vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5502G)
EPA520-F-93-016
Summer 1993
Superfund At Work
Hazardous Waste Cleanup Efforts Nationwide
Site Description:
Disposal pits in a smalt suburban area
in York County, Virginia
Site Size: 27 acres
Primary Contaminants:
Heavy metals (vanadium, nickel,
selenium)
Potential Range of Health Risks:
Direct contact with contaminants may
have caused central nervous system
Nearby Population Affected:
500 to 1,000 people within one mile
Ecological Concerns:
Contamination of the Chlsman Creek
Coastal Basin
Year Listed on NPL: 1983
EPA Region: i
State: Virginia
Congressional District: 1
From Fly Ash to Fly Balls Youngsters prepare to play ball on a site
once contaminated with fly ash, cinders and the residues from burning
petroleum coke and coal.
Success in Brief
EPA and Virginia Power
Shine at York County Site
The Chisman Creek hazardous waste site in York County, Virginia was
once contaminated with by-products generated from a nearby power
station. Today, York County residents play baseball and soccer on newly-
constructed fields covering the former site. The US. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA), the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Virginia Power
worked together to make the area safe for public use. Under two coopera-
tive agreements, known as consent decrees, Virginia Power:
Designed a $10 million site cleanup;
Supplied municipal water service to affected residents;
Constructed a drainage and water treatment plant to remove
contaminants from area ground water; and
Installed state-of-the-art, lighted baseball and soccer fields on top
of the cleaned up Superfund site.
The Site Today
In May 1991, the Yorktown community
held a ribbon cutting ceremony to cel-
ebrate the successful cleanup of the
Chisman Creek site and the opening of
recreational fields on the property.
Through the cooperative efforts of EPA,
Virginia Power, the Commonwealth of
Virginia, and York County officials, the
Chisman Creek property has been restored
| for unrestricted use. Based on community
| needs, the property has been converted into 4
t three soccer fields and two baseball fields.
to
ffl
I Comprehensive site monitoring and ground
\& water treatment are ongoing. When the
monitoring program is complete, the
Chisman Creek site will be deleted from
EPA's list of hazardous waste sites.
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Superfund At Work Chisman Creek.York County, VA Summer 1993
A Site Snapshot
The Chisman Creek site is
located in a small residential
area in York County, Virginia.
Approximately 500 to 1,000
people live within a one-mile
radius. H^^_MM.
More than
1.3 million
cubic yards of
fly ash con-
taminated 27
acres of land
and portions ^^^^"«"^^^
of the 520-acre watershed of the
Chisman Creek Coastal Basin
on the Virginia Peninsula.
Studies conducted in 1980 by
the Virginia State Water Con-
trol Board and the Virginia
State Board of Health revealed
contamination by sulf ates and
heavy metals, including vana-
dium, on the waste site and in
surrounding areas.
More than
1.3 million cubic yards
of fly ash contaminated
the Chisman Creek
Coastal Basin
Shallow residential wells
near the site, as well as three
ponds, a freshwater tributary
of Chisman Creek, and
Chisman Creek itself were
MMB^^MHH contaminated
with vana-
dium and
other heavy
metals. In
1980, the state
closed down
«^^««^ contaminated
residential wells after finding
these contaminants in the
water.
Prolonged ingestion of
drinking water polluted by
heavy metals could have
caused health problems,
however, there were no re-
ported conditions associated
with this site.
Team Efforts Iran
Fly Ash Seeps Into
Nearby Drinking Water
From 1957 until 1974, Virginia
Power Company (formerly Virginia
Electric Power Company) mixed
and burned equal portions of petro-
Coal burning operations
produced fly ash,
a solid waste with the
texture of talcum powder
leum coke and coal in an effort to
produce low-cost fuel for electricity.
These coal burning operations
produced residues, cinders, and
fly ash - a solid waste similar in
texture to talcum powder. Large
quantities of fly ash - totaling
over 1.3 million cubic yards -
were transported by a private
hauler and deposited into four
separate disposal pits that en-
compass the Chisman Creek site.
