BMI-Textron

Overview

The BMI-Textron site sits in Lake Park, Florida, just north of West Palm Beach. The facility made chromium-backed glass plates for electronic components starting in 1969. Liquid waste containing cyanide was disposed of through on-site percolation ponds and drain fields. Contamination turned up in soil and groundwater in 1984, and EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990.

Five contaminants were identified in groundwater: arsenic, bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether, cyanide, fluoride, and sodium. These were flagged because they posed unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. The main exposure concern was people ingesting or coming into contact with contaminated groundwater.

BMI-Textron, the potentially responsible party, took early action by removing 680 cubic yards of cyanide-contaminated soil from one percolation pond in 1984 and clearing chromium and cyanide-contaminated soils from a second pond in 1990. Those areas were filled and capped with asphalt. EPA approved a cleanup plan in 1994 that relied on monitored natural attenuation, letting contaminants break down on their own while quarterly and then annual groundwater monitoring tracked progress. The site was fenced and gated during this period. Remedial action ran from March 1995 to November 1995, with monitoring continuing through August 2000.

By 2002, groundwater met federal drinking water standards. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in November 2002. Human exposure is under control, groundwater migration is stabilized, and no unacceptable risks remain for current or anticipated future land uses. EPA does not plan additional cleanup work or further five-year reviews. The site is now home to several active businesses, including Florida Aero Precision, which manufactures turbine engine components in the original BMI-Textron building. As of December 2024, five on-site businesses employed 75 people and generated about $12.2 million in annual sales.

Community members who want to learn more about the site's history can visit the Lake Park Library at 529 Park Avenue, Lake Park, Florida 33403, where records related to Superfund work are available. Questions can also be directed to the EPA Remedial Project Manager.