EPA RCRA ID: VAD980918221
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Facility Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Enforcement and Compliance
- Related Information
- Contacts for this Facility
Cleanup Status
Note: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) is the lead agency for managing cleanups at this facility.
Historical and current operations at the Site have resulted in releases of hazardous wastes and/or hazardous constituents to the soil and groundwater. To address such releases, Sims Metal Management entered into a Facility Lead Agreement (FLA) with EPA Region 3 in August 2006. The FLA encourages Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Corrective Action facilities to take the lead in identifying, investigating and remediating any site related contamination using a generic, non-enforceable, agreement which includes the same requirements, and relies on the same scope of work and policy as a permit or an order. Participating facilities invited into the program generally meet a number of the following factors: good enforcement record, state approval, financial and technical capability, a proactive approach to clean up, and a willingness to work with the Agency.
On September 1, 2010, EPA determined that contamination in groundwater and human exposures risk from contaminants were under control.
EPA’s review of available information indicates that there are no unaddressed releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents from the Facility. On June 27, 2013, announced its proposed remedy under the RCRA Corrective Action program for the Sims Metal Management facility located at 1177 Hoiser Road in Suffolk, Virginia (Site). Future use of the Site is anticipated to be for industrial and/or commercial purposes. EPA’s proposed remedy, as documented in the June 4, 2013, Statement of Basis, was published in The Suffolk News-Herald newspaper on June 27, 2013 and posted on the EPA Region 3 Corrective Action website for public comment. The thirty (30) day public comment period ended on July 26, 2013. EPA received no comments on the proposed decision.
On August 14, 2013, EPA issued its final remedy for the Site in a document entitled the Final Decision and Response to Comments (Final Decision). Because some contaminants remain in the soil and groundwater at the Facility at levels which exceed residential use, EPA selected as its final remedy monitored natural attenuation for groundwater, in addition to land and groundwater use restrictions for the Site. The final remedy will be implemented through an Environmental Covenant entered into pursuant to the Virginia Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA), § 10.1-1238, et seq. of the Code of Virginia which was recorded with the deed of the property on November 18, 2013.
On March 22, 2018, the EPA conducted a Long Term Stewardship assessment to assess whether the remedy was implemented and protective of human health and the environment. EPA determined that the remedy institutional and engineering controls have been fully implemented and no control deficiencies were identified.
Cleanup Background
In December 2006, SMM submitted a Phase I RCRA Facility Investigation Work Plan (RFI Work Plan) to the EPA. The RFI Work Plan was developed for surface and subsurface soil and groundwater sampling at the Facility. Samples were analyzed for volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons (soil and sediment), RCRA metals (8), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Results showed arsenic, chromium and lead contamination in both soils and groundwater at the site. However, based on EPA Region 3’s Risk Screening Levels (RSLs), the contamination at the site is acceptable for industrial use.
Sims followed up the RFI Work Plan with a Groundwater Monitoring Report submitted to the EPA in March 2010, which reported the results of groundwater sampling from monitoring wells W-3R, W-9R and W-11. Arsenic, chromium and lead were found to be above EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). In addition to sampling monitoring wells W-3R, W-9R and W-11, samples were also collected from the drums of investigation derived waste (IDW), which consisted of development and purged groundwater from the monitoring wells. Petroleum related contaminants, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), were detected in the samples collected from the IDW.
To determine whether the petroleum related constituents observed in the IDW are present in the groundwater and to confirm that the concentrations of arsenic, chromium and lead are consistent with previous sampling events, SMM conducted another round of groundwater sampling at monitoring wells W-3R, W-9R and W-11. The results of such sampling were presented to EPA in a Groundwater Monitoring Report submitted in February 2011. Arsenic, at a concentration slightly above the MCL, was the only metal detected in well W-3R. MTBE was also detected in well W-3R at a concentration significantly lower than the EPA Region 3 RSL. Sample results for well W-9R exceeded the MCL for benzene and arsenic and exceeded EPA Region 3’s Risk Screening Levels for ethylbenzene and MTBE. Arsenic was also detected in well W-9R at a concentration above the MCL. Well W-11 did not exhibit any detection of metals or volatile organic compounds. The presence of petroleum related constituents in the 2010 round of sampling for W-9R (but not groundwater sampling results prior to 2005), it was noted in the February 2011, Report as possibly the result of a minor spill or release of petroleum after 2005.