Chisman Creek
Timeline
Door-to-door community relations
Site listed on NPL
EPA begins extensive investigations
Congress enacts Superfund
1 State confirms vanadium contamination
Affected residential wells closed
1
Coal burned to produce low-cost fuel;
fly ash by-product dumped in pits on site
1
1957
1974
1980
1982
1983
Chicago, IL 60o04-3G90
Page 2
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Superfund At Work Chisman Creek,York County, VA Summer 1993
3rm Waste Site into Community Recreation Facility
Heavy rains washed the fly ash
and other sediments from the
disposal pits into Chisman Creek,
its tributaries, and ground water
within and around the disposal
area. Eventually, the contamina-
tion seeped into nearby residen-
tial drinking wells.
In 1980, the Virginia State
Water Control Board (VWCB), the
Virginia State Board of Health,
and the Virginia Institute of
Marine Sciences (VIMS) re-
sponded to local complaints of
discolored well water.
Subsequent investigations
confirmed the presence of vana-
dium as well as other metals and
sulfates in the wells. The state
then shut down the affected wells.
In December 1980, Congress
enacted the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Com-
pensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) establishing the
"Superfund" program to clean up
the nation's hazardous waste
sites. One year later, EPA was
asked by state officials to evaluate
the Chisman Creek Coastal Basin.
EPA conducted investigations
throughout 1982 and part of 1983.
These studies determined the
Comprehensive site
studies aimed to prevent
exposure to fly ash and
contaminated water
nature and extent of contamina-
tion resulting from the fly ash and
other contaminants. In September
1983, the Chisman Creek site was
included on the National Priorities
List (NPL), EPA's roster of uncon-
trolled or abandoned hazardous
waste sites requiring cleanup
under the Superfund program.
Chisman Creek
York County, Virginia
Early in the investigative process,
EPA contacted the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) to obtain information
about possible health effects
associated with the contaminants.
The CDC was confident that the
shutdown of residential wells in
1980 significantly reduced expo-
sure to contaminants from the site.
Site Restored to
Productive, Valuable Land
EPA could then focus on
finding ways to prevent direct
exposure to the fly ash, protect the
adjacent wetlands, and restore the
area ground water. Due to the
r
EPA determines cleanup plan
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service consults on ecosystem effects
Virginia Power agrees to conduct site cleanup
Ground water and soil cleanup begins
Soil cleanup completed
Chisman Creek Park opens
Site ground water monitoring
and treatment (on-going)
1986
1987
1988
1989
1991
Page3
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Superfund At Work
Chisman Creek.York County, VA
Summer 1993
unusual characteristics of vana-
dium, investigations continued
until 1986.
EPA determined that the
cleanup at the site would best be
accomplished in two phases; the
EPA consulted the
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
on the health effects
of vanadium
first would address the contami-
nants in the four disposal pits and
area ground water. The second
phase would address the three
ponds, a freshwater tributary, and
Chisman Creek itself.
Virginia Power Steps in
to Manage the Effort
In 1987 and 1989, EPA success-
fully negotiated with Virginia
Power to participate in the site
cleanup.
Virginia Power started con-
struction of the first cleanup
phase in April 1988, and finished
work in December 1989. In accor-
dance with EPA's cleanup plan,
Virginia Power:
Connected homes affected by
contaminated ground water to
existing public water lines;
Installed sub-surface drains to
collect contaminated ground
water for on-site treatment;
Constructed a water treatment
system to remove contami-
nants from the ground water;
Installed a discharge pipe to
release treated water from the
water treatment plant back into
Chisman Creek;
Controlled erosion by planting
protective grasses to prevent
contamination from being
carried off site by surface
water; and
Covered three of the four
disposal pits - two with soil
and one with a clay cap - to
prevent migration of or direct
contact with the fly ash. The
fourth disposal pit was used
minimally and therefore did
not need to be covered.
In addition, cleanup teams
constructed on-
site water quality
monitoring sta-
tions to ensure the
effectiveness of
the ground water
cleanup.
A Delicate
Ecosystem
Remains
Undisturbed
Due to the
fragile nature of
the Chisman
Creek ecosystem,
EPA obtained
assistance for the
second phase of
cleanup from the
U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to
determine the
effect of fly ash on
the ponds, Chis-
man Creek, and
the marine life in
tributary waters.
