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Cleanup Milestone at Maryland Superfund Site Means Clean Waters

Release Date: 9/2/1999
Contact Information: Carrie Deitzel (215) 814-5525

Elkton, Md.-- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials joined Congressman Wayne Gilchrest today to announce a major milestone in the cleanup of the Galaxy/Spectron Superfund site - the completion of a system that will prevent contaminated groundwater from flowing into Little Elk Creek.

Thanks to the completion of the extensive stream containment system, the banks of Little Elk Creek no longer pose a health threat to children swimming there. Chemical odors that once permeated the valley have been greatly diminished and will soon disappear.

"This project is a perfect example of how partnerships between EPA, the state, industry and community members help create unique solutions to clean up our nation’s most hazardous waste sites. No resource is more precious than local waterways like Little Elk Creek," said W. Michael McCabe, EPA regional administrator for the mid-Atlantic region.

Galaxy Chemicals and Spectron, Inc. disposed of waste in several onsite lagoons, as well as the creek, before closing down in 1988. The dumping resulted in high levels of chlorinated solvents in the soil and groundwater that flowed directly into the creek.

In 1989, EPA removed nearly 500,000 gallons of flammable liquids which were abandoned at the site.

Working closely with industry, the state and local community members, EPA determined the stream containment system was the best way to prevent the spread of contamination that threatens one of Maryland’s protected waterways.