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The University of Maryland maintains two historic landfills that have been
closed. The landfills, referred to as the Paint Branch Landfill and the
Metzerott Landfill, are managed under a federal Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Permit issued by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Region III (EPA). Under the permit, UM has
conducted extensive groundwater monitoring to determine the need for
active remediation at the two sites. Based on the results, EPA has not
required remediation at either landfill. |
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The East Campus area is located on a portion of the Paint Branch Landfill
that has been developed with numerous improvements. Previous
environmental investigations of the Paint Branch Landfill have primarily
focused on groundwater quality in groundwater monitoring wells. UM and
EPA have limited information concerning the fill materials in the Paint
Branch Landfill. As a result, UM has prepared and USEPA has approved a
subsurface sampling workplan to better define site conditions that may
require specific management strategies as part of a redevelopment effort.
UM has commissioned an EPA-approved sampling workplan and expects a
final report of the findings by October 1, 2006. |
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The RCRA Corrective Action Permit was issued to UM by EPA in 1991. The 10
year permit governed the subsurface investigation of the two landfills and
was due to expire in 2001. Although a request to renew the permit was
filed in 2001, EPA has not issued a new permit and the current permit
remains in effect. However, several discussions have occurred between UM
and EPA to discuss the potential redevelopment of the landfills and to
mutually agree upon new permit language. As a result, EPA has prepared a
final draft permit and UM expects issuance of the new permit by
January 1, 2007. |
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The final draft permit includes several key conditions that may affect the
redevelopment of the East Campus. These conditions include: (1) A deed
restriction prohibiting the use of the underlying groundwater for drinking
purposes; and (2) EPA's right to review the site Conceptual Design Plans
and 95% Design Plans relative to the subsurface and to impose design and
construction requirements that protect human health and the environment.
UM does not consider the deed restriction of significance since water and
sewer services to the site are provided by the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission (WSSC). EPA's review of the site design is limited to issues
associated with the subsurface and will be based on historic analytical data
and the results of the approved sampling workplan. EPA has stated that any
design or administrative conditions it may require will be based on the goal
of protecting construction workers and others during site development,
residents in the event residential units are planned, and workers who may
encounter the subsurface materials as part of post-construction
maintenance. |
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The East Campus Environmental Report (also known as the Paint
Branch report) provides environmental data and analysis for the
redevelopment site. It does not however include the Central
Receiving portion of the redevelopment site. University information
indicates the Central Receiving parcel, adjacent to the Paint Branch
Landfill Area III, was historically used for solid waste disposal and
fire fighting training activities. It is expected that a soil berm
resulting from the construction of the Metrorail Green Line is
petroleum impacted and would require appropriate management as
part of the redevelopment effort. |
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The second environmental study focuses on the Metzerott Land Fill -
a potential relocation site for University activities. |
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Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and lead-based paint (LBP) are
present in many of the buildings that would be demolished as part of
the proposed East Campus Redevelopment Project. The State of
Maryland and the University conducted comprehensive surveys for
the presence of ACM in these buildings. Assessment for LBP is only
conducted for facilities scheduled for renovation or demolition, and
additional evaluation of coatings will be necessary for most
buildings prior to demolition. |
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