Bayer Corp
Damascus, Virginia
The Road to Reuse
~~~
Closed in 1986, the 53-acre
former Bayer Corp (Bayer)
facility 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. The manufacturing
facilities associated with a former
textile dye plant occupied
approximately 6 acres at the
northern end of the property.
This Bayer property is a RCRA
corrective action facility and
conducted the RCRA Facility
Approximate total acres
and current use
Approximate Acres in Reuse-.
53
Current Use: Recreational
trails, restaurant and inn,
conference center
Investigation pursuant to an
Administrative Consent Order
issued March 30, 1989. Past
activities that may have impacted
the environment include land
disposal activities, use of surface
impoundments for wastewater
treatment, and chemical use,
storage, and t ransport associated
with manufacturing operations.
In 1995, the company expressed
a desire to expedite cleanup of
the property given its intention
to donate the land to the
City of Damascus. The U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) worked with
Bayer to develop interim
measures to expedite the cleanup
process, resulting in a reduction
in time for site cleanup and cost
savings for both Bayer and EPA.
EPA's final decision announcing
that the site was clean was the
key to having the property
successfully donated to the City
of Damascus.
The City of Damascus received
a Department of Housing and
Community Development grant
to develop walking trail on the
part of the property, which is
located near the Appalachian
Trail.
They were also funded to create
a multi-use recreational park
with soccer, football and baseball
fields. Construction of the park
is planned to start in winter
2009. The City's goal is to have
the walking link the park to the
Appalachian Trail.

M,
www. epa.Rov/rea3wcmd/correctiveciction.htm
For More Information
EPA Region 3 Contact: Luis A. Pizarro,

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