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National Fireworks
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Site photo goes here.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: TNSFN0407047Location: Cordova, Shelby County, TN
Lat/Long: 35.16307, -089.74305
Congressional District: 08
NPL Status: Superfund Alternative Approach
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Studies are currently underway to determine the extent of site contamination.
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Continued Industrial Use - The Cordova Industrial Park and Security Signals Inc. have continued manufacturing operations at the site during site investigations.
Site Manager: Keriema Newman (keriema.newman@epa.gov)
Site Background
The National Fireworks site is located east of Memphis in Cordova, Shelby County, Tennessee. From 1941 to 1945, National Fireworks manufactured various munitions including flares, grenades, incendiary bombs, as well as 20-millimeter (mm) and 40-mm rounds for the Army and Navy. Possible compounds that were mixed and used in the ordnance production at the Site were trinitrotoluene (TNT); hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5 triazine (RDX); tetryl; ammonium nitrate, fulminated mercury; and white phosphorus. Also, located on the property are areas formerly used for testing flares, a former burn pit used for building materials, and areas formerly used for disposal.
The former National Fireworks Site is an active industrial park located off Macon Road in Cordova, Shelby County, Tennessee. The Site is bounded on the north of Macon Road, on the east by Grays Creek, on the south by forested property, on the west by a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) easement, and on the northwest by railroad tracks. The geographic coordinates at the western entrance to the Site are latitude 35° 09’ 27.06” north and longitude 89° 45’ 41.63” west. The Site is located east of Memphis, Tennessee, and is zoned for industrial uses. The National Fireworks parcel is surrounded by land that is zoned for industrial, residential, agricultural, and commercial uses.
The entire National Fireworks Site is being addressed as a Superfund Alternative Site. This Site is not listed on the NPL, but the Site is being managed as a Superfund Alternative Site. This approach uses the same investigation and cleanup process and standards that are used for sites listed on the NPL. The PRP for OU2, Security Signals Inc. signed an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to conduct a Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at OU2. The AOC was effective May 2007. The AOC allows for the removal activities to be completed under the AOC.
Threats and Contaminants
A site inspection (SI) was conducted in 2001 and an expanded site inspection (ESI) was completed in 2004. Results indicated that several contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) were detected in soil and ground water. COPCs in soil included arsenic, lead, zinc, chromium, dieldrin, and polychlorinated biphenyls. COPCs identified in ground water included tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, dichloroethene, and perchlorate. The results of the ESI indicated that indeed further action was warranted that required a remedial investigation (RI).
An RI is being conducted by the PRP, Security Signals Inc. Phase II of the RI included excavating anomalies identified previously during the geophysical survey of Screening Area A. One trench located an area of shop waste with strong organic chemical odors, heavily stained soil, and metal fragments. The other trench uncovered an ordnance disposal area. The ordnance consists of small, two-inch long, live magnesium flares manufactured for the US Navy in 1987. Actual or threatened releases of hazardous substances from this Site, may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health, or welfare, or the environment. Therefore, a removal action is warranted. An Action Memorandum has been signed and documents the enforcement lead removal action by the PRP.
Site Cleanup Plan
Studies to determine the nature and extent of contamination are currently underway for OU2. The results of these studies will be used to determine an appropriate cleanup plan for OU2. The Selected Remedy at OU2 will be documented in a Record of Decision (ROD).
Cleanup Progress
Site investigation activities at OU@ are being led primarily by PRPs with oversight by EPA.
Enforcement Activities
The PRP for OU2, Security Signals Inc. signed an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to conduct a Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at OU2. The AOC was effective May 2007. The AOC allows for the removal activities to be completed under the AOC.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the National Fireworks site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process.
Future Work
The proposed removal action is designed to address two areas, buried live pin flares (Anomaly B2) and suspected waste shop disposal area (Anomaly B1), identified at the Security Signals facility. The removal action and disposal of materials will be conducted in a manner that complies with all state, local, and federal regulations including established quality assurance/quality control protocols.
EPA and TDEC have provided oversight during the Preliminary Assessment, Expanded Site Inspection, and the Remedial Investigation at OU2, and will continue to work together to coordinate oversight responsibilities during the Removal Action OU2. EPA may identify other areas of the National Fireworks parcel that require further response actions at a later time.
Site Administrative Documents
Site Repository
For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.
Cordova Branch Library
8457 Trinity Road
Cordova, TN 38018
Administrative Record Index
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.