Parramore Surplus operated a 25-acre storage and resale facility for U.S. Navy and Air Force surplus equipment in Mount Pleasant, Florida, starting in the early 1970s. The company purchased products such as paint residues, waste oil, alcohols, and degreasers from military bases. A 1982 inspection found hundreds of drums on site, some leaking and damaging vegetation. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in September 1983 because drum storage operations had contaminated soil and groundwater.
EPA identified eight contaminants of concern, all found in soil. They are 2-butanone (also called methyl ethyl ketone), Aroclor 1254 (a type of polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, cyanide, dibutyl phthalate, ethylbenzene, lead, and zinc.
Parramore Surplus agreed to voluntarily clean up PCB-contaminated soil. The Florida Department of Environmental Regulation and EPA inspected the site and confirmed on July 28, 1983, that the company had met its cleanup obligations. Three additional contaminated areas found during investigation were also cleaned up at the state's request. EPA issued a cleanup plan in September 1987, stating that no further soil remediation was needed to protect public health or the environment. The plan required groundwater sampling to confirm that past disposal had not spread contamination. Sampling results showed no further action was needed beyond limited groundwater monitoring.
EPA now considers human exposure under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater migration is also under control, with contamination stabilized and no unacceptable discharge to surface water. All cleanup goals for current and anticipated future land uses have been met. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in January 2013. Throughout the process, the cleanup design allowed the surplus company to keep operating, helping preserve local jobs. The site continues in industrial use, with warehouses and storage areas remaining on the property.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Remedial Project Manager. During the cleanup, EPA kept the public informed through notices, public meetings, and interviews.
