The former Virginia-Carolina Chemical Corporation (VCC) Port of Baldwin Mines Site is located in Port Royal, South Carolina. The Site is located along Ladys Island Drive in the Town of Port Royal, Beaufort County, South Carolina. The Site currently comprises a residential community (Port Royal Landing), two condominium complexes (RiverWind and River Club), an assisted living facility (River Oaks), and an office building (Figure 1-2). Portions of the Site have been paved for the construction of roads and driveways.
The Site consists of approximately 29 acres of land. Historical Sanborn maps identified various structures, including three storage buildings, a crushing and grinding building, acid chambers, a pyrite shed, a machine shop, and an office building. Specific areas of interest, including the pyrite burners and acid chambers, which were located generally along the eastern portion of what is now Mariners Court.
The primary constituents of concern (COCs) associated with former phosphate fertilizers plants, such as the one at this Site, are arsenic and lead. While details of the exact operational history of this Site are unknown, it is believed that washdown water containing acid and soluble lead was flushed onto the ground surface during periodic cleaning of the acid chambers. In addition, pyrite cinders that did not completely burn in the combustion chambers were frequently used at similar sites as onsite fill material. This slag material has a reddish/magenta appearance and has been found to contain elevated concentrations of arsenic.
The ongoing soil and sediment removal activities are expected to improve both groundwater and surface-water quality at and adjacent to the Site. These removal activities are designed to remove all accessible impacted materials. During the development of the removal action plan, it was decided that specific materials would be left in place to minimize disruption of the lives of residents; protect the structural integrity of houses, buildings, driveways, parking areas, and roads; and minimize the mortality of the trees that substantially contribute to the aesthetics of the community. However, at a minimum all accessible impacted surface soils (0 to 0.5 foot bgs) will be removed from the Site and replaced with clean materials. Deeper impacted soils, where accessible, will also be removed and replaced to the extent practical. Sediment removal activities adjacent to the Site will include the removal of the top 1 foot of sediments containing elevated concentrations of arsenic and/or lead.
Removal of impacted soil and sediments at the Site will improve groundwater and surface-water quality by:
• eliminating impacted surface-water runoff to the Beaufort River through the removal and replacement of impacted surface soil;
• reducing the potential migration of arsenic and lead to groundwater by removing impacted soils in the vadose zone (at depth) to the extent practical; and
• reducing and/or eliminating the potential flux of arsenic and lead from impacted sediments to the Beaufort River through the removal and replacement of impacted sediments.
