v>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Explanation of Significant Differences
Geiger (C&M Oil)
Superfund Site
Site Name:
CERCLA ID #:
Site Location:
Lead Agency:
Geiger (C&M Oil) Site
SCD980711279
Highway 162
Hollywood, Charleston County
South Carolina 29449
EPA, Region 4
Support Agency: South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control
RantuWlp^
Site Location Map
Hollywood, South Carolina
I. Introduction
This decision document presents an Explanation of
Significant Differences (ESD) for the Geiger (C&M
Oil) Superfund Site (Site), located on Highway 162
in Hollywood, Charleston County, South Carolina.
There is only one Operable Unit for the Site. This
ESD modifies the remedies described in the Site
Operable Unit 1 (OU1) Record of Decision (ROD)
dated June 1,1987, and as modified by two Amended
Records of Decision (AROD) dated July 13, 1993
and September 9, 1998.
This ESD is issued in accordance with § 117(c) of
the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq., as amended by
the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
of 1986 (SARA), and the National Oil and
Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
(NCP), 40 CFR § 300.435(c)(2)(i). The Director of
the Superfund Division has been delegated the
authority to sign this ESD.
This ESD will become part of the Administrative
Record for the Geiger (C&M Oil) Superfund Site
(NCP, 40 CFR § 300.825(a)(2)), which has been
developed in accordance with § 113 (k) of CERCLA,
42 U.S.C. § 9613 (k).
The Administrative Record is available for review at
the St. Paul's Hollywood Library, 5130 Highway
165, Hollywood, South Carolina, 29449, 843-889-
3300 (open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
closed on Sundays), and on EPA's website at
[https://www.epa.gov/superfund/geiger],
II. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this ESD is to document a final
decision to include institutional controls in the form
of Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions (RC) as
part of the soil and groundwater remedy for the Site.
An ESD is a final decision document prepared by
EPA to document changes to the original selected
remedies at the Site that are significant but do not
fundamentally alter the remedies selected in the
1987 OU1 ROD, the 1993 OU1 AROD, and the 1998
OU1 AROD.
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Since the ROD and ARODs were signed, issues
concerning institutional controls have been identified
at the Site. In October 2001, South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control
(SCDHEC) and the Site property owner entered into
a RC that is enforceable by the State of South Carolina
to prohibit disturbance of the area on-site with
treated/solidified material to ensure continued
protectiveness of the remedy. The RC also restricted
future land use in the soil treatment area and requires
prior approval from SCDHEC prior to groundwater
withdrawal (see attached Site map for location).
III. Site History and Contamination
The five-acre Geiger (C&M Oil) Superfund Site is
located approximately 10 miles west of Charleston,
South Carolina, along Highway 162 in Hollywood
(formerly Rantowles), Charleston County,
South Carolina. Between 1969 and 1980, Adams
Run Services, Inc. used the property for waste oil
incineration operations. Business operations
included the disposal of oil-related wastes in eight
unlined lagoons on the property. In 1980, the EPA
determined these activities contaminated soil and
groundwater with organic compounds and metals.
The Site was placed on the National Priorities List
(NPL) on September 21, 1984.
The Remedial Investigation completed in July 1986
found low levels of organics [1,1-Dichloroethane,
1,2-Dichlorobenzene, Benzene, Benzo (a) pyrene,
Benzo (a) anthracene, Benzo (b and/or k)
fluoranthene, Poly chlorinated biphenyls, Trans-1,2-
dichloroethylene, and Toluene] and metals (lead and
chromium) were present in the onsite soil and
groundwater. This list of contaminants was
identified as the Site Contaminants of Concern
(COC) in the 1987 ROD. All of the contaminants
identified are hazardous substances as defined in §
104(14) of CERCLA, 42, U.S.C. § 9601(14), and 40
C.F.R. § 302.4.
The soil contamination was limited to the former
lagoon area, areas between the lagoons, and an onsite
pond that was in the northern portion of the Site. The
EPA determined the groundwater plume was limited
to the oil-stained area associated with the lagoons,
and it had not migrated from the Site.
IV. Selected Remedy
The Site OU1 ROD was dated June 1, 1987 and has
been modified by two Amended Records of Decision
(AROD) dated July 13, 1993 and September 9, 1998.
These documents are available in the Superfund
Document Management System (SDMS) under
Record Numbers [10296877] [33288] and [14927],
The site-specific treatability studies performed after
the issuance of the 1987 ROD indicated levels of
organic COCs in soils were lower than previously
described in the Remedial Investigation and
Feasibility Study. Based on the study results, the
EPA amended the ROD in 1993, changing the final
soil remedy to solidification and stabilization alone
and establishing site-specific, leachability-based
cleanup goals for the 11 soil COCs. The action-
specific soil cleanup goals in the 1993 AROD were
relevant during the remedy's construction.
The EPA conducted numerous groundwater
sampling events at the Site between 1988 and 1997.
The groundwater sampling results determined there
were no longer any organic COCs in any monitoring
wells. Lead was the only inorganic COC consistently
detected above drinking water standards in two out
of approximately 27 monitoring wells. Based on
those sampling results, the EPA issued another
AROD on September 9, 1998, changing the
groundwater remedy from pumping and treatment to
Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA). This AROD
also revised groundwater COCs to include only
cadmium and lead.
