Hazardous Waste Cleanup: General Services Administration in Washington, DC
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
The US General Services Administration-National Capital Region (GSA) is directing the redevelopment of a 55-acre property located on the banks of the Anacostia River in S.E. Washington, DC. The undeveloped portion of the property is named the Southeast Federal Center (SEFC). The redeveloped portion of the former SEFC is called ‘The Yards’ and is mostly privately owned.
The property is cleaned-up parcel by parcel, prior to redevelopment construction.
Currently, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under an EPA 7003 Consent Order. In 1998, GSA began investigating and remediating contamination under a Consent Decree administered by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on behalf of a number of plaintiffs. On July 14, 1999, EPA issued GSA an Administrative Order under Section 3013 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to identify contaminated areas and take interim measures to abate Site contamination. A Section 7003 Order was negotiated with GSA in 2014 to streamline and complete the clean-up already underway at the SEFC. The 2014 Order covers all the initial SEFC land except for the U.S. DOT Parcel, Parcel D, Parcel M, Parcel K, and Parcel P.
Cleanup Status
The SEFC was divided into 15 parcels for redevelopment.
The U.S. DOT Parcel and Parcels D, K, M, P, and N were investigated and cleaned-up under the EPA § 3013 Consent Order issued to GSA in 1999.
In June 2015, EPA issued a Statement of Basis (SB) detailing the SEFC Site history and providing the ‘basis’ for EPA’s proposed final Remedy decision for Parcels A, E, F, G, H, I, L, O and Q. EPA's Final Remedy Decision for these parcels was signed in July 2015 after public comment closed. The SB and Final Remedy Decision for these Parcels can be found in the "Additional Site Information " under the "Documents, Reports and Photographs" heading.
Since then, GSA has cleaned up Parcels G, I, L, and O, and most of Parcel H.
Soil excavation at Parcel H was completed in 2023. During the excavation, trichloroethylene (TCE) was discovered in deep soils. Contaminated soil was removed to the extent possible within construction constraints, for the ten-story building under construction. Corrective measures were implemented to prevent the potential for vapors from the remaining contamination to enter the below ground garage. Future sampling is planned to verify indoor air is protective of human health, and to evaluate potential impacts to groundwater.
During the clean-up of Parcel H, chromium was discovered in concrete being used in small areas (tie backs) to support the exterior soil walls during excavation. Following the discovery, a different concrete was used. Future sampling is planned to evaluate groundwater impacts, if any, from the chromium laden concrete.
Site Description
Interactive Map of General Services Administration, Washington, DC
The SEFC was created in 1963, when the Washington Navy Yard (WNY) transferred 55-acres to GSA for redevelopment. The 55-acres had previously been used for shipbuilding (1800’s) and was later heavily industrialized by ordnance (gun) manufacturing up through WWII.
Contaminants at this Facility
Soil contamination is the media most affected at the SEFC. Contaminants found in soil include petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organic solvents (trichloroethylene or TCE), and metals, such as lead, and chromium.
Groundwater (GW) contamination was discovered under the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Parcel, prior to development. Gasoline constituents migrated from a former gas station across the street, possibly with some WNY contribution. GW contaminants are benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes and naphthalene
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The properties at the SEFC are supplied by the public water utility. GW use for drinking water is prohibited through property deeds. Other engineering and institutional controls are in place for Parcels H and P.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
Historic buildings are being cleaned up and reused for various mixed uses.
Parcel P was redeveloped into Waterside Park.
Other parcels are being redeveloped to newly constructed multi-story structures with retail use at the ground level; residential, office, or hotel use at above-ground levels; and below ground garages
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities are being conducted under the direction of the EPA Region 3.