Region 3 GPRA Baseline RCRA Corrective Action Facility


Bayer,  Inc. D

807 South Shady Avenue
Damascus, VA 24236
Congressional District 9
EPA ID #:VAD003379062
Final Update

Current  Progress  at the Site
Bayer's Damascus, Virginia facility was closed since 1986.  In 1995, the company expressed a desire
to expedite cleanup of the Site given its intention to donate the land to the City of Damascus.

Bayer is a RCRA corrective action facility and conducted the RCRA Facility Investigation pursuant to
an Administrative Consent Order issued March 30, 1989.

EPA worked with Bayer to use interim measures (EVIs) to expedite cleanup of poly aromatic
hydrocarbons and lead contamination at the facility.  The use of IMs for soil excavation resulted in a
reduction in time for site cleanup. The need for a follow up corrective action order under RCRA
3008(h) for remedy implementation was eliminated by using the IM provisions of the order. This
resulted in significant savings to EPA of oversight costs in addition to cost savings to Bayer. EPA's
final decision announcing that the site was clean was the key to having the property successfully
donated to the city.  This decision gave the community comfort about the land transfer. The City of
Damascus will see an economic benefit as it redevelops the land.

Site Description
Bayer is located in Damascus, Virginia, adjacent to the Beaverdam Creek, approximately one-half mile
south of the Damascus town center and approximately 12 miles south of Abingdon, Virginia. The
Virginia-Tennessee state line is one-half mile south of the plant. Bayer occupies 53 acres.  The
manufacturing facilities associated with the former textile dye plant occupied approximately 6 acres at
the northern end of the property.

Past activities which may have impacted the environment include land disposal activities, use of surface
impoundments for wastewater treatment, and chemical use, storage, and transport associated with
manufacturing operations.

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Site Responsibility^
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA
Region 3 with assistance from the State.
Community Interaction
A public meeting was held on December 9, 1997 and the Final Decision and Response to Comments
was issued June 24, 1998.
Government Contact
EPA Project Manager
Ms. Estena A. McGhee - 3WC23
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region III
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Phone:(215)814-3433
Email: mcghee.estena@epa.gov

For more information about EPA's corrective action webpage, including Environmental Indicators,
please visit our site at: www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/correctiveaction.htm

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