Chesapeake Products Site is located in a heavily industrialized area of Chesapeake, Virginia adjacent to the southern branch of the Elizabeth River. The site is approximately 7.6 acres in size and was previously used for the production of micro-nutrient fertilizer. Prior to 2009 several large buildings were located on site. The city of Chesapeake Fire Department deemed the buildings unsafe for occupancy in 2004. EPA conducted site assessments at the site in 2005 and 2006. Numerous piles of micro-nutrient fertilizer and fertilizer raw materials were located inside site buildings. The roof of the main warehouse building had partially collapsed and almost the entire floor was flooded with water. The building contained approximately 314,000 gallons of flood water. Analytical results indicated that site soil, material piles, and flood water contained elevated levels of lead and other hazardous substances or pollutants and contaminants. Chesapeake Products and Frit Industries, Inc. (Frit) entered into a Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (AOC) with EPA in August 2007. Frit agreed to remove material piles and flood water from the site and to demolish site buildings. All work agreed to under the AOC was completed between August 2008 and May 2009.
On November 30, 2009 EPA initiated a removal action at the site to remove lead contaminated surface soil and to decontaminate concrete surfaces. The goal of the action is to reduce the risk of lead exposure due to direct human contact and the offsite migration of lead via surface runoff. Removal work is complete.
