www.epa.gov
Pioneering Recreational Reuse
THE CHISMAN CREEK SUPERFUND SITE IN YORK COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Introduction
Before the Chisman Creek Superfund site was cleaned up, it was
unusable land that provided no benefits to the local community. Now
the site has been transformed into two jewels of the York County,
Virginia, park system. This case study tells the story of one of the first
Superfund sites in the country, and how its pioneering redevelopment
continues to be an example of success 25 years later.
The Chisman Creek Superfund site is near historic Yorktown and the
Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Chisman Creek flows into the
nearby Chesapeake Bay, one of the world's most important estuaries.
Site contamination resulted in the site's listing as one of the country's
earliest Superfund sites. After EPA selected a remedy for the site, the
responsible party. Dominion Energy Virginia, conducted the cleanup
with oversight by EPA and the Virginia Department of Environmental
Quality (VDEQ).
With leadership from Dominion and York County, the site became
the first Superfund site in the nation to be redeveloped after cleanup.
With EPA's support. Dominion designed the remedy to allow for
recreational use. The site, owned by Dominion and under long-term
lease to the county, is now home to two popular athletic parks, used by
several sports leagues with over 1,000 players.
For the past 25 years, the operation and maintenance of the site's
remedy has gone hand-in-hand with the site's continued recreational
reuse. The ongoing collaboration between Dominion, York County,
VDEQ and EPA ensures that the site continues to protect human
health and the environment while providing recreational opportunities
for the community.
Ghisman
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Areas A and C of the Chisman Creek site have been redeveloped as Wolf
Trap Park and Chisman Creek Park.
This case study offers lessons learned for other communities
considering recreational reuse of cleaned-up Superfund sites and other
formerly contaminated lands. In addition, the case study highlights
the site's long history of successful reuse, providing guidance for
other communities on ways to protect public health while supporting
beneficial reuse.

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Wolf Trap Park (left) and Chisman Creek Park (right) provide much-needed sports fields for the local community.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
1

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Site History, Contamination and Remediation
From 1957 to 1974, a contractor for the Virginia Electric and Power Company, a subsidiary of Dominion, disposed
of ash from the Yorktown Power Station. The ash was left over from burning coal and petroleum coke to produce
electricity.
The contractor placed the ash into four abandoned sand and gravel pits along Wolf Trap Road, about 2 miles from
the power plant. About 500,000 tons of ash were deposited at the site before the power plant was converted to burn
fuel oil in 1974.
In the early 1980s, state agencies investigated the site and found heavy metals in groundwater and surface water. In
response, EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 1983.
EPA conducted a remedial investigation from 1984 to 1985 to determine the extent of contamination. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a second remedial investigation, in 1987, to evaluate site impacts on fish and
wildlife.
In 1986 and 1988, EPA issued Records of Decision describing the remedies
selected to address site risks. Dominion agreed to carry out the cleanup and
completed remedy construction in 1988. With funding from Dominion, the
Newport News Water Works extended the public water supply to 55 homes
near the site; York County connected the homes to the waterline.
Dominion installed a system of horizontal drains to collect contaminated
groundwater at Area C. At first, collected groundwater was treated at an
on-site treatment plant; in 1994, EPA decided to send the groundwater for
treatment at the local wastewater treatment plant because the water met
the plant's pretreatment requirements. In 2016, Dominion augmented the
collection system by adding an interceptor trench along the western side of
Area C. In 2017, Yorktown Power Station, which manages the horizontal
drain system, received the Diamond Award for Pretreatment Excellence from
the Hampton Roads Sanitation District. The award reflected 18 consecutive
years of perfect permit compliance.
Dominion placed a low-permeability cap over Area C and soil caps at Areas
A and B to prevent human contact with the ash and to reduce the amount of
rainwater soaking into the ash. Dominion also relocated about a half-mile of
stream next to Area C and filled in the old streambed to prevent exposure to
contaminated sediments.
