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Solitron Microwave
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Pond on the Solitron Microwave site.
- 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: FLD045459526Location: Port Salerno, Martin County, FL
Lat/Long: 27.136660, -080.199160
Congressional District: 16
NPL Status: Proposed: 03/06/98; Final: 07/27/98
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction complete - physical cleanup activities have been completed
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: In reuse as an industrial park, including retail, office, and warehouse space
Site Manager: Bill Denman (denman.bill@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Solitron Microwave (Solitron) site occupies about 20 acres along Cove Road approximately 3/4 miles east of U.S. Highway 1, in Port Salerno, Florida. The site is surrounded by a residential area consisting of a gated condominium complex and many private homes. Prior to its reuse as the Port Salerno Industrial Park , on-site features included the main Solitron plant building, a storage shed (former hazardous waste storage building), parking lots, a percolation pond, and two septic fields (located east and west of the plant building).
Solitron operated a plating and manufacturing business at the site from 1968 until January 1987. From 1963 to 1968, the site was operated by General R. F. Fittings, a company that reportedly conducted plating operations similar to Solitron’s. Solitron manufactured thin film resistors and connectors for the military, aerospace, and microwave industries. Solvents used in the manufacturing process and in the cleaning operations were reportedly drummed and shipped off site; however, site inspections during the mid 1980s noted leaking pipes and drum pads that were possible sources of solvent contamination to surrounding soil and ground water.
The State of Florida required Solitron to remove approximately 260 cubic yards of sediments from the pond in 1989. Later, Solitron performed more soil and ground water sampling. Since 1991, the Martin County Health Department has regularly tested private drinking water wells in the neighborhood near the site. Initially twelve private wells had levels of contaminants that were above drinking water standards and were connected to the public water supply system.
- Groundwater Contamination Monitoring Update - Martin County Health Department (2009) (PDF) (3 pp, 200K, About PDF)
Threats and Contaminants
Common industrial solvents, such as perchloroethene (PCE), were used at the site. PCE and its breakdown products – trichlorothene, 1,2 dichloroethene and vinyl chloride – are the most common ground water contaminants.
Site Cleanup Plan
EPA issued a Record of Decision, describing the cleanup approach for the site, in 2000. Major components of the cleanup approach included:
- Water line extensions.
- Excavation and off-site disposal.of soil containing levels of volatile organic compounds which had the potential to further contaminate ground water.
- On-site chemical treatment of the most highly contaminated portion of the plume.
- Natural attenuation (use of natural processes to reduce contaminant concentrations) for the remaining ground water contamination.
Cleanup Progress
Extension of Public Water Lines:
Martin County completed construction of the water line extensions in 2003 giving all residents in the area the opportunity to connect to public water.
Excavation of Contaminated Soil:
Contaminated soil near the rear of the building was excavated in 2002. In 2003, the property was sold and the new owner demolished the buildings. Contaminated soil which had previously been underneath the building slab was excavated, characterized and sent off site to a landfill. The last of the contaminated soil was removed from the site in 2004.
Ground Water Cleanup:
In December 2002, EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) determined that the on-site chemical oxidation portion of the ground water cleanup approach was unnecessary because natural processes had virtually eliminated the more contaminated areas previously designated for chemical treatment. This was documented in an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) issued by EPA in 2005. EPA continues to regularly sample the ground water in order to monitor the progress of natural attenuation. This sampling will continue until cleanup standards are reached.
In 2004, EPA issued a Preliminary Close Out Report documenting that EPA had completed the construction activities at the site as required by the selected cleanup approach.
Preliminary Close Out Report (2004) (PDF) (6 pp, 304K, About PDF)
In 2008, EPA presented the Port Salerno Industrial Park with an "Excellence in Site Reuse" award. Port Salerno Industrial Park received the award for developing the Solitron Microwave site in a manner which has enhanced EPA's cleanup approach at the site and resulted in the revitalization of the property and the surrounding community.
The site is now being reused as the Port Salerno Industrial Park which provides retail, office, and warehouse space within Port Salerno. Six acres of the site have been reserved for wetland areas, an upland preserve for native plant habitat, a 50-foot natural buffer between the site and surrounding residential areas, and a surface water retention pond for storm water management.
A Five Year Review was completed on 9/22/09 and determined the remedial actions taken at the site remain protective.
Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by EPA and the State of Florida.
Enforcement Activities
The State of Florida required Solitron to remove approximately 260 cubic yards of sediments from the pond in 1989.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Solitron Microwave site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included fact sheets (see below), public notices and information meetings on cleanup progress and activities.
Fact Sheets
- Reuse Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 1.5MB, About PDF)
Future Work
Annual ground water sampling in accordance with the approved monitored natural attenuation sampling plan will continue until the ground water cleanup levels specified in the ROD are achieved.
The next FYR for the site is scheduled for 2011.
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.
Robert Morgade Public Library
5851 SE Community Drive
Stuart, Florida
Administrative Record Index
- OU-1 (PDF) (4 pp, 203K, About PDF)
- 1995 ESD (PDF) (5 pp, 600K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.