Remediation and Restoration

Remediation

Remedial construction began at the Site in May 2023 and is expected to continue through much of 2024. Components of the remedy and additional natural resource work are summarized below. The work is being conducted under oversight of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Maryland Department of Environment, and Natural Resource Trustees. The United States Army Corps of Engineers is also assisting USEPA as an oversight contractor.

Remedy Description

USEPA selected the remedy for the Site in the Record of Decision published in 2013. The remedy consists of the following core remedial components:

  • Removal and recycling/disposal of surface debris;

  • Excavation and disposal of contaminated sediment from four different areas and restoration;

  • Construction of soil cover systems over more than 70 acres to contain waste materials and eliminate exposure and revegetation of the cover system with native plant species;

  • Stabilization of distressed, eroded, and scoured stream banks;

  • Construction of two leachate collection systems to convey extracted leachate and groundwater to the local sanitary sewer system;

  • Construction of over 14 acres of enhanced wetlands to treat leachate and groundwater;

  • Planting deep-rooted trees to supplement the enhanced wetlands and improve ecological habitat;

  • Extraction and recycling/disposal of petroleum free-product;

  • Construction of an organic biowall to reduce potential residual product migration to an adjacent waterway;

  • Passive venting of landfill gas;

  • Access barriers;

  • Institutional controls restricting groundwater use, land use, and subsurface disturbance; and

  • Long-term maintenance and monitoring.

Natural Resource Enhancement Scope of Work

In addition to the remedial components outlined above, the parties will also work to restore natural resources at and near the site, improving and enhancing the wetlands with native species, by completing the following restoration projects:

  • Planting upland habitat with native warm season grasses and forbs;

  • Streambed enhancement by installing our permanent in-stream grade/flow control structures in Redhouse Run;

  • On-site reforestation;

  • Incorporating supplemental wetland enhancements (i.e., tidal channel morphology, channel opening protection, and low-marsh habitat);

  • Establishing native plant communities in enhanced wetlands;

  • Instituting a surface-water trash management program;

  • Creating vernal pool(s); and

  • Removing and/or controlling Phragmites, which is an invasive reed grass species that grows in wetlands