Spectron, Inc.

Overview

Spectron, Inc. is a former solvent recycling facility near Elkton, Maryland, listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in May 1994. Operations ran from 1962 to 1988, leaving behind widespread contamination in soil, groundwater, and stream sediments. The site is divided into two operable units (OUs): OU1 covers shallow soil and overburden groundwater, and OU2 addresses deeper bedrock groundwater.

More than 100 chemical substances have been identified as contaminants of concern. These include chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene, along with benzene, toluene, and xylene. Metals including lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, and mercury are also present. Groundwater, soil, and surface water have all been affected at different parts of the site.

Cleanup work has been extensive. After the facility closed in 1988, the potentially responsible party (PRP) group removed more than 500,000 gallons of remaining solvents in 1989 and 1990. Contaminated stream sediments were excavated in 1998, and a stream isolation and groundwater collection and treatment system began operating in 1999 to protect Little Elk Creek. Between February and November 2016, in-situ thermal treatment removed an estimated 15,700 pounds of volatile organic compounds from shallow soil and groundwater. An asphalt cap was completed in September 2019. A final cleanup plan for deep bedrock groundwater was issued in March 2020, calling for continued treatment, extraction of dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), and ongoing monitoring.

Construction was completed sitewide in September 2020, and the site became ready for reuse in December 2020. An environmental covenant signed that same month restricts certain land uses and prevents new well installation in the contaminated groundwater area. The Cecil County Health Department also notifies EPA when well permit applications are submitted near the site. EPA completed the second five-year review in November 2022 and found the remedy protective in the short term, though additional sampling is needed to confirm long-term effectiveness. The next five-year review is estimated between November 2027 and January 2028. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.

Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program. Fact sheets and presentation materials from site activities dating back to 1996 are available to the public. Site records can be reviewed at the Cecil County Library in Elkton, Maryland, or at the EPA Region III Public Reading Room at 1650 Arch Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The reading room can be reached at (215) 814-3157 to schedule an appointment.