SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
National Priorities List (NPL)
* * *Proposed Site * * *
DWYER PROPERTY GROUNDWATER
PLUME
OSWER/OSRTI
Washington, DC 20460
October 2010
Elkton, Maryland
Cecil County
(?) Site Location:
The Dwyer Property Ground Water Plume (Dwyer) site is a ground water plume with unidentified sources. It is located in a
mixed industrial and residential area in northeastern Maryland. The property is just north of the Town of Elkton.
Site History:	
The Dwyer site is a portion of a former industrial facility, Triumph Explosives, Incorporated, which primarily manufactured
incendiary bombs, shells, land mines, grenades, and flares for the Department ofDefense from the 1930s through the end of
World War II. From 1946 to 1948, Bowers Battery and Spark Plug Company manufactured carbon batteries at the site.
From 1948 to 1958, Aerial Products, Incorporated, manufactured black powder fireworks at the site. From 1958 to 1972,
Mr. Martin Dwyer produced incendiary flares at the site and used the land to graze cattle. The site is currently abandoned
and heavily overgrown.
I Site Contamination/Contaminants:
There are two known plumes that contain levels of trichloroethene (TCE) above EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum
Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for potable water.
in* Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment:
The ground water in the area of the Dwyer site is heavily used for drinking water. There are residential and municipal wells
located nearby. Also, there is the potential for vapor intrusion in those residences that are located adj acent to the property
and overlying the plumes.
^ Response Activities (to date):	
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has completed a remedial investigation of the property under the
State Superfund program.
H Need for NPL Listing:
The State of Maryland referred the site to EPA. Other federal and state programs were considered but are not viable at this
time. EPA received a letter of support for placing this site on the NPL from the state. The local government supports
listing.
[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may change
as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination.]
F or more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these
substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet
at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.

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