Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Saint Helena Manufacturing (Former Millennium Specialty Chemicals) in Baltimore, Maryland

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The current owner is a bankruptcy trustee, Lyondell Environmental Custodial Trust, who is the responsible party to conduct a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action study pursuant to an August 19, 2010 Administrative Order using trust fund money allocated by the bankruptcy court.

Cleanup Status

The first phase installation and sampling from 33 groundwater wells, surface and subsurface soil was completed in 2013.  The results indicated that the contaminants of concern are principally metals and high caustic pH Four metals: arsenic, barium, cadmium and lead, exhibit concentrations above MDE non-residential screening levels in surface and subsurface soil throughout the southern industrial portion of the site. Only two metals, arsenic and barium, exhibit dissolved phase concentrations above MDE groundwater standards along the boundary wells to Colgate Creek. Based on the first phase sampling results, a second phase investigation work plan for offshore sediment and pore water was developed and implemented in 2015.  Based on the second phase results, a supplemental sampling plan for offshore sediment to fill in the data gap was developed and implemented in summer 2016.  EPA is awaiting presentation of the supplemental sampling results in Fall 2016 to determine if the RFI is complete, and that selection of the remedy is ready.

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Site Description

Interactive Map of Millennium Specialty Chemicals, Baltimore, Maryland


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Millennium Specialty Chemicals historically manufactured paint pigments and amorphous silica gel at the Facility. Paint pigments including zinc lithopone, cadmium lithopone, cadmium pure, titanium dioxide and other inorganic pigments were produced from 1914 till 2005, and amorphous silica gel was produced from 1969 to 2006. In 2006, the facility declared bankruptcy and ceased operation, and by 2008, all structures were demolished, removed and leveled.

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Contaminants at this Facility

The contaminants of concern are principally four metals: arsenic, barium, cadmium and lead.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

 The need for institutional controls has not yet been established.

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Land Reuse Information at this Facility

The site's future use is is yet to be determined.

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Site Responsibility at this Facility

RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of the EPA Region 3 with assistance from Maryland DEP.

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