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Fort Detrick Site Added to Superfund List

Release Date: 04/08/2009
Contact Information: Roy Seneca [email protected] (215) 814-5567

PHILADELPHIA (April 8, 2009) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the addition of the Fort Detrick Area B Ground Water Site in Frederick, Md. to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

The national priorities list is a national list of sites where hazardous contaminants could impact public health and/or the environment. NPL sites undergo a thorough investigation to determine the full nature and extent of contamination. EPA or the parties responsible for the contamination then address whatever risks the sites pose to human health and the environment.

The Fort Detrick site was proposed for NPL listing in Sept. 2008. After reviewing information from a 60-day public comment period, EPA made the final decision on listing.

The parcel of land known as Fort Detrick Area Ground Water Area B is part of an active U.S. Army installation operated under the Army Medical Command. The site was used as a disposal area for chemical, biological, and radiological material from the 1940s until 1970. Wastes disposed at the site released trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE) into the ground water, contaminating residential drinking water wells. There is the potential that the groundwater contamination could spread to areas that could affect the more densely populated areas in Frederick.

Although the majority of the affected homes have been connected to public water supplies, Fort Detrick continues to provide bottled water to five residences. The state of Maryland referred the site to EPA because it believes a long-term solution is needed to protect drinking water sources. For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for this and other sites, please visit https://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm .