FCX, Inc. (Washington Plant)

• 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:
FCX began repackaging and selling agricultural chemicals in 1945 on this 6 acre site. During the operations, a large trench was filled with pesticide wastes and other agricultural chemicals in the early 1970s. The company filed for bankruptcy and began liquidating its assets in 1985. The chemicals from the trench moved into shallow groundwater connected to the underlying aquifer. This deeper aquifer is the major source of drinking water in the area. Approximately 2,850 people obtain their drinking water from wells within 3 miles of the site. The area is mainly agricultural. The site is bordered by a railroad and a wetland. The contaminants in the disposal trenches included DDT, chlordane, mercury, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Cleanup Progress: Threat Mitigated by Physical Cleanup Work
Groundwater Monitoring Underway

In 1988, the EPA and the State of North Carolina joined in a legal action to secure the remaining assets of the bankrupt FCX Corporation prior to final disbursement to the investors. The action resulted in a July 14, 1992 Trust Agreement which provided that a portion of the remaining assets were to be divided between the FCX-Washington and the FCX-Statesville Site. On March 30, 1992 the Agency entered into a Consent Decree with Fred Webb Inc. for additional funds. The remaining funds for the remedial action will come from Superfund dollars, based on site prioritization.

Between January 1989 and January 1992 EPA conducted a removal action on approximately 15,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil. The treatment of the contaminated soils, which was accomplished via thermal desorption was completed in May of 1996. The on-site soils were evaluated post removal and were addressed in the December 1996 ROD, which called for "No Further Action."

The groundwater and surface water pathways were investigated in a 1992 remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS). The subsequent 1993 Record of Decision (ROD) called for extraction and treatment of the contaminated groundwater. In October 2004, additional groundwater samples were collected. It was noted that groundwater contaminant levels had dropped significantly since the remedial investigation. On September 8, 2005, the ROD was amended to change the groundwater remedy from pump and treat to monitored natural attenuation. Monitoring will occur twice a year, initially. EPA conducted the first round of groundwater monitoring, since the ROD Amendment was prepared, in January 2007 and the second round in August 2007. The results indicated low levels of pesticides in six wells at the Site. In general, the concentrations of pesticides have decreased since the 2004 sampling event.   Another round of sampling was conducted in January 2008.  Following this sampling event, EPA determined to forestall additional sampling pending an evaluation of the effectiveness of the natural attenuation remedy thus far.   That evaluation is currently underway. 

In addition to the work being conducted by EPA, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, through an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration is constructing a 15.5 mile improvement of the US 17 corridor.  The area included four parcels which constitute part of the FCX site. Construction of the highway bypass has required that several wells be replaced with temporary wells pending completion of the highway bypass construction.