An environmental covenant recorded by Dominion in 2013 prohibits
groundwater use and restricts digging at the site. Dominion continues
to monitor site groundwater and surface water to assess the remedy's
effectiveness. In addition, EPA and VDEQ review the site every five years
to identify any actions that may be needed to ensure the site continues to be
protective of human health and the environment. The site's cleanup played a
role in a larger water-quality improvement effort that led to the reopening of
the Chisman Creek estuary for private and commercial fishing.	This 1963 photo shows the site when the
sand and gravel pits were active and ash
For more information on the site's history and cleanup, please see disposal had begun.
https://www.epa.gov/superfund/chismancreek.
NORTH

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Project History
1986
The Community Makes Its Voice Heard
Chisman Creek was one of the first places in the country that
EPA designated as a Superfund site. During the early years of the
Superfund program, EPA focused on addressing urgent public
health concerns at long-ignored sites, and had not yet begun
to consider the importance of post-cleanup redevelopment. In
fact, EPA's initial plan was to install a chain-link and barbed-
wire fence around the site after cleanup. However, local
residents. Dominion and other groups objected to fencing the
site and leaving it vacant, and made their opinions clear to EPA
during the public comment period that the Agency held in 1986
before deciding on a cleanup plan for the landfills.
As the owner of the site. Dominion played a crucial role in
determining the site's future use. Fortunately, Dominion
was willing to explore possible future uses for the property.
Discussions with York County officials identified a pressing
local need for playing fields.
In the 1980s, York County was one of the fastest-growing
counties in Virginia. With its growing population, the county
was facing a shortage of athletic fields. "In fact, the county had
no athletic fields other than school fields," said Brian Fuller,
York County's director of community services. So, when
Dominion approached county officials to discuss reuse ideas.
Stewardship Committee Seconds the
Community's Call for Reuse
In 1986, the York County Board of Supervisors organized
a Stewardship Committee, an advisory board for the
Chisman Creek site. The committee included about a
dozen members - local residents and businesspeople
as well as representatives of organizations such as the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Virginia Institute of
Marine Science, and the College of William and Mary.
The Stewardship Committee submitted comments
to EPA during the public comment period by way of
a resolution of the County Board of Supervisors. The
committee's comments included a call to avoid building
chain-link and barbed-wire fencing at the site.
county officials urged Dominion to explore the possibility of
hosting sports fields at the site after cleanup. As a long-time
member of the community, the company was motivated to
make an extra effort to turn the site into a positive asset for the
community. In consultation with York County, Dominion drew
up a conceptual plan for athletic fields and shared it with the
community. The Stewardship Committee and the York County
Board of Supervisors both endorsed the plan.
Timeline of Events
1957-1974
Disposal contractor places ash in sand and gravel pits
1980
Nearby resident raises concern about well water
1980-1981
Virginia State Water Control Board and State Board of Health investigate the site and test residential wells near pits
1983
EPA places the site on the National Priorities List
1984-1985
EPA investigates site contamination
1986
York County Board of Supervisors organizes Stewardship Committee to comment on the site's proposed cleanup
1986
EPA selects a remedy for the pits and groundwater
1987
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service studies site impacts on fish and wildlife
1988
EPA selects a remedy for surface water
1988
Dominion completes construction of the site remedy
1991
York County opens Chisman Creek Park Softball fields
1992
York County opens Wolf Trap Park soccer fields
2008
Dominion and York County install concrete drainage channels to address erosion at Chisman Creek Park
2013
Dominion records environmental covenant to prohibit groundwater use and restrict digging
2016
Dominion installs groundwater interceptor trench at Chisman Creek Park
2017
Dominion receives Diamond Award for Pretreatment Excellence for 18 years of perfect permit compliance
2017
Chisman Creek Park hosts National Softball Association's Girls Fast-Pitch Class A World Series
2017+
Dominion, York County and EPA continue to work together to maintain the parks and ensure the site's protectiveness

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1987- 1988
A Remedy Tailored for Recreation
After considering the community's input and with VDEQ's
concurrence, EPA selected a cleanup plan for the landfills in
September 1986. In its decision document, EPA emphasized
the community's "strong preference" for not fencing off
the site and noted that "community members are adamantly
opposed to a remedial solution which would render the pit
areas completely unusable." The community had spoken loud
and clear - local residents, county officials, the property owner
and non-governmental organizations all urged EPA to allow the
site to be returned to productive use. with recreational facilities
at the top of the community's wish list.