The final remedy, selected in the Site's 1987 ROD
and amended in the 1993 and 1998 ARODs,
consisted of: excavation of contaminated soil;
solidification and stabilization of soil to reduce
mobility of metals; backfilling of excavated areas
with treated soil, followed by grading and
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covering with gravel; and MNA of residually
contaminated groundwater.
Approximately 23,000 cubic yards of contaminated
soil was treated to a depth of 10 feet. The actual
treatment area covered approximately 1.4 acres.
Upon completion of the solidification and
stabilization, the treatment area was graded and
covered with a 6-inch thick limestone gravel cap.
In July 2009 the only remaining two permanent
groundwater monitoring wells along with four
temporary monitoring wells were sampled for total
metals. No COCs were detected at concentrations
above remedial goals.
In January 2013, the EPA evaluated the durability
and leachability of the monolith at the Site. The
objective was to determine the durability of the
solidification and stabilization wastes (the monolith)
based on physical measurements (moisture content,
bulk and dry density, permeability, wet/dry
durability). The evaluation found the monolith
remained stable in the environment during the 20
years since completion of the remedial action. There
was no evidence indicating any adverse change in its
physical condition. There was some evidence of the
capacity for leaching of cement binder and COCs
from the monolith; however, the leaching would be
expected to be very minor and would not likely cause
an adverse effect on groundwater in the short or long
term. Testing and analyses support the conclusion
that COCs remain highly bound within the monolith
and leaching of these COCs is unlikely to adversely
impact surrounding soil or groundwater under
current conditions.
The EPA, with concurrence from SCDHEC, deleted
the Site from the NPL in January 2014.
V. Description of Significant
Differences and Basis for the ESD
Institutional controls in the form of a RC that is
enforceable by the State of South Carolina have been
implemented at the Site due to the remedial action
results of hazardous substances, pollutants, or
contaminants remaining at the Site above levels that
allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure to
soil and groundwater. The remedial action provided
in the Site's 1987 ROD does not include institutional
controls; however, Section 4.2 Soil Remediation
portion of the ROD states: "remediation or
institutional controls will be necessary to assure that
an increased risk to human health is not posed in the
future." As a result, an explanation of significant
differences is needed to include already implemented
institutional controls as part of the soil and
groundwater remedy for the Site.
In October 2001, SCDHEC and the Site property
owner entered into a RC to restrict certain uses of the
property. Among other things, the RC governs uses
on part of the property known as the "Soil Treatment
Area." This area still contains hazardous substances
in excess of allowable concentrations for unrestricted
use. The RC prohibits activities that would affect the
integrity or effectiveness of the cap. Specifically, the
RC prohibits residential or agricultural uses on the
"Soil Treatment Area," and groundwater use without
prior approval from SCDHEC. The RC also specifies
the ponds on the "Soil Treatment Area" shall be
posted against fishing, swimming, or wading and that
water from the ponds shall not be used without prior
approval from SCDHEC.
Although a RC was implemented in 2001, it was not
required by the final remedy. This ESD modifies the
Site OU1 remedy by recognizing the implemented
RC is required to restrict certain uses of the property,
specifically on the part of the property known as the
"Soil Treatment Area" to ensure protectiveness of
the remedy.
VI. Support Agency Comments
The EPA consulted with SCDHEC and provided the
opportunity to comment on this ESD in accordance
with NCP, 40 CFR § 300.435 (c)(2) and § 300.435
(c)(2)(i) and CERCLA § 121(f). SCDHEC concurs
with the information in this ESD via letter dated
August 31, 2022.
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VII. Statutory Determinations
IX. Authorizing Signature
EPA has determined that these significant changes
comply with the statutory requirements of CERCLA
§ 121, 42 U.S.C. § 9621, are protective of human
health and the environment, comply with Federal and
State requirements that are applicable or relevant
and appropriate to the remedial action, are cost-
effective, and utilize permanent solutions and
alternative treatment technologies to the maximum
extent practicable.
Because this remedy will result in hazardous
substances, pollutants, or contaminants remaining on
site above levels that allow for unlimited use and
unrestricted exposure, a statutory review will be
conducted no less often than each five years after the
initiation of the remedial action to ensure that the
remedy is, or will be, protective of human health and
the environment.
I have determined the remedies for the Site, as
modified by this ESD, are protective of human health
and the environment, and will remain so provided the
actions presented in this ESD are implemented as
described above.
This ESD documents the significant changes related
to the OU1 remedy at the Site. The EPA selected
these changes with the concurrence of SCDHEC.
Digitally signed by Chaffins,
Chaffins, Randall Randall
„ Date: 2023.05.25 10:50:57 -06'00'
By:
Randall Chaffins, Acting Director
Superfund & Emergency Management Division
May 25, 2023
Date:
VIII. Public Participation
The public participation requirements set out in the
NCP, 40 CFR § 300.435(c)(2) have been met by
publishing this ESD, making it available to the public
in the Administrative Record, and publishing a notice
in a major local newspaper summarizing the ESD.
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Legend
[ Getger (C&M Oil)
I -/ Property Lines
i . Capped Area
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