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Five-year Review shows cleanup remedy is protective at Agrico Chemical Company Superfund Site in Pensacola, Florida

Release Date: 7/19/2005
Contact Information:

For Immediate Release                                                   

Contact: Laura Niles Phone: (404) 562-8353

(Atlanta – July 19, 2005)The second five-year review report of the Agrico Chemical Company Superfund site in Pensacola, Florida has determined that the remedy for cleanup is functioning as intended by the Record of Decision for the site. The remedy is expected to attain groundwater cleanup goals through natural processes and continues to be protective of human health and the environment. 

EPA tasked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the review to determine the effectiveness of the site remedy and whether it remains protective of human health and the environment.  The review was conducted from December 2003 to December 2004.  To ensure the continued effectiveness of the remedy, groundwater and surface water monitoring will be conducted until the remedial action objectives are achieved. 

The Agrico Chemical Company Superfund site contamination history began with Agrico Chemical Company producing sulfuric acid from pyrite between 1889 and 1920.  Several companies produced fertilizer on site between 1920 and 1975, including Conoco, Inc. (currently ConocoPhillips, Inc.) and Agrico Chemical Company.  Agrico operated the facility until operations ceased in 1975.  Wastewater, sludge material, and similar byproducts from industrial processes are considered the source of soil and groundwater contamination at the site. 

Soil and sludge material were addressed at the site under Operable Unit 1 (OU-1) and groundwater was addressed under Operable Unit 2 (OU-2).  The remedy for OU-1 stabilized the soil and sludge material under a protective cap and included groundwater monitoring.  Groundwater monitoring for OU-1 began in 1997 and has continued semi-annually.  The remedy for OU-2 set up monitoring of groundwater for natural attenuation and included surface water sampling.  Ground and surface water monitoring for OU-2 began in 1999 and has continued annually.