GMH Electronics sits in Roxboro, North Carolina, in Person County. It got onto EPA's National Priorities List in September 2009 after operations at an electronics facility and two former gasoline stations contaminated the groundwater beneath and around the property. A plume of contaminated groundwater spread beyond the original site and reached private drinking water wells in nearby homes.
EPA has identified 27 contaminants of concern in groundwater and soil. Groundwater contains volatile organic compounds including 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, toluene, and xylene isomers, along with 1,4-dioxane, naphthalene, MTBE, and manganese. Soil contamination includes benzene, toluene, xylene isomers, ethylbenzene, trimethylbenzene compounds, propylbenzene, 1,2-dibromoethane, and manganese.
EPA and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality began protecting residents as early as 2007, distributing bottled water and installing filters at homes with high contamination levels. A 2008 survey found contamination in 45 of 89 sampled private wells. In 2010, Person County finished building a public water line that connected 42 homes, removing the need for bottled water and individual filters. EPA assessed vapor intrusion in 2008 and found it did not pose a threat to residents or workers. Human exposure is currently under control, and groundwater migration is stabilized in the original area.
Cleanup decisions for Operable Unit 1 have been issued in stages. A 2009 Record of Decision focused on drinking water protection. A 2014 Record of Decision added broader soil and groundwater treatment methods, including in-situ bioremediation, soil vapor extraction, and permeable reactive barriers. A 2019 Explanation of Significant Differences modified that plan by removing one vapor extraction component and adding air sparging, in-well air stripping, and free product recovery. A second phase of remedial action started in September 2018, with completion estimated between August and October 2026. Physical construction is not yet complete, and the site has not been deleted from the National Priorities List. GMH Electronics has also been selected to receive cleanup funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Community members can stay informed through public notices and meetings that EPA holds throughout the cleanup process. One on-site business currently operates at the property. People with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
