Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Bayer Corporation in Damascus, Virginia
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Bayer's Damascus, Virginia facility was closed since 1986. In 1995, the company expressed a desire to expedite cleanup of the Site given its intention to donate the land to the City of Damascus.
Cleanup Status
Bayer is a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action facility and conducted the RCRA Facility Investigation pursuant to an Administrative Consent Order issued March 30, 1989.
EPA worked with Bayer to use interim measures (IMs) to expedite cleanup of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and lead contamination at the facility. The use of IMs for soil excavation resulted in a reduction in time for site cleanup. The need for a follow up corrective action order under RCRA 3008(h) for remedy implementation was eliminated by using the IM provisions of the order. This resulted in significant savings to EPA of oversight costs in addition to cost savings to Bayer. EPA's final decision announcing that the site was clean was the key to having the property successfully donated to the city. This decision gave the community comfort about the land transfer. The City of Damascus will see an economic benefit as it redevelops the land.
Site Description
Interactive Map of Bayer Corporation, Damascus, VA
View larger mapBayer is located in Damascus, Virginia, adjacent to the Beaverdam Creek, approximately one-half mile south of the Damascus town center and approximately 12 miles south of Abingdon, Virginia. The Virginia-Tennessee state line is one-half mile south of the plant. Bayer occupies 53 acres. The manufacturing facilities associated with the former textile dye plant occupied approximately 6 acres at the northern end of the property.
Past activities which may have impacted the environment include land disposal activities, use of surface impoundments for wastewater treatment, and chemical use, storage, and transport associated with manufacturing operations.
Contaminants at this Facility
Primary cleanup was on polyaromatic hydrocarbons and lead contamination at the facility.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site is being reused.
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 the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.