Additional sampling was conducted in September 2011, and August 2012, to monitor potential movement or degradation of the contaminant plume. Based on the results of these sampling events, EPA has determined that the plume is stable and the concentration of contaminants is decreasing. In addition, SMM implemented new containment measures and spill prevention practices in September 2010, designed to reduce the risk of such spills or releases, especially in the area of scrap automobile processing and flattening within the Car Process Building.
Cleanup Actions or environmental indicators characterizing the entire facility are shown below. It is not intended as an extensive list of milestones/activities. This listing, and all the data on this page, come from EPA’s RCRAInfo and are refreshed nightly to this page. For this table and the Cleanup Activities Pertaining to a Portion of the Facility table that follows, a blank in the Status column could mean the action either has not occurred or has not been reported in RCRAInfo.
Cleanup Activities Pertaining to the Entire Facility
| Action | Status | Date of Action |
|---|---|---|
| Human Exposure Under Control Human Exposure Under Control(CA725) | ||
| Groundwater Migration Under ControlGroundwater Migration Under Control (CA750) | ||
| Remedy DecisionRemedy Decision (CA400) | ||
| Remedy ConstructionRemedy Construction (CA550) | ||
| Ready for Anticipated Use Ready for Anticipated Use (CA800) | ||
| Performance Standards AttainedPerformance Standards Attained (CA900) | ||
| Corrective Action Process TerminatedCorrective Action Process Terminated (CA999) |
For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Cleanup Activities Pertaining to a Portion of the Facility
| Action | Area Name | Date of Action |
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For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Facility Description
Link to a larger, interactive view of the map.
The subject ten-acre property is zoned as M-2 (heavy industrial) and located approximately 2 miles south of downtown Suffolk, Virginia. The first industrial use of the site was by Old Dominion Wood Preservers (Old Dominion), who occupied the site from January 1984 up to June 1990. Old Dominion treated wood with a chromated copper arsenate solution and/or with a fire retardant solution of ammonium phosphate. Sierra Recycling, Inc. (dba Virginia Soils Reclamation, Inc.) acquired the site in 1993 and biologically treated petroleum contaminated soils until the mid-1990’s. Reportedly, a rubber shredding operation leased a portion of the site in the mid-1990’s; however, documentation to confirm such operations is not available. SMM purchased the Site in March 2006 and currently operates a scrap and iron metals recycling facility which includes the draining and flattening of scrap automobile to provide for their efficient shipment to other locations for further processing.
Historical and current operations at the Site have resulted in releases of hazardous wastes and/or hazardous constituents to the soil and groundwater. To address such releases, SMM entered into a Facility Lead Agreement (FLA) with EPA Region 3 in August 2006. The FLA encourages RCRA Corrective Action facilities to take the lead in identifying, investigating and remediating any site related contamination using a generic, non-enforceable, agreement which includes the same requirements, and relies on the same scope of work and policy as a permit or an order. Participating facilities invited into the program generally meet a number of the following factors: good enforcement record, state approval, financial and technical capability, a proactive approach to clean up, and a willingness to work with the Agency.
Contaminants at this Facility
Primary contaminants of concern are metals, specifically arsenic, which is present in groundwater beneath the Site and detected at levels above EPA's Safe Drinking Water Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) from monitoring wells W-3R, W-9R and W-11. In addition, petroleum related constituents (benzene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and/or MTBE) have been detected in monitoring wells W-3R and W-9R.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
EPA’s final remedy required the establishment of land and groundwater use restrictions for the Site which will be implemented through an Environmental Covenant entered into pursuant to the Virginia Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA), § 10.1-1238, et seq. of the Code of Virginia. The UECA Environmental Covenant for the Site was recorded with the deed of the property on November 18, 2013.