The final step in laying the groundwork for recreational reuse
was securing EPA's approval. At a meeting in late 1986,
Dominion's environmental contractor presented the conceptual
plan for sports fields at the site to EPA. Former EPA site
manager Chris Corbett said that "EPA's project managers
immediately supported the plan" - they saw that recreational
reuse could be compatible with a protective remedy.
With EPA and VDEQ on board with the proposed plan.
Dominion worked with York County to configure the remedy
to support soccer fields on one part of the site and softball fields
"York County's website tells the story of the
parks and their cleanup. The county is proud
to have participated in building these parks.
Some of the county residents who played on
these fields when they were young now have
children who play on these fields. "
- Brian Fuller, York County
director of community services
on another part. "The entire design was done with the reuse
in mind," said Corbett. Grading of the caps was designed to
allow for a level playing surface. In addition, "clean corridors"
were planned for the parks' underground electric lines to allow
for lighting towers at the softball fields. The electric lines
were placed in concrete conduits, allowing for utility workers
to access them in the future without coining in contact with
contamination.
As part of constructing the site's caps. Dominion installed
the parks' ground features - the playing fields, the utilities
and foundations for the restroom facilities. After Dominion
completed the ground features, York County finished the parks,
building sidewalks, restroom facilities and parking lots, and
establishing grass playing surfaces. The county also purchased
a lighting system for the softball fields, which Dominion
installed during the final stages of cleanup.
1991 - 1992
Play Ball!
On May 4, 1991, York County hosted the grand opening of
Gasman Creek Park. About 300 local residents. Dominion
officials, and EPA, state and county personnel gathered to
celebrate the opening of the 13-acre park with its two full-size,
lighted softball fields. In the spring of 1992, the county opened
Wolf Trap Park. The 28-acre park includes two full-size soccer
fields and two smaller, instructional-size soccer fields.
Chisman Creek Park and Wolf Trap Park have become an
integral part of York County's park system, with both parks in
high demand. According to sports league organizers, the local
adult softball leagues and the local youth travel soccer league
might not exist without these parks. The 24 teams and over 600
players in the area's three adult softball leagues play most of
Chisman Creek Park's two lighted softball fields are home to three adult
softball leagues. They also provide practice space for youth soccer
teams.
EPA and Reuse
Since the inception of the
Superfund program, EPA
has been building on its
expertise in conducting
site characterization and
remediation to remove
barriers to the reuse of
cleaned-up properties. Today, consideration of future use
is an integral part of EPA's cleanup programs, from initial
site investigations and remedy selection through to the
design, implementation, and operation and maintenance
of site remedies.

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Yorktown FC, the area's youth travel soccer league, is one of several
sports leagues making good use of Wolf Trap Park and Chisman Creek
Park.
Setting a Standard of Excellence
•	The National Environmental Awards Council
presented an Environmental Achievement Award
to EPA. York County and Dominion for their
partnership in coordinating site cleanup and
redevelopment.
•	The Consulting Engineers Council of Pennsylvania
recognized the engineering firm that designed the
site's drainage system, clay cap and recreational
facilities with the Council's Grand Conceptor
Award.
•	Shortly after the parks opened, they were named
"Best New Facility" by the Virginia Recreation
and Park Society.
their games at Chisman Creek Park's two softball fields. The
soccer fields at Wolf Trap Park are "the lifeblood of Yorktown
FC," the area's youth travel soccer league, according to league
organizer Jeff Sykes. With 15 teams and about 300 players ages
7 to 18, Yorktown FC plays at Wolf Trap Park six days a week.
