Region 3 GPRA Baseline RCRA Corrective Action Facility
University of Virginia D
Chemistry Building, McCormick Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Congressional District 5
EPA ID #: VAD000820712
Last Update
Current Progress at the Site
The University of Virginia (UVA) has completed the RCRA Corrective Action process in accordance
with the EPA Region III Facility Lead Program. The requirements of this program include:
•D A determination of the extent and sources of all releases of hazardous wastes or
hazardous waste constituents at or from the Facility;
•D Perform interim measures at the Facility, if warranted, to prevent or mitigate
unacceptable threats to human health and the environment by: 1) controlling human
exposures, and 2) controlling migration of any groundwater contamination at or from
the Facility from releases of hazardous wastes or hazardous constituents; and,
• D Conduct effective public involvement.
Based on the initial facility wide assessment, the "Former Observatory Hill Debris Disposal Area," (O-
Hill) was the only area identified for further study. EPA approved the investigation work plan designed
for this area in the Spring of 2000 and the field work was completed in September 2000. The field
work included the installation of six groundwater monitoring wells, the excavation of twelve exploratory
backhoe test pits, three deep trenches and the collection of samples from groundwater, surface water,
soils and sediments. The goal of this investigation is to determine if this former disposal area presents
any long-term risks to human health or the environment.
A final report documenting the results of the field investigation was submitted to EPA for review in
October 2001. Based on the results documented in the final report EPA has concluded that there are
no unacceptable risks to human health or the environment at the O-Hill area.
On December 10, 2003, EPA issued a Statement of Basis explaining the findings of the field
investigation. The 45 day public comment period ended on January 26, 2004 and no comments were
received during that time. Based on this, EPA has determined that no further corrective action is
necessary at this time and signed a Determination of Corrective Action Complete Without Controls on
March 1, 2004.
Site Description
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The University of Virginia, founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, is a state-supported institution that
supports research and scholarship in many fields. Its areas of strength include research in the
humanities and programs in the biomedical, physical, and engineering sciences.
The EPA utilized the National Corrective Action Priority System (NCAPS) model to evaluate the
relative p riority of the University. The NC AP S model is based on four different exp osure p athway s:
groundwater, surface water, air and on-site (direct contact with hazardous materials or contact with
contaminated surface soils). Based upon the NCAPS model, the University ranked as a high priority
facility. The NCAPS modeling results do not mean that the facility ranked as "high" will in fact, require
large-scale remediation. In some cases, remediation may have already taken place under the State's
jurisdiction or as a facility-lead. The investigation at UVA focuses on the O-Hill area as was noted in
the NCAPS site assessment report.
Site Responsibility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of EPA
Region 3 with assistance from the State. The investigation activities were implemented in accordance
with an EPA Facility Lead Agreement.
Contaminants
Inorganic constituents in groundwater/soil and semi-volatile organic compounds in soil were evaluated
as potential contaminants of concern.
Community Interaction
UVA has established and operates a document repository for this project and communicates
information regarding this project to the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle via a
cooperative task force (Planning and Coordination Council). The repository is located in the UVA
Science and Engineering Library, Clark Hall, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Government Contacts
EPA Project Manager
Mr. Russell Fish - 3WC23
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region III
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Phone:(215)814-3226
Email: fish.russell@epa.gov
Ms. LeslieRomanchik
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
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P.O. Box 10009
Richmond, VA 23240
Phone: (804) 698-4129
Email: laromanchi@deq.virginia.gov
For more information about EPA's corrective action webpage, including Environmental Indicators,
please visit our site at: www.epa.gov/ree3wcmd/correctiveaction.htm
Facility Contact
Mr. JeffSitler
University of Virginia
Environmental Health and Safety
P.O. Box 3425
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Email: sitler@virginia.edu
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