Chevron Chemical Co. (Ortho Division)

Overview

A 4.39-acre pesticide formulation plant operated in Orlando, Florida, from 1950 to 1976. The site went onto the EPA Superfund National Priorities List in May 1994. Chevron, the potentially responsible party, has led cleanup work under EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection oversight.

EPA found 21 contaminants of concern at the site. These include pesticides such as aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, and DDT compounds, along with heavy metals like arsenic, chromium, and lead, and volatile organic compounds including benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Contamination affects both soil and groundwater in Operable Unit 1.

Cleanup has included demolishing site structures, excavating and disposing of more than 18,000 tons of pesticide-contaminated soil, and treating groundwater. After contaminants appeared in monitoring wells near Lake Fairview in 2004, Chevron installed 14 permeable reactive barriers. These are underground walls that trap or neutralize contaminants as groundwater flows through them. From 2010 to 2012, Chevron removed more than 3,000 additional cubic yards of contaminated soil. Physical construction of the cleanup is complete across the entire site.

The site is currently fenced and unoccupied with a grassy cover. Institutional controls limit the property to industrial use and block groundwater access on the Chevron property. All properties downhill from the site connect to the public water system, and no private wells sit within the contamination area. EPA determined that human exposure is under control and that groundwater migration is stabilized. However, quarterly monitoring continues because contamination has not yet been fully contained. EPA's 2023 Five-Year Review found the remedy protects human health and the environment in the short term. The next review is estimated for 2028.

Community members can stay informed through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that EPA conducts as part of its community involvement program. Site records are available at the Edgewater Public Library at 5049 Edgewater Drive in Orlando. Residents can also contact EPA staff directly with questions about the site.