When daylight is short, Yorktown FC makes use of the lighted
softball outfields at Chisman Creek Park for soccer practice.
The county's youth soccer league and the local high school's
soccer teams also use Wolf Trap Park for games and practice.
Given the area's sustained population growth and the thriving
popularity of youth field sports - soccer, baseball, football,
lacrosse and others - Yorktown FC organizer Jeff Sykes noted
that "playing fields, especially lighted playing fields, are a
valuable commodity in the area. Wolf Trap Park and Chisman
Creek Park are centrally located in the county and the fields are
irrigated, so they are very nice fields."
"The accomplishments at the site are twofold.
First and foremost, Dominion is taking care
of our environmental obligations. Secondly,
lots of people are using the parks; they are a
valuable asset for the county. It was good to
transform a contaminated site into two useful
parks."
- Donald Hintz, Dominion site manager
"Having Wolf Trap and Chisman Creek Parks
available as high-quality recreation facilitiesfor
our citizens to use has been a tremendous asset
to York County. Since the parks opened, they
have hosted thousands of games and visitors,
and we have received numerous compliments
about the quality of the fields. These fields
will continue to be an important part of York
County's parks and recreation programming
for years to come."
- Mark Carter, York County
deputy county administrator
County
VIRGINIA*/
American Future Since 1781

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25 Years Later, Reuse
arid Remedy Continue
1993- 2017+
The Partnership Continues...
With its 25-year histoiy of recreational reuse, the Chisman
Creek site provides a valuable case study for other communities
thinking about redeveloping cleanup sites. The key lesson
is that recreational reuse can continue to be compatible with
remedy protectiveness over the long term, provided that
each stakeholder - responsible parties, facility operators and
environmental agencies - fulfills its obligations diligently, and
all parties work together in good faith toward a common goal.
"Dominion has a very good relationship with
the county. It's in all parties' best interests
to work together — it's a cooperative project.
Dominion avoids doing work during sporting
events. Whenever a need comes up, Dominion
and the county negotiate a resolution. "
- Donald Hintz, Dominion site manager
Various safeguards are in place to maintain the site's
protectiveness over time. The county inspects the parks
regularly for erosion and shares a monthly report with
Dominion. Dominion's project manager visits the site about
every two weeks. An environmental covenant restricts
groundwater use, excavation and construction at the site. In
addition, EPA will continue to review the site's remedy every
five years, as required by law, to ensure that it continues to
be protective of human health and the environment. EPA's
most recent five-year review, in 2016, found that the site "is
currently protective of human health and the environment,"
and identifies specific actions that will be taken to ensure
continued protectiveness.
York County leases the park properties from Dominion for
a payment equal to their property taxes. The 60-year lease
agreement defines each party's responsibilities, setting the stage
for successful cooperation. Dominion remains responsible
for the site's environmental liabilities, while the county
takes care of normal park maintenance. The lease agreement
stipulates that the county will notify Dominion before doing
any digging at the parks. Brian Fuller, York County's director
of community services, reflected that "the county has a great
relationship with Dominion. Anytime any minor issues have
come up, we have worked together to address them." This
cooperative relationship is crucial as the two parties must
work together to address maintenance needs. For example,
soon after Chisman Creek Park opened, it became apparent
that the groundwater collection system was so effective that it
made the soil too dry to support grass. The county worked with
Dominion to install an irrigation system, allowing the turf to
flourish. In 2003, burrowing animals and heavy rains caused
two areas of subsidence; the county and Dominion jointly
repaired the problem. And again, in 2008, when work was
needed to address erosion at Chisman Creek Park, the county
and Dominion shared the cost for regrading and constructing a
concrete drainage ditch.
