Mowbray Engineering Co.

Overview

Mowbray Engineering Co. is a 2.7-acre former transformer repair and reconditioning facility in Greenville, Alabama. The site landed on EPA's Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 because improper disposal of used transformer oil and waste oils contaminated the soil. Alabama Power Company is the primary responsible party and works alongside EPA and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to oversee the site.

The contaminants of concern are Aroclor 1260 and polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly known as PCBs. Both were found in soil in the site's single operable unit, OU01. These chemicals can pose health risks to people who ingest or touch contaminated soil. EPA determined they presented an unacceptable risk and made them the focus of cleanup actions.

EPA completed a remedial investigation and selected a cleanup plan in 1986. Cleanup work began in 1987. Workers excavated contaminated soil, solidified the material, capped it, and left it on site. They also dug up 3,350 buried transformers from the northwest portion of the facility. An earlier removal action had taken place in 1981 as well. Construction of the cleanup remedy was finished in September 1991, and EPA deleted the site from the NPL in December 1993. Institutional controls were put in place to restrict future use and protect the remedy. The site achieved Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use status on April 30, 2012, meaning all cleanup goals for current and reasonably anticipated future land uses have been met and all required land-use controls are in place.

Human exposure is currently under control. Groundwater is not a concern at this site. EPA conducts five-year reviews to confirm the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. The most recent review, completed in September 2023, confirms the remedy remains protective. The next review is estimated between September and November 2028. Alabama Power Company continues operation and maintenance activities under EPA and state oversight.

Community members can stay involved through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that EPA uses to share updates and gather input. The local information repository for site records is the Greenville Public Library in Greenville, Alabama. Two EPA contacts are available to answer questions directly.