H & H Inc., Burn Pit

Overview

Between 1960 and 1976, Haskell Chemical Company dumped drums of printing ink and paint manufacturing wastes into shallow, unlined pits on this one-acre property in Hanover County, Virginia, then burned them. That practice contaminated the soil, sediment, and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989, which triggers the full federal Superfund cleanup process. The site is organized into two main cleanup areas: one for source removal and one for groundwater.

Thirty-one chemicals have been identified as contaminants of concern. Groundwater holds volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, trichloroethene, toluene, and vinyl chloride, along with chlorinated solvents, phthalates, phenol, and naphthalene. Soil and sediment contain lead, copper, zinc, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These contaminants can cause health risks through ingestion or direct contact, but EPA has determined that human exposure is currently under control and groundwater migration is stabilized.

Much of the cleanup is done. Contaminated soil was removed by 1998, and downstream sediment was cleaned up by 1999. A pump-and-treat system for groundwater and soil vapor ran from 2000 to 2011. In May 2020, EPA approved an amended cleanup plan for the groundwater, selecting enhanced bioremediation, a method that uses microorganisms to break down contaminants in place. Responsible parties are now conducting a pre-remedial design study to map the groundwater plume before full-scale treatment begins, with remedial action estimated to start between December 2026 and February 2027.

Institutional controls are in place to protect people in the meantime. A restrictive covenant on the property deed bars groundwater use, and the controls prevent incompatible land uses such as residential development. The property currently operates as a timber lot. EPA completed its fifth five-year review in May 2025, concluding the remedy protects human health and the environment in the short term while recommending steps to ensure long-term protectiveness. The next five-year review is scheduled for 2030.

Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program, which supports public participation throughout the cleanup process. For questions, residents can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. Site records can be reviewed at the Pamunkey Regional Library, Ashland Branch, at 201 Railroad Avenue in Ashland, Virginia, or at EPA Region 3 in Philadelphia. Call (215) 814-2396 to schedule an appointment at the EPA office.