Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Akzo Chemicals, Incorporated, Delaware City, Delaware
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
The Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc. (Akzo) Facility is located in Delaware City, New Castle County, Delaware. The property is bordered on the west by Route 13, on the north by the Conrail Railroad tracks, on the east by Schoolhouse Road, and on the south by Formosa Plastics, American Mirrex and Route 72 (Wrangle Hill Road).
Cleanup Status
In 2007, engineered caps were installed over the white resinous material found in the soil in the Barren, capped Landfill and some adjacent low-lying areas. These caps were installed to eliminate exposure risks posed by elevated levels of hexavalent chromium, nickel and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in the soil/resin.
Groundwater contamination was identified beneath a former Carbon Disulfide manufacturing plant (eastern side) where PCE and trichloroethylene (TCE) levels exceeded State and federal Drinking Water standards. Akzo submitted a Corrective Measures Study (CMS) to EPA that summarized alternatives proposed for remediating contaminated soil and groundwater at the Facility. In February 2012, Akzo submitted an In-situ Chemical Oxidation Treatability Study Work Plan to EPA (later revised in November 2012) proposing to test whether chemical oxidation would effectively break down the PCE/TCE groundwater plume. Akzo began implementing the treatability study in July 2013 through January 2014. The findings of the Treatability investigation were submitted to EPA in March 2015. EPA anticipates issuing the proposed remedy decision for the Facility in 2015 or early 2016, upon final approval of the CMS.
Site Description
The Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc. (Akzo) Facility is located in Delaware City, New Castle County, Delaware. The property is bordered on the west by Route 13, on the north by the Conrail Railroad tracks, on the east by Schoolhouse Road, and on the south by Formosa Plastics, American Mirrex and Route 72 (Wrangle Hill Road).
Akzo was constructed and began operation in 1960 under the original ownership of the Stauffer Chemical Company (Stauffer). Akzo acquired the property from Stauffer on or about December 21, 1987 and continued to operate it until 1992, when the Facility was dismantled and closed under the supervision of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).
The Facility consists of: (1) a decommissioned Carbon Disulfide manufacturing plant situated on a 52-acre area which includes closed-loop process units, a wastewater treatment system, storage and loading areas, underground storage tanks for gasoline and an unknown substance, two land disposal areas, a Barren Area and Capped Landfill, and two small wetland areas; (2) a 123-acre Agricultural Parcel; and a (3) 16-acre undeveloped parcel. The plant generated carbon disulfide and sodium hydrosulfide. Sodium hydrosulfide and waste oil were the only documented hazardous waste constituents stored in the drum storage area. Off-specification sulfur and ceramic brick debris were disposed of in the Barren Area and the Capped Landfill under Akzo’s ownership.
Contaminants at this Facility
The contaminants that are present are elevated levels of chromium hexavalent, nickel, and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in white resinous material in the soil of the Barren, Capped Landfill, and adjacent low-lying areas. Concentrations of PCE and trichloroethylene (TCE) exceeding Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) were detected in the groundwater beneath the eastern side of the Carbon Disulfide (CS2) manufacturing plant.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The need for Institutional Controls is yet to be determined.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
In addition to the 52 acre plant site , there is a 123 acres agricultural parcel , and a 16 acre undeveloped parcel of land.
Site Responsiblity at this Facility
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities are being conducted under the direction of the EPA Region 3 with assistance from Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.