Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Avionics Specialties, Incorporated in Earlysville, Virginia
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
In Spring 2012, EPA entered into two consent orders with Avionics and the prior owner and operator of this Facility. These consent orders require Avionics to provide access to the site and to continue the sampling of offsite residential drinking water wells and maintenance of carbon filters that were installed in 2007. The prior owner (TDY Industries, L.L.C.) is required to complete a RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) and Corrective Measures Study (CMS), and to implement any Interim Measures that are identified as necessary to protect human health and the environment.
A Draft RFI Work Plan and Description of Current Conditions Report were submitted by TDY in July 2012. EPA met with TDY in January 2013 to discuss the draft documents and strategy for completing the investigation work required for the facility. Revised documents were submitted to EPA in May 2013, and on June 4, 2013 EPA issued approval and asked TDY to proceed with the fieldwork. The RFI was conducted in a phased approach in accordance with EPA approved work plans and amendments. The first phase was completed between June and August 2013, and additional work was recommended based on the findings. The second phase of the RFI was completed between June and October 2014, and extended into 2015 to complete the characterization of surface water and groundwater. A final site wide groundwater sampling event occurred in 2016. The RFI Report documenting the findings was approved by EPA in December 2017.
Based on the findings of the first phase of investigation work, TDY proposed several Interim Measures in 2015 and a final IM Work Plan was approved by EPA in June 2016. The IMs were completed between July 2016 and December 2017, and included the excavation and offsite disposal of impacted soils, replacement of one impacted drinking water well, and pilot testing of two remedial technologies (soil vapor extraction and enhanced reductive dechlorination) to evaluate their potential application as final cleanup options for the site. A draft report documenting the completion of this work was submitted in June 2017 and EPA issued conditional approval in December 2017.
EPA plans to meet with TDY and their contractor in early 2018 to discuss the preparation of a Corrective Measures Study report and the evaluation of cleanup options that can be used to return this site to beneficial use.
Site Description
Interactive Map of Avionics Specialties, Incorporated, Earlysville, VA
View larger mapThe Facility contains a vacant manufacturing plans and occupies approximately 12 acres adjacent to the southeast corner of the Charlottesville-Albemarle County Airport. The plant was constructed in 1954 and the Facility was operated by Teledyne from 1966 to 1992 and by Avionics from 1993 until 2010 as a manufacturer of aircraft parts and components. The Facility consists of four buildings, including a manufacturing building, an adjacent office building, a parts finishing and testing building and a chemical storage garage. In early 2017 the Facility was sold to a private party that is currently using the buildings for storage of equipment. The area surrounding the Facility and airport is primarily rural. A residential subdivision (Walnut Hill) is located approximately 800 feet northwest of the Facility.
Wastes generated at the Facility during its history of operations included spent solvents, residual industrial liquids and aluminum polishing washwater.
Contaminants at this Facility
Contaminants detected in soil and groundwater at the Facility include tetrachloroethene (PCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), trichloroethene (TCE), 1,1-dichloroethene, 1,1-dichloroethane, and 1,4-dioxane.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The need for institutional controls is yet to be determined.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site's future use is yet to be determined.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of the EPA Region 3 with assistance from Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.