Carolina Transformer Co.

Overview

Carolina Transformer Co. is a former transformer rebuilding and repair facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It operated from 1967 to 1982 and left behind contaminated soil, sediment, groundwater, and debris. The EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1987. The NPL is the federal list of hazardous waste sites that warrant priority cleanup attention.

The site has 60 identified contaminants of concern found in soil, groundwater, sludge, and surface water. These include toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and copper. Organic chemicals like benzene, toluene, trichloroethene, and tetrachloroethene are also present. Chlorinated compounds including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorobenzene, and trichlorobenzenes round out the major contamination categories.

Cleanup began in 1984 with the removal of 975 tons of contaminated soil and fencing of the area. Between 1996 and 1999, the EPA built and operated a groundwater pump-and-treat system. Physical cleanup finished in 2003, and the treatment system ran until 2005. At that point, the EPA shifted to monitored natural attenuation, which means tracking contamination over time without active treatment. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality now conducts annual groundwater monitoring. All site-related contaminants except manganese are within cleanup goals. The EPA's 2020 Five-Year Review confirmed the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. Nearby residents are connected to the public water supply, and no one is currently exposed to remaining groundwater contamination.

The site was designated sitewide ready for anticipated reuse in August 2018. One business was operating on the property as of December 2024. The current property owner has restrictions in place requiring EPA coordination before any ground-disturbing activity and prohibiting interference with monitoring wells. An Explanation of Significant Differences covering additional changes is estimated to be completed between August and October 2026.

Community members can stay involved through public notices and public meetings that the EPA holds to share updates and gather input. Site documents are available through the EPA's Superfund records system and at the Cumberland County Public Library at 300 Maiden Lane in Fayetteville. For questions, residents can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.