Region 3 GPRA Baseline RCRA Corrective Action Facility

Cooper Industries
Route 660
Earlysville, VA 22936
Congressional District 7
EPA ID #: VAD023717853
Last Updated 12/27/2005
Current Progress at the Site
Since 1992, Cooper Industries (Cooper) has been implementing a remedial system to treat
contaminated groundwater at the facility in accordance with a RCRA Corrective Action Consent
Order. Previously, Cooper completed an investigation at the facility and selected an appropriate
remedy. All sources of contaminants (including drain pits, underground concrete tanks, sludge pits and
trenches, and the sanitary lagoon) were cleaned up under EPA or the Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality (VDEQ) authority, as appropriate.

Groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) continues to be the focus of the
remedial activities at the facility. Pursuant to the Consent Order, Cooper operates a pump and treat
system to contain and cleanup contaminated groundwater. Groundwater that is recovered is treated
through two activated carbon units in series to remove the VOCs, then discharged to a surface water
stream, in accordance with a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit.  Cooper collects
and analyzes groundwater samples on a semiannual basis to evaluate the effectiveness of the system
over time.

After reevaluating the historical data, Cooper modified the groundwater remediation system in 1999 to
add two recovery wells in the source area.  Cooper also ceased operating three recovery wells located
at the fringe of the plume. Groundwater recovery was discontinued at these wells because data
indicated that pumping at these perimeter wells provided limited mass removal and was potentially
promoting plume migration away from the source area.

Cooper's most recent  Semi-Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report, submitted in June 2005,
indicates that VOC contaminant levels have generally decreased or remained relatively constant during
the six-month reporting period.  Approximately 25 pounds of VOC contaminants were removed from
ground water in the first half of 2005. This indicates that the pump and treat system continues to
effectively cleanup the ground water and control the migration of contamination in the ground water.
Site Description
The Cooper facility is located about 10 miles north of Charlottesville, Virginia along Route 660 in
Earlysville, Virginia. The facility consists of about 225,000 square feet under roof and covers about 90
acres in a residential/industrial area. Electrical distribution equipment was manufactured at this facility
since opening as Panorama Corporation in 1962.  Other operations at the facility included Murray
Manufacturing in 1967, Arrow Hart in 1970, and Crouse-Hinds in 1975. Cooper acquired the facility
in 1981. Manufacturing processes included stamping, grinding, welding, painting, and plating of metal
parts.  In 1992, the manufacturing operations were sold to Siemens; however, Cooper retained
ownership of the property and improvements. Siemens ceased manufacturing operations in 1997 and

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vacated the property. In 1999, Donnie Foster purchased the property and is leasing the building as
commercial and industrial office space.
Site Responsibility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted pursuant to an EPA RCRA
Section 3008(h) Corrective Measures Implementation Consent Order.  EPA is the lead agency for the
site, with assistance from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ).

Contaminants
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwater are the contaminants of concern. These
compounds primarily consist of tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), and cis-1,2-
dichloroethene (DCE).
Community Interaction
Informational public meetings have been held in the past.  If community groups or interested citizens are
interested in receiving additional information, a public meeting will be scheduled to share the current
status of the site and answer questions.

Institutional Controls

No institutional controls were required by the Corrective Measures Implementation Consent Order.

Government Contacts
EPA Project Manager
Stephanie Dehnhard (3WC23)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region III
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Phone: (215) 814-3234
Email: dehnhard.stephanie@epa.gov

Ms. Debra Miller
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 10009
Richmond, VA 23240
Phone: (804) 698-4206
Email: damiller@deq.virginia.gov

For more information about EPA's corrective action webpage, including Environmental Indicators,

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please visit our site at: www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/correctiveaction.htm

Facility Contact
Mr. Nelson Olavarria
Cooper Industries
600 Travis, Suite 5800
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 209-8850
Email: olavarri@cooperindustries.com

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