Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in Charlottesville, Virginia
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
In January 2008, Unisys Corporation (Unisys) entered into a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility Lead Agreement (FLA) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Region III. Unisys agreed to conduct environmental investigations at the Charlottesville Facility, and if necessary, perform Interim Measures (IM) to remediate contamination. Unisys submitted a RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) Work Plan to EPA to address data gaps from previous site environmental investigations and remedies conducted at the Facility under VA Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) direction prior to the FLA. Field activities commenced in August 2008 and included monitoring well installation, groundwater and soil sampling and potential contaminant source area investigations.
Cleanup Status
The Facility submitted Site Characterization Reports to VDEQ from 1996 to 1998. The data and risk assessment submitted to VDEQ indicated that environmental conditions at the Facility did not present unacceptable risks to human health or the environment provided that restrictions were placed on future use of the properties. VDEQ issued Certificates of Satisfactory Completion of Remediation to the Facility in 2000 and 2002.
Unisys continued to monitor groundwater to provide more information on the nature and extent of dissolved phase Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) in groundwater found beneath the manufacturing and Parcels. VDEQ gave notice in February 2008 that the post-certification monitoring requirements were satisfied with Unisys’ entry into EPA’s FLA.
Unisys submitted an Interim Measure workplan to EPA in May 2011 to delineate and remove soil containing tetrachloroethylene (PCE) levels above acceptable risk levels. The soil area was located on an adjoining Parcel formerly owned by the Facility. Unisys delineated, excavated and disposed of contaminated soil in a permitted off-site landfill. As part of redevelopment of the Parcel, more soil with PCE contamination was found. To eliminate potential risks of volatile vapors from entering the building constructed on the Parcel, a vapor mitigation system was installed to protect human health as part of building construction.
The final phase of Facility remedial activities will address residual tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), contamination in groundwater.
Site Description
Interactive Map of Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Charlottesville, VA
The Facility is located at 1070 Seminole Trail in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia near the intersection of Seminole Trail (U.S. Highway 29) and Hydraulic Road (State Route 743). The property consisted of 81 acres purchased in 1955 by Sperry Rand Corporation. Sperry Rand Corporation changed its name to Sperry Corporation and then merged with Burroughs Corporation in 1986 to form Unisys Corporation (Unisys). Since late 1956, a portion of the Facility has been used for navigational instruments and systems manufacturing by various owners and operators. The Facility consists of the manufacturing Facility located on approximately 19 acres, currently owned and operated by Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, and approximately 62 acres to the northeast, northwest, and southwest that were sold to private developers.
Various manufacturing processes have been conducted at the Facility including machining, degreasing, soldering, and painting. Gasoline for trucks and oils for generators and recycling were stored in aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) located on the northeast side of the facility. Several petroleum underground storage tanks (USTs) used for storing heating oil and diesel fuel were located on the southwest side of the facility. The ASTs and USTs were removed under Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) over sight. Three storage tanks remain: a 6,000-gallon UST, a 500-gallon AST for a generator, and a 500-gallon AST for oil recycling. A paint pit in the northern portion of the facility was used for waste disposal in the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s.
Contaminants at this Facility
The contaminants of concern are that soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment contained levels of tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene and other VOCs.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Deed restrictions were placed on the Facility (including the privately owned Parcels) prohibiting groundwater use except for environmental monitoring and testing. Additional deed restrictions were placed on the current Facility and 23 acres to the north and northeast, prohibiting residential use. In August 2008, VDEQ released the residential use prohibition on 1.86 acres of the 23 acres in the western portion as requested by the current owner, a land developer.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The facility is under continued use.
Site Responsiblity at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of the EPA Region 3 with assistance from the Virginia DEQ.