Alaric Area Ground Water Plume

Overview

The Alaric Area Ground Water Plume is a 1.7-acre Superfund site in Tampa, Florida, added to the National Priorities List in December 2000. Contamination came from past industrial operations and a plastics recycling facility. The site sits on property now owned by a new owner who leases it to an automotive maintenance company with about 15 employees.

Thirteen contaminants of concern have been identified, mostly chlorinated solvents. These include trichloroethene (TCE), tetrachloroethene (PCE), 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, vinyl chloride, and dichloroethene compounds. Iron, manganese, and zinc are also present in groundwater. Contamination affects both soil and the upper and intermediate groundwater aquifers, and the plume spread to an adjacent property.

Cleanup has moved through several phases. Between 2003 and 2008, a pump-and-treat system removed over 13 million gallons of groundwater from the upper aquifer and over 8 million gallons from the intermediate aquifer. Thermal treatment removed more than 2,000 pounds of heavily contaminated soil. In 2018, PCE and TCE were detected in indoor air inside the on-site building. EPA installed a vapor mitigation system, which is checked quarterly and is working as intended. Institutional controls prevent groundwater from being used as drinking water, and a public water supply system serves the area. The most recent five-year review, completed in July 2023, found that human exposure and groundwater migration are both under control. EPA is still running pilot studies to find the best way to treat dissolved contamination remaining in groundwater. A second operable unit is under investigation, with a cleanup decision expected between May and July 2027.

Community members can get involved through EPA fact sheets, public notices, and public meetings. Records related to site cleanup are available at the 78th Street Community Library at 7625 Palm River Road in Tampa. The next five-year review is estimated between July and September 2028. Residents and neighbors can reach EPA staff directly using the contact information below.