The ongoing cooperation between the county and Dominion,
along with oversight from EPA and VDEQ, maintains the
protectiveness of the remedy w ithout impeding the use of these
highly popular parks. After 25 years of successful reuse, the
productive partnership at the Chisman Creek site serves as an
example to communities across the country as they strive to
achieve and maintain successful reuse of their own cleanup
sites.
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The soccer fields at Wolf Trap Park are "the llfeblood of Yorktown FC," the area's youth travel soccer league.
6

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Lessons Learned
EPA, Dominion and county staff emphasize that
early reuse planning was key to the site's successful
redevelopment. Former EPA site manager Chris Corbett
advises people attempting to redevelop contaminated sites
to "coordinate very closely with the property owner and the
community, early in the cleanup process." Dominion began
discussing reuse options with the county very early in the
cleanup process, before EPA had selected the remedy. In
addition, the county fonned a Stewardship Committee to
inform site cleanup and reuse planning. Together, Dominion
the county and the Stewardship Committee presented a unified
voice to EPA calling for the site to be able to be redeveloped
for recreational use. This was the first step toward
achieving a successful post-cleanup reuse - deciding
on a preferred land use and communicating it to EPA.
Reuse planning early in the cleanup process means that
cleanup plans can take future use considerations into
account. At the Chisman Creek site. Dominion worked with
the county to design the sports fields during the remedial
design stage of the process. These early planning efforts
allowed for several vital reuse elements to be incorporated,
including proper slopes for the fields and clean utility corridors
to allow for lighting. Former EPA site manager Eric Newman
encourages stakeholders to plan for reuse before a remedy is
selected so that fundamental design aspects, such as the depth
of excavation and the load-bearing capacity of the cap, can be
designed to be compatible with the planned reuse.
Waiting to think about future use until after cleanup can
limit reuse possibilities. York County director of community
services Brian Fuller emphasizes the need to think carefully
during the design phase about reuse infrastructure requirements
(such as structures, light supports and underground utilities).
For example, if the site's remedy prevents planting trees,
consider constructing pavilions to provide shade. Once a
remedy is in place, modifying the facility's structures can be
expensive and time-consuming.
The spirit of cooperation between EPA, VDEQ,
Dominion, York County and the community was vital to
the project's success. Mark Carter, York County's deputy
county administrator, says the county has "enjoyed a great
Chisman Creek was one of the first Superfund sites in the country, and
its successful redevelopment continues to lead the way as an example
of recreational reuse for other Superfund sites.
partnership with Dominion Energy in developing these parks
and working with them over the years in monitoring their use."
All stakeholders worked together toward common goals -
protection of public health and the environment and beneficial
recreational reuse. Dominion's commitment as a long-term
stakeholder in the area motivated the utility to work hard to
support a site redevelopment project that would benefit the
community.
"Keeping an open mind about redevelopment options is
important for a successful reuse project," says EPA project
manager Andrea Bain. For example, remedial design engineers
who are willing to think outside the box can help facilitate
redevelopment. At the Chisman Creek site. Dominion's
environmental contractors helped conceptualize the site's
recreational reuse and designed the remedy to allow for that
reuse.
Site stakeholders offer several additional pieces of advice
to communities seeking to redevelop cleaned-up sites for
recreational use:
•	The responsibilities of the facility operator and of the
party responsible for the cleanup should be clearly
defined.
•	The recreational facility's manager should understand
the site's environmental issues.
•	Appropriate land use restrictions should be implemented
and enforced.
•	The recreational facility should be monitored regularly.
This responsibility can be shared by the facility operator
and the responsible patty'.
•	If some areas of a site are not intended for public use,
access to those areas should be restricted.
"Think out of the box. Take the initiative to
make reuse happen."
- Donald Hintz, Dominion site manager
"Explore the reuse possibilities - don't be
afraid. You don't have to put a fence around
the area - it can become a good asset to the
community."
