Varsol Spill

• Site Profile
• Additional Site Documents including Five Year Reviews, Records of Decisions (ROD) and Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD).
• For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office (http://www.epa.gov/region4/foiapgs/submit.htm).

Site Background:
The Varsol Spill Site is located under a portion of the Miami International Airport. This site and two others, the Miami Drum Services site and the Northwest 58th Street Landfill, are being collectively considered as one management unit for the cleanup investigation and selection of cleanup activities. They are related, in that they all lie on the Biscayne Aquifer, which is the sole source of drinking water for the residents of southeastern Florida. Since 1966, there have been approximately 15 spills and leaks at the site totaling 2 million gallons. This included an underground pipeline leak resulting in the discharge of about 1,600,000 gallons of a petroleum solvent at the Miami International Airport.

An investigative study determined in 1985 that there was no trace of the solvent at or around the airport. Several factors probably contributed to the dissipation of the contaminants in the aquifer: some of the solvent was recovered; biodegradation is believed to have taken place; and the hydrology of the area indicates that some of the solvent contributed to, and became part of, the "background" contamination in the aquifer. The area surrounding the site is highly populated, with 10,000 people living within 3 miles. The Miami Springs Well Field, which provides drinking water for a significant portion of Dade County, is located 2,000 feet from the walls of the airport. Dade County brought enforcement action against Eastern Airlines, the owner of the solvents that spilled. A Consent Agreement was signed to assess and clean up, if necessary, several maintenance areas and tank farms.

The surface water and groundwater were contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The Varsol Spill site is not a public health concern, as the contaminants from the spill can no longer be detected in the area.

Cleanup Progress: Construction Completed
In 1985, after detailed site analyses, the EPA determined that no action needed to take place at this site, because it posed no public or environmental threat. The site was deleted from the NPL on September 1, 1988. No five-Year Reviews are required for the Site. No further updates are warranted at this time.