Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC (aka: ATK Tactical Systems), Rocket Center, West Virginia

On this page:

Cleanup Status
Site Description
Contaminants at this Facility
Institutional/Engineer Controls
Land Reuse
Site Responsibility

Cleanup Status

This facility is one of EPA Region 3’s high priority Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action sites. On August 25, 2005, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) issued a Corrective Action Permit to ATK (now Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC under Northrup Grumman ownership) for Allegany Ballistics Laboratory that would expire on July 24, 2015. This permit was renewed November 14, 2015 and expires on November 13, 2025. Twenty-four (Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs) were identified at Plant 2 for evaluation. These SWMUs were evaluated as part of the RCRA Facility Assessment (RFA), RFI, or West Virginia Underground Storage Tank program. As a result, 19 of the 24 SWMUs were determined to require no further investigation or corrective action. However, the results of the RFI indicated corrective action (CA) is warranted at the five SWMUs at Plant 2: SWMU 25F – Building 8203 former solvent recovery still; SWMU 37R – Building 2003 former wastewater sump; SWMU 37S02 – Building 2000 former wastewater sump; SWMU 37T02 – Building 2001 former wastewater sump; and SWMU 37U02 – Building 2008 former wastewater sump. The next two paragraphs is a summary of the 2016 RFI report data that pertain to the SWMUs targeted for CA:

Soil data collected during the RFI sampling activities found trichloroethene (TCE) and vinyl chloride concentrations at and adjacent to SWMUs 25F, 37S02, 37T02, and 37U02 above human health risk-based levels associated with residential use and in soil at SWMUs 37S02, 37T02, and 37U02 above risk-based levels associated with industrial use. Additionally, perchlorate was detected in soil at SWMUs 37R and 37U02 above risk-based levels associated with residential use.

RFI groundwater data showed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the alluvial and bedrock groundwater at concentrations exceeding the EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). The VOC concentrations in bedrock groundwater were found to be lower than in the alluvial groundwater, and VOCs were not detected in many of the bedrock groundwater samples. The highest number and concentrations of VOCs were detected in monitoring wells immediately downgradient of the former sumps at SWMUs 37S02, 37T02, and 37U02 and former still at SWMU 25F, which were also identified as the probable source areas for elevated VOCs detected in soil samples. Perchlorate was also detected in Plant 2 alluvial and bedrock groundwater, but at relatively low concentrations.

Having gone through a public comment period on its proposed remedy between September 26 and October 27, 2019, WVDEP issued a Final Remedy Decision on November 25, 2019 which consists of various combinations of physical contaminant removal/treatment, land/groundwater use controls, and monitored natural attenuation of contaminants in groundwater. Specifically, the remedy for the five SWMUs consists of:

SWMUs 37R, 37S02, 37T02, and 37U02 – Excavation and removal of soil containing residual concentrations of contaminants that may pose an unacceptable risk from direct exposure (hypothetical construction and industrial worker scenario) or leaching concern to groundwater, land/groundwater use controls, and groundwater monitoring of both SWMU-specific and facility-wide wells
SWMU 25F – Application of enhanced in situ bioremediation using a carbon substrate in areas where elevated TCE was observed in soil, land/groundwater use controls, and groundwater monitoring of both SWMU-specific and facility-wide wells

The Final Remedy will be incorporated into the WVDEP’s current permit to govern the enforcement of the implementation. An updated Corrective Measures Implementation Plan updated with the source delineation and other pre-corrective measures work, including limited removal, conducted in the last 3 years as well as a Monitored Natural Attenuation Groundwater Workplan are expected in 2020. Source removal component of the remedy is anticipated to be completed in the next couple of construction seasons.

On November 25, 2019 determined that the Facility will have the following and groundwater controls to be implemented at Plant 2:

Plant 2 shall not be used for residential purposes unless it can be shown that contaminant concentrations in soil and groundwater have been reduced to levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure.
Groundwater at Plant 2 shall not be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to, use as a potable water source, other than to conduct the maintenance and monitoring activities required by WV DEP and/or EPA.
All earth moving activities (excavation, drilling, construction) in areas of Plant 2 where exposure to contaminant levels above acceptable levels may pose an unacceptable exposure risk shall be conducted in a manner that will not pose a threat to human health.

Site Description

Interactive Map of Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Rocket Center, West Viriginia

View larger map

Allegheny Ballistic Laboratory (ABL) where Alliant is located is in Mineral County in the northeastern part of West Virginia, approximately 10 miles southwest of Cumberland, Maryland, along the West Virginia and Maryland border. ABL is a government-owned, contractor operated 1500 acre production facility for composite structures, research, development, and testing. Remediation at the site is conducted under CERCLA. The focus of the RCRA Corrective Action activities at the site is the adjacent 57 acre Orbital ATK-owned site referred to as Plant 2.

Contaminants at this Facility

Several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified with trichloroethene as the most prevalent VOC detected. Chloroform and dibromochloromethane were also detected at low concentrations.

Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

Insitutional Controls include:

Plant 2 shall not be used for residential purposes unless it can be shown that contaminant concentrations in soil and groundwater have been reduced to levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure.
Groundwater at Plant 2 shall not be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to, use as a potable water source, other than to conduct the maintenance and monitoring activities required by WV DEP and/or EPA.
All earth moving activities (excavation, drilling, construction) in areas of Plant 2 where exposure to contaminant levels above acceptable levels may pose an unacceptable exposure risk shall be conducted in a manner that will not pose a threat to human health.

Land Reuse Information at this Facility

The site has an unused parcel and also is under continued use.

Site Responsibility at this Facility

RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) with assistance from the EPA. The investigation and any necessary cleanup activities are being implemented in accordance with a WVDEP RCRA Permit, issued in August 2005.