- Brian Fuller, York County
director of community sendees

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Bigger Picture
In addition to the lessons learned described above, the
redevelopment of the Chisman Creek site exemplifies some
bigger-picture themes:
Responsible parties and site owners are important
stakeholders who can contribute to restoration and reuse
planning activities as well as cleanup discussions.
At the Chisman Creek site, having a cooperative responsible
party who owned the site was key to its successful
redevelopment. Dominion worked with York County and
the community to urge EPA to take reuse considerations into
account as part of cleanup planning, at a time when EPA had
not yet focused on supporting the reuse of cleaned-up sites.
While EPA provides tools and resources to support
Superfund reuse, communities and public- and private-
sector organizations make it happen.
EPAs mission is to protect human health and the environment.
EPA relies on engaged community stakeholders to bring their
land use goals and priorities to the table and discuss them in the
context of site cleanup planning opportunities and constraints.
Utilities and other responsible parties with a continuing
presence in a community can foster goodwill by supporting
reuse projects that benefit the community.
Rather than doing only the minimum cleanup required.
Dominion created an asset that demonstrates its commitment
to the community.
Local governments can play a unique leadership role in
reuse planning projects.
By forming the Stewardship Committee and coordinating with
the responsible party , York County was able to proactively and
productively provide input for the cleanup process and secure a
preferred post-cleanup land use.
One of the four soccer fields at Wolf Trap Park.
Soccer practice at Wolf Trap Park.
Communication, collaboration and relationship building
are vitally important parts of reuse planning projects.
A model of public-private partnership, the cleanup and
recreational reuse of the Chisman Creek site shows how
goodwill and imagination can turn a wasteland into a productive
facility and a source of civic pride.
Recreational reuse on closed landfills is compatible with
long-term, ongoing protectiveness.
For 25 years and counting, Chisman Creek Park and Wolf
Trap Park have demonstrated that, with the proper planning,
execution and ongoing maintenance, recreational parks can
be a viable reuse option for Superfund sites and other cleanup
sites.
Continued collaboration is essential for continued reuse
success.
At sites with contamination remaining on site, ongoing
cooperation between the responsible party, the site operator
and regulatory agencies will be necessary to ensure that the site
continues to be safe into the future.
Conclusion
The Chisman Creek site was one of the first Superfund sites
in the country, and the first Superfund site to be redeveloped
after cleanup. Today, it continues to serve as a leading national
example of what can happen when site owners, responsible
parties, communities and regulators work together on remedies
that protect public health and the environment and enable
productive and beneficial reuse. The longevity of the project's
success - Chisman Creek Park and Wolf Trap Park are now
both more than 25 years old - illustrates that the benefits of
Superfund redevelopment are here to stay. Looking forward.
York County, Dominion, VDEQ and EPA will continue to
work together to keep the parks in excellent condition as the
next generation of players takes the field.
8

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Pioneering Recreational Reuse
THE C HIS MAN CREEK SUPERFUND SITE IN YORK COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Sources and Resources
Sources
Images for this case study are from Yorktown FC, York County, Dominion and EPA.
Map Sources
The map for this case study was created with data from Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographies, CNES/Airbus
DS, USD A, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, swisstopo, the GIS User Community, DeLonne, AND, Tele Atlas,
First American, UNEP-WCMC and URS.
Resources
Chisman Creek Reuse Snapshot
https ://www. epa. gov/superfund-redevelopment-initiative/
superfund-sites-reuse-virginia#chisman
EPA Site Profile
https ://www. epa. gov/siipcrfund/chismancrcck
Other Cleanup Sites with Recreational Reuse
https ://www. epa. gov/superfund-redevelopment-initiative/
superfund-sites-green-space-reuse
Reusing Superfund Sites: Recreational Use of Land Above
Hazardous Waste Contaimnent Areas
https://semspub.epa.gov/src/document/HO/174Q85
U.S. Soccer Foundation Partnership
https ://www.epa. gov/superfund-redevelopment-initiative/
superfund-redevelopment-partnerships#soccer
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Region 3
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
September 2017

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