Central Chemical (Hagerstown)

Overview

Central Chemical operated as a pesticide and fertilizer blending facility in Hagerstown, Maryland from the 1930s until 1984. Waste from blending was disposed on-site, and EPA added the property to the National Priorities List in September 1997. Cleanup work began in 2017 and continues today, but physical construction of the full remedy is not yet complete.

EPA has identified 43 contaminants of concern at the site. These include pesticides such as DDT, aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, heptachlor, toxaphene, and lindane. The site also contains chlorinated solvents, metals including arsenic and thallium, and other chemicals like benzo[a]pyrene and atrazine. Contamination is found in soil, sludge, and groundwater. Pesticides were detected at lower levels in stormwater leaving the site and in nearby Marsh Run and Antietam Creek. In 2018, dioxin was identified in groundwater at low concentrations that fall below drinking water standards. Hagerstown residents who use the municipal water supply, which draws from the Potomac River, are not expected to be affected by site contamination.

Cleanup is organized into operable units covering soil and waste, groundwater, and sitewide actions. The original cleanup plan, issued in 2009, called for capping, excavation, stabilization, offsite disposal, and institutional controls. Three Explanations of Significant Differences have modified that plan since then, with changes covering treatment methods, cleanup standards, and contaminant lists. A groundwater pump and treat system became operational in summer 2022. Starting in September 2022, workers began stabilizing waste in the former lagoon on the north end of the property, binding it into a solid mass that will be capped and revegetated. Most soil and waste remedial actions were completed by 2023, with additional work planned through early 2026. The groundwater investigation is estimated to finish between December 2027 and February 2028. A Declaration of Restrictive Covenants placed on the property in 2000 limits use to commercial and industrial purposes and prohibits housing, schools, and playgrounds.

EPA currently considers human exposure at the site to be under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways exist at this time. However, groundwater migration is classified as having insufficient data, so EPA cannot yet confirm whether contaminated groundwater is stabilized. A five-year review completed in June 2022 found the remedy is expected to be protective of human health and the environment once finished. The next five-year review is scheduled for 2027, around the same time the site is expected to be ready for anticipated reuse.

Community members can stay informed through EPA fact sheets, including a September 2025 community update, and through EPA's Community Involvement Program. Administrative records are available at the Washington County Free Library in Hagerstown and at EPA Region 3 in Philadelphia. For questions, residents can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly.