Florida Petroleum Reprocessors

Overview

Florida Petroleum Reprocessors is a one-acre former oil reprocessing facility in Davie, Florida. Oil reprocessing ran there from 1979 to 1992. Operators dumped waste oil into a perforated tank, and the oil and chemicals seeped six feet down into the Biscayne Aquifer. The contamination spread volatile organic compounds (VOCs) across more than 800 acres of groundwater. In 1996, EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) found contamination at a nearby municipal water well field and traced it to this site. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1998. The NPL is the federal government's list of the most serious hazardous waste sites in the country.

More than 30 contaminants have been identified at the site in soil, groundwater, and sediment. These include chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane. Petroleum-related compounds, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, are also present. Other contaminants include arsenic, vinyl chloride, benzo(a)pyrene, and various other VOCs and phthalates.

Cleanup has happened in several steps. In 1997, EPA removed containers and bulk storage tanks. In 1999, crews excavated and removed 6,000 tons of contaminated soil. EPA selected a long-term cleanup plan in 2001 that used recovery wells, carbon adsorption, air stripping, and monitored natural attenuation (MNA). MNA means letting natural processes break down contaminants over time while workers track the results. By 2014, on-site groundwater dropped below Florida cleanup thresholds. Remedial construction wrapped up in September 2013, and all remedial actions were completed in 2017. The site reached "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status in June 2019.

Right now, the site is fenced and gated. Institutional controls limit the property to commercial and industrial uses only. Nearby residents and businesses use the public water supply, so site contamination does not pose a current risk to people living or working in the area. Vapor intrusion is not a concern because groundwater contamination levels are low. The potentially responsible party continues long-term operations and maintenance until groundwater concentrations fall below all cleanup targets set in the Record of Decision. The most recent five-year review of site conditions was completed in July 2023, with the next review estimated for 2028.

EPA keeps the community informed through public notices, public meetings, and interviews about site updates. Anyone with questions can reach out to the site's EPA contacts directly.