In 1987, the US. Fish and
Wildlife Service determined that
the small amount of contamina-
tion detected did not justify
Virginia Power
connected homes
affected by contaminated
ground water to existing
public water lines
disturbing this delicate ecosys-
tem. Cleanup teams could have
continued on page 5
Once an environmental liability, the Chisman Creek area
was posted with "Keep Out" signs.
Page 4
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Superfund At Work
Chisman Creek,York County, VA Summer 1993
An Informed Community
Superfund community
relations efforts are designed to
keep citizens informed about
site progress and to provide
community input into site
decisions.
In 1985, EPA and Virginia
Power committed to keep the
residents of York County
involved in the Chisman Creek
site cleanup. EPA representa-
tives went door to door to
notify local citizens about the
site. After engineers developed
remedial plans for the site, the
community was given time to
express concerns and ask
questions.
During public meetings,
EPA presented cleanup alterna-
tives and discussed issues such
as health and ecological risks
posed by site contamination,
future land use, cleanup costs and
procedures, Virginia Power's
involvement, and community
participation in site activities.
Further, EPA issued periodic
press releases, frequently con-
tacted local officials to
update them on the site's
status, and maintained
information repositories
at the York County Munici-
pal Building, the York-
town Public Library, and
the Chesapeake Bay Foun-
dation.
Throughout site cleanup
activities, information
centers for interested
citizens were maintained at
the local elementary school, the
State Department of Health in
Richmond, and the EPA Re-
gional office in Philadelphia.
EPA's staff also educated the
local community about the
procedures being taken to
protect natural resources.
EPA representatives
went door to door to
notify area residents
about the Chisman
Creek site
Team Efforts Transform Waste Site
continued from page 4
done more harm by inadvertently
spreading contamination to
unaffected areas. Based on this
information, Virginia Power
began designing phase two of the
cleanup plan.
In 1989, Virginia Power
installed surface water drainage
controls to divert runoff into the
existing water treatment system.
Virginia Power also initiated a
water quality, sediment quality,
and monitoring program to track
contamination levels.
Cleanup Effectiveness
Is Assured
Comprehensive monitoring
programs ensure that cleanup
activities are effective and that the
environment remains safe.
The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service
assisted in ecosystem
evaluations
In December 1989, EPA and the
state conducted a final construc-
tion inspection of the site. Officials
verified the effectiveness of the
day cap, the drainage control
measures, and the water treat-
ment system.
A comprehensive monitoring
program, as well as ground water
treatment, will continue until
cleanup goals are reached.
Page 5
'0"Agency
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Superfund At Work Chisman Creek.York County, VA
Summer 1993
The Home Team Wins
Initially, the proposed cleanup
plan for the Chisman Creek
Superfund site suggested that
the site be fenced and use of the
property be restricted.
Local residents, however,
had previously used the site for
recreational purposes such as
motor biking, walking, and
fishing, and they objected to the
placement of barbed wire around
the former disposal pits.
As a result, Virginia Power and
York County officials worked to
convert the site into a county recre-
ational facility.
The final conceptual design
included a plan to create softball
and soccer fields on top of the
former disposal area. The recre-
ational facility is now equipped
with field lighting, a parking lot,
and restrooms.
Chisman Creek is a model of
what can be done to restore a
Superfund site to an area of
public pride. Virginia Power's
experiences exemplify the need
for responsible waste disposal
practices and well-managed
cleanup efforts.
For additional copies of this or other
Superfund At Work updates, contact the
National Technical Information Service,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161,
telephone (703) 487-4650.
If you wish to be added to or deleted from
our mailing list or to comment on this
bulletin's content, length or format, please
call (703) 603-8984 or send a letter to
- Superfund At Work (5502G),
401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.
Success at
Chisman
Creek
Coordinating the efforts
of many state and local
organizations, EPA and
Virginia Power achieved an
exceptional cleanup at the
Chisman Creek site.
These efforts protected
local citizens and a fragile
ecosystem, surpassing
anticipated goals.
Residents now gather to
play baseball and soccer on
the reclaimed land.
> EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
5502G
Washington, D.C. 20460
Official Business
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