EPA RCRA ID: VAD064872575
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Facility Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Enforcement and Compliance
- Related Information
- Contacts for this Facility
Cleanup Status
Note: The EPA is the lead agency for managing cleanups at this facility.
In 1989, EPA and IBM entered into a Consent Order, requiring IBM to evaluate cleanup options. In 1990, EPA selected the Final Remedy for cleanup. The Remedy requires continued on-site soil/rock vapor extraction and continued recovery and treatment of contaminated groundwater. Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs), primarily tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is removed from groundwater and vapor using carbon absorption. The treatment systems are monitored and upgraded as needed.
EPA’s Environmental Indicator analysis found that potential human exposures to contamination onsite and off-site are ‘under control,’ and that groundwater contamination in the local and regional deep plume has been delineated and contained. The local public water system provides drinking water from a surface water source, and groundwater is not used as a water supply source.
The primary Facility-related contaminant is tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene (PCE) or perc. There are lesser amounts of trichloroethylene (TCE), and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-1,2-DCE) present. These chemicals are classified as chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs) and were used as solvents, degreasers and in manufacturing processes at the Facility. CVOCs were discovered on- and off-site in soil/rock vapor and groundwater. IBM installed vapor and groundwater recovery and treatment systems for on and off-site. Recently, IBM expanded the existing recovery/treatment systems to capture more contamination in the shallow subsurface soil/rock and groundwater zones by Building 101 (on-site) and along the northeastern property boundary with the residential Bristoe Station community.
IBM uses six on- and off-site pumping wells to recover contaminated groundwater (GW) and removes cVOCs by pumping the water through carbon absorption tanks. To collect subsurface contaminated vapor and groundwater from soil and rock, IBM uses vapor extraction wells (VEWs) on-site. The vacuum created by the on-site VE systems is sufficient to draw vapor from the subsurface onsite and from the off-site McRae Court neighborhood. In February 2011, IBM began off-site GW and vapor investigations in and around the McRae Court neighborhood, located in the Bristoe Station development. GW and vapor implant wells were installed outside of McRae Court townhomes. The investigation results were reported to EPA in IBM’s “Interim Report of Findings dated July 2011” by Sanborn, Head and Associates. The Report documented that Facility-related cVOCs were present in the McRae Court area in soil/rock vapor and groundwater at various depths beneath the surface. The Interim Report is posted on Additional Site Information.
In June 2012, more GW and vapor wells were installed in the McRae Court neighborhood to further delineate and characterize contamination. The data and findings are posted at Additional Site Information ("Environmental Investigation Data Report", dated December 2012 and "12-Month Monitoring Data Report", dated January 2013).
In February 2013, IBM conducted indoor air monitoring in eleven participating homes in McRae Court. The site-related compounds (cVOCs) were not found in indoor air at levels indicating a risk to health. The cVOCs found were considered to be within background levels typical for residential structures. Vapor and GW sampling results are reported to EPA annually.
On May 6, 2020, the EPA conducted a Long Term Stewardship assessment to assess whether the remedy was implemented and protective of human health and the environment. EPA determined that the remedy institutional and engineering controls have been fully implemented and no control deficiencies were identified.
Cleanup - Background
In 1978, IBM began GW monitoring and found chlorinated solvents in GW. Specifically, PCE, TCE, 1,2-DCE and TCA were found. As a result, IBM completed the following:
IBM removed the suspected sources of contamination by removing above ground and underground storage tanks that contained PCE, excavated and removed associated contaminated soil closed a waste solvent pipe between two buildings, and ) immobilized fluoride found in soil in one area.
IBM installed 49 on- and 45 off-site wells. GW treatment began on-site in 1985. After local approvals were obtained, off-site GW treatment began in 1997. The PCE plume had migrated off-site towards a public well in the Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA) system. IBM installed a treatment system at the public well in 1985, and in 2001, the PWCSA discontinued use of the well. IBM leases the well for use as part of the contaminated GW recovery system.
IBM installed an on-site vapor extraction system (VES) in the Building 101 area and at the IBM/Bristoe Station property line. The VES consists of vapor and vapor and GW shallow and deep extraction wells, with a treatment system.
In 2007, IBM re-characterized the extent of the PCE GW plume, based on two decades of data. The ‘Groundwater Characterization Report (March 2008)’ provided data showing the extent of PCE in GW, also showing the plume as contained and shrinking. The pump and treatment system have been effective in achieving this milestone and will continue to operate until clean-up goals are met.
Cleanup Actions or environmental indicators characterizing the entire facility are shown below. It is not intended as an extensive list of milestones/activities. This listing, and all the data on this page, come from EPA’s RCRAInfo and are refreshed nightly to this page. For this table and the Cleanup Activities Pertaining to a Portion of the Facility table that follows, a blank in the Status column could mean the action either has not occurred or has not been reported in RCRAInfo.
