Southern Maryland Wood Treating

Overview

Southern Maryland Wood Treating operated in Hollywood, St. Mary's County, Maryland from 1965 to 1978. The facility used creosote and pentachlorophenol to treat wood, and process wastewater discharged into six unlined lagoons. That contaminated soil, groundwater, and a nearby stream. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. The site covers 94 acres, most of it wetland, with wood-treating operations concentrated on about 25 acres.

More than 100 chemical substances have been identified as contaminants at this site. They include metals such as lead, mercury, chromium, copper, and zinc. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) include benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as naphthalene, benzo[a]pyrene, and chrysene were also found. Other contaminants include phenol, pentachlorophenol, and chlorinated dioxins and furans. These substances were present in soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, and liquid waste.

Cleanup happened in phases over roughly 20 years. Workers installed a subsurface barrier wall by 1990 to contain groundwater migration. Water treatment systems ran from 1995 to 2000 to handle stormwater and surface water. Between 1998 and 2000, crews excavated about 270,000 tons of contaminated soil and treated it through thermal desorption, a heat-based process that removes contaminants. A separate water treatment system handled condensate from that process. Short-term actions also included removing waste drums and demolishing unstable buildings. After soil treatment, the site was regraded and planted with wildflowers and grains to restore wildlife habitat. Groundwater monitoring continued through 2002 or 2003.

All cleanup construction finished by April 2001. The site was cleaned to residential standards and given unrestricted use status. In 2004, it became the first Superfund site to receive a Ready for Reuse Determination. EPA deleted it from the NPL on April 5, 2005. Five-year reviews were completed in September 1994 and September 1999, both confirming the remedy protects human health and the environment. The site no longer requires five-year reviews. Human exposure is no longer a concern, and groundwater migration has been stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. No redevelopment has taken place to date.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. Public records related to EPA decisions at the site are available online or in person at the U.S. EPA Region III office at 1600 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (215) 814-2396.