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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Solvay USA Incorporated in Baltimore, Maryland

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A Consent Order was issued in the mid 1990s to address various air issues. Specifically, the Consent Order addressed the unloading, storage, and use of ethylene oxide at the Baltimore Plant. Two scrubbers and Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for transfer systems were installed as part of the compliance. Ethylene oxide handling and use was discontinued at the Baltimore Plant in 1996. Rhodia currently maintains three permits: an operating permit for an organic chemical plant with Maryland; an oil operations permit to store Number two heating oil for their boilers; and a waste water discharge permit with Baltimore for the Publicly Operated Treatment Works.

Cleanup Status

Review of all available records and discussions during a June 15, 2010 site visit indicate that there have been no reportable releases, no instances or evidence of soil or groundwater contamination, no site remediation, and no past, current, or planned monitoring efforts necessary at this Facility. The record review and site visit are documented in the Final Environmental Indicator Inspection Report which is contained in the Administrative Record.

A Final Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Site Visit Report was issued on August 24, 2010, for the Facility. A Statement of Basis (SOB) was noticed on January 25, 2011. The EPA issued its Final Decision regarding the Facility on March 7, 2011, stating that Corrective Action was Complete without Controls.

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Site Description

Interactive Map of Solvay USA Incorporated, Baltimore, Maryland


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Rhodia operates a surfactants and specialty chemical production facility at 3440 Fairfield Road in the Curtis Bay area of Baltimore, Maryland. The seven-acre site was originally owned and operated by Alcolac which was founded in 1948 and began manufacturing at the site in 1950.

In 1990, Rhone-Poulenc, Inc. (Rhone-Poulenc) acquired Alcolac (which remained the site owner) and operated the facility. In 2000, Rhone-Poulenc spun off Rhodia as a separate entity. At that time, Rhodia became the parent company of Alcolac and Rhodia began operating the site. Alcolac remains the owner of the site.

The various companies occupying the site have historically made chemical intermediates for a variety of domestic and international markets. Specifically, Rhodia produces sulfates (anionic surfactants), amides and monomers, which are used in the manufacturing and preparation of personal care products, industrial cleaners, agricultural products, latex, and clear coat finishes.

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Contaminants at this Facility

Review of all available records and discussions during a site visit indicate that there have been no reportable releases, no instances or evidence of soil or groundwater contamination, no site remediation, and no past, current, or planned monitoring efforts necessary at this Facility.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

Institutional Controls were not required at the site.

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Land Reuse Information at this Facility

 The site's future use is yet to be determined.

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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 Maryland Department of Environmental Protection.

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