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Cleanup Milestone at Maryland Superfund Site Means Clean Waters

Release Date: 9/2/1999
Contact Information: Carrie Deitzel (215) 814-5525

Elkton, Md.-- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials joined Congressman Wayne Gilchrest today to announce a major milestone in the cleanup of the Galaxy/Spectron Superfund site - the completion of a system that will prevent contaminated groundwater from flowing into Little Elk Creek.

Thanks to the completion of the extensive stream containment system, the banks of Little Elk Creek no longer pose a health threat to children swimming there. Chemical odors that once permeated the valley have been greatly diminished and will soon disappear.

"This project is a perfect example of how partnerships between EPA, the state, industry and community members help create unique solutions to clean up our nation’s most hazardous waste sites. No resource is more precious than local waterways like Little Elk Creek," said W. Michael McCabe, EPA regional administrator for the mid-Atlantic region.

Galaxy Chemicals and Spectron, Inc. disposed of waste in several onsite lagoons, as well as the creek, before closing down in 1988. The dumping resulted in high levels of chlorinated solvents in the soil and groundwater that flowed directly into the creek.

In 1989, EPA removed nearly 500,000 gallons of flammable liquids which were abandoned at the site.

Working closely with industry, the state and local community members, EPA determined the stream containment system was the best way to prevent the spread of contamination that threatens one of Maryland’s protected waterways.

The 850-foot stream containment system consists of a chemical-resistant plastic liner which prevents contaminated groundwater from entering the creek. Beneath 60,000 square feet of liner, french drains collect contaminated groundwater. These drains will soon be connected to an onsite groundwater treatment plant. Chain-link fabric baskets filled with rock protect the liner and provide a planting bed for more than 8000 native plants which are vital to the restoration of the stream habitat. The entire system was designed to replicate the original stream contours and rocks and boulders were placed to recreate original ripple pools.
Today, EPA continues to supervise a complete investigation of the extent of the contamination. A groundwater treatment plant, which will clean the groundwater collected in the stream containment system, is scheduled for completion by spring 2000.


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