The Abex Corp. site is a former brass and bronze foundry that operated in Portsmouth, Virginia from 1928 to 1978. Foundry waste and smelting emissions spread lead and other metals into on-site soil, nearby residential yards, a small playground, and a rehabilitation center. EPA added the site to its National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990, making it eligible for federal Superfund cleanup funding.
Twelve contaminants of concern have been identified in soil at the site. The metals found include antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, tin, and zinc. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also identified. A 1992 study found lead levels above 500 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) in the nearby Effingham residential area, which EPA flagged as a short-term threat to human health.
Cleanup has moved through several phases over decades. Abex excavated contaminated residential soil beginning in 1986 under an EPA Consent Order. Between 1999 and 2000, the company completed major soil excavation within 700 feet of the foundry and also removed lead-contaminated dust from heating ducts and furnaces in Washington Park apartments. Some residents were temporarily relocated during that work. In May 1997, foundry buildings and five row homes on Seventh Street were demolished. EPA organized the cleanup into two focus areas. The Inner Focus Area (Operable Unit 1) involved excavation, offsite disposal, and later permanent population relocation with institutional controls. The Outer Focus Area (Operable Unit 2) covered groundwater, surface water, sediments, and soil beyond the original cleanup zone. A Record of Decision for Operable Unit 2 was finalized in April 2022, concluding no further cleanup action was needed there.
Physical construction is now complete sitewide. Human exposure and groundwater migration are both under control. The remediated portion of the site has been redeveloped and as of December 2024 hosts 10 businesses employing 80 people with about $7.9 million in annual sales. New uses include a Portsmouth Fire Department headquarters, a training facility, and planned retail and community health services. A 2022 five-year review confirmed the cleanup remedy remains protective of public health and the environment. The next five-year review is scheduled between May and July 2027. The site has not yet been removed from the NPL.
In January 2024, EPA issued new guidance lowering the residential lead screening level for Superfund sites to 200 parts per million (ppm), or 100 ppm where multiple lead sources exist. EPA Region 3 is evaluating what effect this updated standard has on the Abex site and will notify community members when site-specific updates are ready. Community members can review site documents at the Portsmouth Public Library at 601 Court Street or online through EPA's Administrative Record. EPA's Community Involvement Program offers additional ways to participate, including access to fact sheets, proposed plans, and public notices on the EPA website.