Cleanup Activities Pertaining to the Entire Facility
| Action | Status | Date of Action |
|---|---|---|
| Human Exposure Under Control Human Exposure Under Control(CA725) | ||
| Groundwater Migration Under ControlGroundwater Migration Under Control (CA750) | ||
| Remedy DecisionRemedy Decision (CA400) | ||
| Remedy ConstructionRemedy Construction (CA550) | ||
| Ready for Anticipated Use Ready for Anticipated Use (CA800) | ||
| Performance Standards AttainedPerformance Standards Attained (CA900) | ||
| Corrective Action Process TerminatedCorrective Action Process Terminated (CA999) |
For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Cleanup Activities Pertaining to a Portion of the Facility
| Action | Area Name | Date of Action |
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For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Facility Description
Link to a larger, interactive view of the map.
In 1969, IBM began manufacturing electronic components in Building 101 at their 600-acre facility. In 1975, IBM ceased manufacturing operations at Building 101 and in 1994, ceased all manufacturing at the facility. In 1996, IBM sold the Facility. Other businesses are currently located on the property. IBM retains Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action responsibility for the investigation and clean-up of past releases.
Contaminants at this Facility
The primary contaminant in soil, soil and rock vapor and GW is perchloroethylene (PCE), with lesser amounts of trichloroethylene (TCE), and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cDCE). PCE and TCE are considered likely human carcinogens (cancer causing), with other adverse non-cancer health effects, depending on the amount of the chemical ingested, inhaled or in contact with skin over time. The cVOC cDCE is considered as a non-carcinogen, but can cause adverse health effects, depending on dosage over time.
The EPA’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) or maximum allowable levels established for public water supplies for PCE and TCE is 5 parts per billion (ppb). For cDCE, the MCL is 70 ppb. The treated ground water discharged from IBM’s treatment system meets EPA’s drinking water standards, and is not used as drinking water.
EPA has established inhalation levels for PCE, TCE and cDCE for indoor settings. Tests of the indoor air in Building 101 showed that by maintaining positive pressure in the building using the heating and cooling system, the indoor air meets EPA’s risk-based levels for acceptable risk.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Groundwater use for public water supply was discontinued in the area north of the former IBM facility in 2001. The Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA) began providing water from other regional water companies in September 2002. IBM uses the PWCSA well (PW-07) (located north of the former IBM facility) and other wells to control the groundwater plume by withdrawing and treating contaminated water before discharging to local streams. IBM monitors ground water quality and water levels throughout and beyond the contaminated plume.
Land and groundwater uses are restricted for Building 101 and 102 areas through a ‘Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions’ that was recorded by Prince William County records in October 2018.
Institutional and Engineering Controls help ensure human exposure and groundwater migration are under control at a cleanup facility. Where control types have been reported by states and EPA in EPA’s RCRAInfo, they are shown below. Not all control types are needed at all facilities, and some facilities do not require any controls. Where there are blanks, the control types may not be needed, may not be in place, or may not be reported in RCRAInfo.
Are Controls in Place at this Facility?
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Control(s) Type |
Control(s) in Place? |
Areas Subject to Control(s) |
Documents available on-line: |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Institutional ControlsNon-engineering controls used to restrict land use or land access in order to protect people and the environment from exposure to hazardous substances remaining in the site/or facility. (CA 772) |
Informational DevicesInformational Devices (ID) |
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Governmental Controls (GC) |
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Enforcement and Permit Tools (EP) |
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| Proprietary ControlsProprietary Controls (PR) | ||||
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Engineering ControlsEngineering measures designed to minimize the potential for human exposure to contamination by either limiting direct contact with contaminated areas or controlling migration of contaminants. (CA 770) |
Groundwater ControlGroundwater Control (GW) |
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Non-Groundwater |
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For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Enforcement and Compliance at this Facility
EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) provides detailed historical information about enforcement and compliance activities at each RCRA Corrective Action Site in their Enforcement and Compliance Historical Online (ECHO) system.
RCRA Enforcement and Compliance Reports from ECHO
Related Information
For more information about this facility, see these other EPA links:
- RCRA information in EPA’s Envirofacts database
- Information about this facility submitted to EPA under different environmental programs as reported in EPA’s Facility Registry Services
- Alternative Names for this facility as reported by EPA programs in EPA’s Facility Registry Services
- Cleanups in My Community provides an interactive map to see EPA cleanups in context with additional data, and lists for downloading data
- Search RCRA Corrective Action Sites provides a search feature for Corrective Action Sites
Documents, Photos and Graphics
Contacts for this Facility
EPA Region implements and enforces the RCRA Corrective Action program for and federally recognized tribes.
For further information on this corrective action site, use the Contact Information for Corrective Action Hazardous Waste Clean Ups listings that are accessible through Corrective Action Programs around the Nation.