Consent Order and Agreement was signed on September 25, 2012 by EPA and Dupont Films which is a voluntary agreement to carry out these activities.

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Background

• DuPont Teijin Films is a 147 acre property located in the Bermuda Hundred area of Chesterfield County, Virginia. The Site is surrounded by water on three sides, and is relatively flat with a slight rise in topography from west to east. The James River lies to the north, the Appomattox River, a major tributary of the James River, lies about one mile to the east, and some undeveloped land including a wildlife refuge with a 30-acre pond lies to the west with sporadic wetlands on the northern and western perimeters.
• The Site was constructed by ICI Polyester in the early 1970s, purchased by E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company in 1998, and entered a joint venture with Teijin Films in 2000. Manufacturing activities have consisted of various polymer film materials with over 50 polyester film types and 8,000 product configurations. The primary chemicals used in the manufacturing process include ethylene glycol, dimethyl terepthalate, and terephthalic acid, and historically phenolic compounds. The facility manufactures methanol as a byproduct of the polyester process.

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Contaminants and Risks

• Constituents of potential concern (COPCs) in groundwater are total phenols, Dowtherm components (1,1-biphenyl and diphenyl ether), and 1,4-dioxane. Total phenols are present above their respective Federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) at one or more locations. Chloroform, 1,4-dioxane, and 1,1-biphenyl were above their respective EPA Region III Tap Water screening levels. Chlorinated solvents (primarily PCE, TCE, and DCE) have been detected in one or more of the groundwater monitoring wells at concentrations exceeding the Federal MCLs; however, the source of the chlorinated solvents is indeterminate but is thought to be derived from off-site. There does not appear to be any contaminated groundwater leaving the site at concentrations that pose unacceptable risk to people and the environment.

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Institutional Controls

• A Consent Order and Agreement signed on September 25, 2012 by EPA and DuPont Teijin Films serves as an Institutional Control. This order requires continued monitoring of groundwater until cleanup levels are achieved through natural attenuation. In addition, the order requires DuPont to restrict groundwater use at the facility and restrict land use from residential development

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Community Information

• In accordance with the approved Community Relations Plan DuPont has established a document repository at the Enon Branch of the Chesterfield County Library in Chester. Public meetings will be conducted, if necessary, as corrective action progresses at the site.

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