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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Covestro LLC (Formerly: Bayer Material Science LLC) in New Martinsville, West Virginia

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Cleanup Status

This facility is one of EPA Region III’s high priority Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action sites.  Extensive progress has been made with the cleanup of the Bayer Corporation Site.  This facility is approximately 48 years old and is located on the Ohio River, in New Martinsville, West Virginia.  In 1987, EPA issued a RCRA corrective action permit to the company to proceed with site cleanup.

The facility have completed the RCRA corrective action requirements and a Statement of Basis has been completed and a public notice has been issued by the WVDEP.  The Corrective Action Final Remedy consist of: a groundwater component , a soils component, a technology demonstration component and Facility –wide Institutional Controls.

 
 
 

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Site Description

Interactive Map of Covestro LLC, New Martinsville, West Virginia

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The New Martinsville Facility is situated within the Ohio River Valley at the base of the West Virginia Northern Panhandle in Marsball and Wetzel Counties, approximately five miles north of the city of New Maninsville, West Virginia. The Facility is bounded by an industrial facility to the north, the Ohio River to the west. West Virginia Route 2 and steeply sloped terrain to the east, and the small town of Proctor, West Virginia to the south.

Located in New Martinsville, West Virginia, the Former Bayer Corporation Site,now Covestro LLC, encompasses approximately 194 acres. The facility was built in 1954 for production of toluene diisocyanate. Currently, the facility manufactures polymers and inorganic chemicals.

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Contaminants at this Facility

Contaminants that have been found in the soil and groundwater are 1,2 dichlorobenzene, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, phenol, 2,4-Dinitrotoluene, 2,4-Toluenediamine,aniline and nickel.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

Institutional /Engineering Control Summary
Restrictions or Controls that Address: Yes No
Groundwater Use
X
 
Residential Use
X
 
Excavation
X
 
Vapor Intrusion
 
X
Capped Area(s)
 
X
Other Engineering Controls
X
 
Other Restrictions
X
 


Institutional Controls at the site include:

  • Groundwater at the Facility shall not be used for any purpose other than 1) industrial use as non-contact cooling water; and 2) the operation, maintenance, and monitoring activities required by West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) and/or EPA, unless it is demonstrated to WVDEP, in consultation with EPA, that such use will not pose a threat to human health or the environment or adversely affect or interfere with the selected remedy and WVDEP, in consultation with EPA, provides prior written approval for such use.
  • The Facility property shall not be used for residential purposes unless it is demonstrated to WVDEP, in consultation with EPA, that such use will not pose a threat to human health or the environment or adversely affect or interfere with the selected remedy, and WVDEP, in consultation with EPA, provides prior written approval for such use.
  • All earth moving activities, including excavation, drilling and construction activities, in the areas at the Facility where any contaminants remain in soils above EPA's Screening levels for non-residential use or groundwater above Federal MCLs/Tap Water Risk-Based Concentrations (RBCs), shall be prohibited unless it is demonstrated to WVDEP, in consultation with EPA, that such activity will not pose a threat to human health or the environment or adversely affect or interfere with the selected remedy, and WVDEP, in consultation with EPA, provides prior written approval for such use.
  • No new wells will be installed on Facility property unless it is demonstrated to WVDEP, in consultation with EPA, that such wells are necessary to implement the final remedy and WVDEP provides prior written approval to install such wells.
  • The Facility requires the implementation of the approved Groundwater Monitoring Plan.

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Land Reuse Information at this Facility

 The facility is in continued use.

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Site Responsibility at this Facility

RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of the WVDEP with assistance from the EPA Region 3.

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