Geiger (C & M Oil)

Overview

The Geiger (C & M Oil) site sits on 1.5 acres along Highway 162, about 10 miles west of Charleston in Hollywood, South Carolina. From 1969 to 1974, Adams Run Services, Inc. burned waste oil there using eight unlined lagoons. That operation contaminated both soil and groundwater. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984.

Forty-seven contaminants of concern were identified at the site. Groundwater contained volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, trichloroethene, toluene, and xylene, plus chlorinated solvents and heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead. Soil contamination included heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) such as Aroclor 1254, petroleum-related compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like benzo(a)pyrene and chrysene. The main health risks involve people ingesting or coming into contact with these contaminants in soil or groundwater.

EPA and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control carried out cleanup over several decades. Early work included a removal action from 1987 to 1988. By 1993, EPA shifted from excavating contaminated soil to stabilizing and solidifying it in place. In 1998, EPA moved from active groundwater treatment to monitored natural attenuation, allowing contaminants to break down naturally under ongoing observation. In 2023, an Explanation of Significant Differences added institutional controls, including a Restrictive Covenant, to the remedy. EPA collected over $5.3 million from potentially responsible parties to cover cleanup costs. Pile Drivers, Inc. now owns and operates the property, using it for an office and equipment storage.

The site was deleted from the NPL on January 6, 2014. Human exposure to contaminants is under control, and groundwater migration is stabilized and monitored. A cap and fence protect the treated soil area, and zoning restrictions prevent residential use. The most recent Five-Year Review, completed in September 2024, confirms the remedy is still protective of human health and the environment.

Community members can stay involved through public notices, fact sheets, interviews, and public meetings that EPA holds as part of its community involvement activities. Site records are available at St. Paul's Parish Library at 5151 Town Council Drive in Hollywood, South Carolina. Two EPA staff members are available to answer questions directly.