Institutional Controls established on November 18, 2013:
- With the exception of the existing non-potable well located onsite (DW-1) that is constructed to a depth of approximately 600 feet below grade, groundwater at the Property shall not be used for any purpose other than the monitoring activities required by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) and/or EPA, unless it is demonstrated to EPA, in consultation with VADEQ, that such use will not pose a threat to human health or the environment or adversely affect or interfere with the final remedy and EPA, in consultation with VADEQ, provides prior written approval for such use;
- The Property shall not be used for residential, agricultural or recreational purposes unless it is demonstrated to EPA, in consultation with VADEQ, that such use will not pose a threat to human health or the environment or adversely affect or interfere with the final remedy, and EPA, in consultation with VADEQ, provides prior written approval for such use;
- All earth moving activities including excavation, drilling and construction activities that would result in direct exposure to soil, in the areas at the Property where any contaminants remain in soils above EPA's Screening levels for non-residential use (as shown in Exhibit 3, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference) shall be prohibited unless it is demonstrated to EPA, in consultation with VADEQ, that such activity will not pose a threat to human health or the environment or adversely affect or interfere with the final remedy, and EPA, in consultation with V ADEQ, provides prior written approval for such use;
- No new wells will be installed on the Property unless it is demonstrated to EPA, in consultation with VADEQ, that such wells are necessary to implement the final remedy and EPA provides prior written approval to install such wells.
- The property owners will continue the groundwater monitoring program already in place until groundwater clean-up standards are met through monitored natural attenuation.
Institutional and Engineering Controls help ensure human exposure and groundwater migration are under control at a cleanup facility. Where control types have been reported by states and EPA in EPA’s RCRAInfo, they are shown below. Not all control types are needed at all facilities, and some facilities do not require any controls. Where there are blanks, the control types may not be needed, may not be in place, or may not be reported in RCRAInfo.
Are Controls in Place at this Facility?
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Control(s) Type |
Control(s) in Place? |
Areas Subject to Control(s) |
Documents available on-line: |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Institutional ControlsNon-engineering controls used to restrict land use or land access in order to protect people and the environment from exposure to hazardous substances remaining in the site/or facility. (CA 772) |
Informational DevicesInformational Devices (ID) |
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Governmental Controls (GC) |
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Enforcement and Permit Tools (EP) |
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| Proprietary ControlsProprietary Controls (PR) | ||||
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Engineering ControlsEngineering measures designed to minimize the potential for human exposure to contamination by either limiting direct contact with contaminated areas or controlling migration of contaminants. (CA 770) |
Groundwater ControlGroundwater Control (GW) |
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Non-Groundwater |
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For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Enforcement and Compliance at this Facility
EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) provides detailed historical information about enforcement and compliance activities at each RCRA Corrective Action Site in their Enforcement and Compliance Historical Online (ECHO) system.
RCRA Enforcement and Compliance Reports from ECHO
Related Information
For more information about this facility, see these other EPA links:
- RCRA information in EPA’s Envirofacts database
- Information about this facility submitted to EPA under different environmental programs as reported in EPA’s Facility Registry Services
- Alternative Names for this facility as reported by EPA programs in EPA’s Facility Registry Services
- Cleanups in My Community provides an interactive map to see EPA cleanups in context with additional data, and lists for downloading data
- Search RCRA Corrective Action Sites provides a search feature for Corrective Action Sites
Documents, Photos and Graphics
Contacts for this Facility
EPA Region implements and enforces the RCRA Corrective Action program for and federally recognized tribes.
For further information on this corrective action site, use the Contact Information for Corrective Action Hazardous Waste Clean Ups listings that are accessible through Corrective Action Programs around the Nation.