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The DuPont Hay Road "Iron Rich" site located is upstream of the mouth of the Christina River on the Delaware River in Wilmington. The DuPont Company used the site for sludge drying and disposal of byproduct material from the company's titanium dioxide pigment made at its EdgeMoor facility which is located further upstream.
Through a legal agreement, the site investigation and remediation is being conducted within the “Voluntary Cleanup Program” operated by DNREC's Site Investigation and Restoration Branch (SIRB). As a result of public concerns about a proposed cleanup plan in late 2004-2005 and a legislated resolution directing DNREC to facilitate an independent technical review of the site and the proposed plan, DNREC has established this web page to provide citizens with information about the site and the cleanup planning process.
Current Status (As of March 2008)
In the wake of the completion of the independent study by Schnabel Engineering and the public comment process, DNREC has taken action to carry out the recommendations of the “Schnabel report.” First, DNREC directed DuPont to carry out additional sampling. Second, DNREC collected additional samples from the site. Third, DNREC has sought additional environmental data from other programs and agencies (e.g., Environmental Protection Agency, Delaware River Basin Commission, Division of Water Resources) that may be relevant and appropriate to consider in the decision making process for the DuPont Hay Road site, including the sediment sampling results from Shellpot Creek on the northeast side of the site, obtained by DNREC’s Division of Water Resources scientists in collaboration with the engineers working on the DuPont Hay Road site.
Finally, DNREC is examining the results of samples (e.g., ground water monitoring) obtained for the closed landfill (cells #1-3), located immediately northwest of the “Iron Rich” site. These other similar, though not identical, sites were closed by another DNREC program and not by SIRB. All relevant data is now being compiled and evaluated to determine the appropriate cleanup actions.
DuPont has completed the collecting of multimedia samples as part of the supplemental investigation. The investigation was required by DNREC based on the independent study by Schnabel Engineering and public comments on the study. Sample collection started in November, 2007 and was completed in February, 2008. DNREC provided oversight to the sampling activities and collected split samples, which were sent to an independent lab. Samples of the waste pile, the underlying dredge material, ground water, surface water and sediments along the Shellpot Creek and Delaware River were collected.
The next step is to evaluate the data in a revised Remedial Investigation report and reevaluate risk assessment and the feasibility study based on this additional data. If, as a result of SIRB's evaluation of the Schnabel report, further site analysis, and public comment, DNREC determines that the proposed plan should be amended, a proposed plan will be published for public comment, and DNREC will sponsor an additional public hearing. If the Department determines no changes in the 2004 proposed remedy are warranted, DNREC will publish a final plan with a Hearing Officer’s Report and Secretary’s Order. The Department earlier published and made available an initial response to comments received.
Independent Study Conducted by Schnabel Engineering
The independent report by Schnabel Engineering North LLC, of West Chester, PA , was released in December, 2006 evaluates Dupont’s proposed remedy as per House Concurrent Resolution 22. DNREC retained Schnabel to perform the evaluation after conducting a public solicitation for an independent contractor. The draft scope of work was provided to community representatives and interested members of the public for review.
The report does not contain conclusions about the adequacy of the remedy, but suggests consideration of a broader range of alternatives, and recommends collecting more data, and revision of a previous feasibility study and risk assessment based on the new data.
Among the report’s conclusions: There are data gaps relating to the dredged material, the groundwater and the iron rich material at the site. These data gaps raise questions about the sufficiency of the technical support for the proposed remedy, which includes a capping system over the iron rich material. DNREC obtained public comment on the report through March 2, 2007 to help in the decision-making process for the ultimate disposition of the hazardous material at the site.
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- Report on DuPont Hay Road “Iron Rich” Site, January 2007
- Request for Proposals for the Independent Study, February 9, 2006
- 2005 Risk Evaluations at the Du Pont Cherry Island Iron Rich Staging Area
- DuPont Combined Response to Public Inquiries, June 15, 2005
- Proposed Plan of Remedial Action, December 14, 2004
- Feasibility Study Report, June 18, 2004
- Remedial Investigation/Risk Assessment Report, May 14, 2004
- Revised Tables for Remedial Investigation/Risk Assessment Report, April 21, 2004
- Resolution 22
Additional questions may be submitted to Wilmer Reyes, Project Manager, DNREC-SIRB, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, Delaware 19720 or via email wilmer.reyes@state.de.us |
