Region 3 GPRA Baseline RCRA Corrective Action Facility
Merck and Company, Inc.
Highway 340 South
Elkton, VA 22827
Congressional District 6
EPA ID #: VAD001705110
Last Updated: December 30, 2005
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STONEWALL
PLANT
Current RCRA CA Activities
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) conditionally approved the Corrective
Measures Implementation (CMI) Work Plan on September 8, 2004. Merck conducted several
sampling and monitoring events during the third and fourth quarter 2005. These events included
quarterly groundwater (gw) sampling at the closed landfill, quarterly landfill gas monitoring, quarterly
monitoring natural attenuation (MNA) gw sampling, quarterly surface water sampling, and quarterly site-
wide gw elevations were collected. The data collected during these events will be summarized in
various reports, which are to be submitted to the DEQ during the first and second quarters of 2006.
Also, the DEQ attended an informal Community Information Meeting held on August 30, 2005.
Merck & Company, Inc.
VAD001705110
December 30, 2005 RCRA CA Fact Sheet
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The DEQ gave interim authorization to proceed with Merck's proposed biosparging pilot study for the
area north of the landfill on February 3, 2005. The 2-month pilot study began in May 2005 and
resulting data will be used to design the full-scale corrective action north of the landfill. Merck has
already begun preliminary designs for the full-scale bioventing for the area of concern (AOC) South and
biosparging for the AOC North. On-site groundwater flow is controlled by continuous production well
pumping. Merck estimates that approximately 30% of the CMI activities are complete at the Stonewall
site.
Site Description
Merck is located in northwestern Virginia, approximately 2 miles southwest of Elkton. The plant lies in
the Shenandoah Valley, just SE of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. The facility occupies
approximately 1,300 acres, however, active operations occur on only 89 acres.
The Facility began operation in 1941. Prior to that, the land was undeveloped. The facility includes a
pharmaceutical laboratory and manufacturing facilities, which produce animal and human health care
products. The plant is supported by a wastewater treatment plant, a solvent recovery operation and a
powerplant with co-generation facilities. Additionally there is an onsite, permitted, industrial landfill. The
landfill occupies 7 acres located in the northeastern corner of the property. Prior to 1980, various
production wastes, including organic and inorganic chemicals from the Plant operations were disposed
of in the landfill. Merck property borders the landfill on all sides. The landfill was capped in 2000 as
one of the corrective measures to be implemented.
The current RCRA permit became effective on April 5, 2002 and shall remain in effect until March 6,
2012. The facility is permitted to store hazardous wastes in containers. The Corrective Measures
Study report was approved by EPA on May 7, 1999. The facility is currently in the Corrective
Measures Implementation (CMI) phase of RCRA Corrective Action.
RCRA CA Milestones
In October 1989, EPA issued a RCRA Administrative Order to Merck. EPA issued the Statement of
Basis on July 2, 1999. A public meeting was held in September 1999. The Final Decision and
Response to Comments (FDRTC) was issued in March 2001. The DEQ has incorporated the
requirements of the FDRTC and the previously issued Solid Waste Management Permit into the
facility's RCRA operating permit. The final RCRA permit became effective on April 5, 2002 and shall
remain in effect until March 6, 2012.
The Corrective Measures Study report was approved by EPA on May 7, 1999. The facility is
currently in the Corrective Measures Implementation (CMI) phase of RCRA Corrective Action. The
CMI was conditionally approved by the DEQ on September 8, 2004.
Merck & Company, Inc.
VAD001705110
December 30, 2005 RCRA CA Fact Sheet
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Environmental Indicator Status
Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), EPA has set national goals to address
high priority RCRA Corrective Action facilities by the year 2005. EPA is evaluating two key indicators
for each facility: Current Human Exposures Under Control and Migration of Contaminated
Groundwater Under Control. This facility is one of EPA Region Hi's high priority facilities and falls
under this initiative. As of September 26, 2005, the current evaluation of Environmental Indicators for
this facility is as follows:
• Human Exposures Controlled Determination: YES: "Current Human Exposures is Under
Control" has been verified
• Release to Groundwater Controlled Determination: YES: "Current Release to Groundwater is
Under Control" has been verified
Contaminants
The primary contaminants of concern in the groundwater include benzene, chlorobenzene, chloroform,
methylene chloride, naphthalene, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and vanadium. The contaminants of
concern in surface and subsurface soils include several VOCs and SVOCs..
Institutional Controls
A Deed Notice is in place identifying the location of the closed solid waste landfill.
Community Involvement
Citizens questions and concerns have been addressed throughout the RCRA Corrective Action
process. A Community Relations Plan is currently being developed in conjunction with the CMI
Workplan. Additionally, the Administrative Record had been made available at the repository listed
below to give the community immediate access to the RFI Report and the CMS Report. The
Administrative Record containing relevant information is available for public review at the following
location(s):
Massanutten Regional Library
174 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Phone: (540) 434-4475
Merck & Company, Inc.
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The Administrative Record may be accessed during normal library hours, 9am-9pm Monday-Thursday,
9am-6pm Friday, and 9am-5pm Saturday. Additional information concerning the library may be found
at the website http://www.mrlib.org/mainlibrary.htm.
Government Contacts
The Commonwealth of Virginia has the lead authority for this project. Please contact the state project
manager listed below for details on this project or the contents of this fact sheet.
DEQ Project Manager:
Matthew M. Stepien
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 10009
Richmond, VA 23240-0009
Phone: (804) 698-4026
Email: mmstepien@deq .virginia.gov
EPA Project Manager
Ms. EstenaMcGhee - 3WC23
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region m
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Phone: (215) 814-3433
Email: mcghee.estena(g),epa.gov
For more information about EPA's corrective action program, including Environmental
Indicators, please visit EPA's web site at: www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/correctiveaction.htm
Facility Contact
The facility contact as listed in the RCRA permit is:
Dr. Helen L. Penrod
Project Coordinator Merck & Co., Inc.
Stonewall Plant
P.O. Box 7
Elkton, VA 22827
Phone: (540) 298-5487
Factsheet Updates
Merck & Company, Inc.
VAD001705110
December 30, 2005 RCRA CA Fact Sheet
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The previous factsheet was updated July 2005. The next update is scheduled for July 2006. Previous
factsheets may be obtained through the listed contacts.
Merck & Company, Inc.
VAD001705110
December 30, 2005 RCRA CA Fact Sheet
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