Former Appliance Park East Facility Columbia, Maryland The Road to Reuse ~~~ A major portion of the 1,125- acres former General Electric (GE) Appliance Park East Facility in Columbia, Maryland is now being reuses as a new retail strip mall, restaurants, residential town homes, and a corporate office park. From 1972 to 1990, GE manufactured household appliances, primarily electric ranges and ovens at the plant. GE discontinued operations in 1990 and sold the majority of the facility to Howard Research and Development Corporation (HRD) for redevelopment, retaining ownership of 21 acres where three closed landfills are located. Of the 1,125 acre originally owned by GE, 440 acre were covered by a RCRA Corrective Action Permit issued by die U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1991 requiring GE to address any Approximate total acres and current use Approximate Acres in Reuse: 440 Current Use: Shopping center, office space, hotel. contamination present at the facility. GE subsequently conducted several environmental investigations, conducted clean-ups in some areas of die facility, and continues to work closely with EPA and the Maryland Department of die Environment (MDE) to complete the requirements of the permit. In August 2008, GE conducted a Corrective Measures Study (CMS) to evaluate additional technologies that may help to address any remaining contamination. EPA is currently reviewing die CMS Report, and continues to review ongoing remediation activities. The property is located in a fast- growing area within commuting distance from Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., making it an attractive location for development. One area of the former GE industrial facility has been converted to a shopping center, Snowden Square Shopping Center, with stores, restaurants and a multi- screen movie theater. Another large part of the original 1,125- acre site has been redeveloped as the Gateway Commerce Center (Gateway), where several office buildings and a hotel are now located. One of the original GE manufacturing buildings has been completely renovated and now houses office space. Gateway is now home to the headquarters of AlliedSignal Technical Services, Magellan Health Services, BGE Home Products and Columbia National, Inc. An estimated 6,000 people work at Gateway. &J1 www, epa.ptov/repr3wcmd/correctiveaction.htm For More Information EPA Region 3 Contact: Barbara Smith, (215) 814-5786, smidi.barbara@epa.gov ------- |