Kane & Lombard Street Drums

Overview

The Kane and Lombard Street Drums site sits near the intersection of Kane and Lombard Streets in Baltimore, Maryland. It operated as an open dump from 1962 to 1984, accepting demolition, municipal, and industrial waste. EPA added it to the National Priorities List in June 1986. Cleanup is divided into two operable units: the former drum area (OU-1) and a broader groundwater area (OU-2). Construction is not yet complete, and the site remains on the National Priorities List.

The site holds 35 contaminants of concern across soil and groundwater. Soil in the former drum area contains metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, and beryllium, along with PCBs, pesticides including p,p'-DDT, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds like benzene and vinyl chloride. Groundwater contains chlorinated solvents including trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and carbon tetrachloride, plus benzene, vinyl chloride, and other volatile organic compounds. The contaminated groundwater plume extends roughly 6,300 feet southeast from the site. The City of Baltimore supplies drinking water to area residents, and groundwater use as a drinking water source is prohibited within the city.

For OU-1, EPA removed about 1,200 drums and contaminated soil, installed a groundwater containment structure, and completed a multilayer cap in 1991. That area now hosts a golf driving range, parking lot, cellular tower, and trucking and trailer repair facilities. Four on-site businesses employed 104 people as of December 2024 and generated an estimated $11.3 million in annual sales. For OU-2, EPA installed a pump and treat system in part of the groundwater plume. A focused feasibility study to evaluate additional groundwater treatment options for the full OU-2 plume is estimated to be completed between August and October 2027. A Record of Decision Amendment for OU-2 is expected in the same timeframe and would add capping of impacted subsurface soil in two areas, groundwater extraction and treatment, vapor intrusion mitigation systems, long-term monitoring, and institutional controls.

The most recent five-year review, completed May 12, 2025, found that OU-1 cleanup is protective of human health and the environment in the short term. It recommends testing for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to maintain long-term protection. Human exposure across the site is currently under control, and contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions, are in place to prevent land uses inconsistent with cleanup levels. Sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse is estimated for June to August 2028.

Community members can review the 2023 Community Involvement Plan, which outlines how EPA will engage residents throughout the cleanup and reflects concerns raised during community interviews. EPA accepted public comments on its proposed plan for OU-2 from August 21 through October 21, 2024. Public records are available online or in person at the Pratt Free Library, Patterson Park Branch in Baltimore, or at EPA Region 3 in Philadelphia, with appointments required. The Remedial Project Manager and Community Involvement Coordinator can answer questions directly.