This site is the location of a former precious metal recovery operation. Chemical Metals Industries, Inc. (now defunct) operated this site to recover precious metals from chemical wastes and electrical circuit boards. Strong acids and bases were used to dissolve the metals, which were then recovered. In 1981, the State of Maryland reported this site to the EPA and requested assistance. EPA assessed the site, and commenced an emergency response at the site. The site, consisting of two properties, had been abandoned, and contained over 1000 drums and almost 20,000 gallons of liquid wastes in tanks. The removal of these materials was completed in December 1981. In 1998, EPA returned to the site and excavated contaminated soils from the 2103 Annapolis Road property, then re-asphalted the open areas of the property.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has been addressing the remaining groundwater and vapor intrusion issues. Groundwater contamination has been treated with injections to reduce contamination levels. Vapor intrusion is the migration of vapors from groundwater or soil contamination into basements or first floors of buildings in proximity to the contamination. Indoor air sampling has been conducted by MDE in a number of the homes in between the two properties. MDE is working on addressing the low-level risks associated with the vapor intrusion identified to date.
EPA recently conducted surface and subsurface soil sampling at the 2001 Annapolis Road site to determine if contamination in the soil could be contributing to groundwater contamination or vapor intrusion into the nearby homes. Based on the results, it was concluded that this is not occurring.
