Florida NPL/NPL Caliber Cleanup Site Summaries

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index (PDF): OU1 (9 pp., 465K)
• Reuse Success Fact Sheet (PDF, 1 pp., 212K)
• Additional Site Documents including Five Year Reviews, Records of Decisions (ROD) and Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD).
• For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office (http://www.epa.gov/region4/foiapgs/submit.htm).

Site Background:
The Solitron Devices Site is located at 1177 Blue Heron Boulevard in Riviera Beach, Florida.  In 1959 Honeywell, Inc. constructed a facility and began manufacturing electronic components at this location.  In 1965, Solitron Devices, Inc. assumed ownership from Honeywell, continued similar operations and expanded the facility until 1992 when operations ended.  During this time, site operations included the use of heavy metals (lead, chromium, nickel, and copper) and solvents (trichloroethylene, dichlorobenzene, and xylene).  In 2000, the northern portion of the Site was sold and is currently leased at full capacity with building tenants including a boat manufacturing and a self-storage facility.

In 1985, a study by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) established that solvents from the Site, which is located less than one mile southwest of the Riviera Beach water plant, had contaminated some of the municipal supply wells in the City of Riviera Beach’s public well field.  Investigations also indicated that soil and groundwater had been contaminated at the Site.  In 1997, EPA began investigating the Site to determine the nature and extent of the contamination.  EPA also conducted a Baseline Risk Assessment to evaluate the risks associated with potential exposure to any site-related contamination and a Feasibility Study to evaluate potential cleanup options.

After taking into account the results of these investigations and studies, EPA issued the first Proposed Plan on July 24, 2000 for public comment.  After receiving significant comments from the City of Riviera Beach during the 30-day public comment period, EPA conducted additional groundwater investigations north of the Site and revised the Feasibility Study.  On April 16, 2004, EPA issued a second, revised Proposed Plan for public comment and on December 14, 2004 signed the Record of Decision which contains the final selected remedy. 

The major components of the selected remedy contained in the Record of Decision are:

• Excavation and off-site disposal of a small amount of contaminated soil behind the north building;
• Extraction of contaminated groundwater, treatment of the water via air-stripping, and re-injection of the treated water, with infusion of oxygen into the re-injected water to enhance biodegradation; and
• Natural attenuation of contaminants outside the capture zone of the extraction well system.

Cleanup: Remedial Design
EPA negotiated an agreement with Honeywell to implement the selected remedy with oversight by EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  Design of the remedy is underway.  After design of the remedy is complete, construction of the remedial action will begin.