Remedy
Significant resources have been invested to characterize and understand the impacts of past industrial operations. Environmental investigations began on the property in 1992 and led to the discovery of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) impacting soil and groundwater. Wyeth is performing this voluntary cleanup under Chapter 62-780 Florida Administrative Code (FAC) with the oversight of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
Completed Activities
In 1996, an air sparging system was installed to address soil and groundwater impacts in the upper surficial aquifer. The system was operated for five years. Further studies identified the need to address impacts in the deeper Floridan aquifer.
Based on extensive additional site investigations, in 2016 a remedial action plan for the Site was submitted to and approved by FDEP. Active remediation included soil mixing with large diameter augers combined with injection of steam and zero-valent iron, During the auger mixing process, the heated vapor stream was extracted from the soil/groundwater and captured in aboveground granulated activated carbon (GAC) units which were treated and disposed of offsite. Active remediation of the source area was completed in 2017. Active remediation included soil mixing with large diameter augers combined with injection of steam and zero-valent iron. Post-remediation performance monitoring, completed in 2018, confirmed that active remediation met its goals.
Groundwater monitoring performed since 2018 has demonstrated the reduction of impacts to groundwater within the Floridian aquifer, with overall stable and improving groundwater conditions. The FDEP has agreed to conditionally close the project using an Institutional Control or administrative tool to manage groundwater use in the future.
Next Steps
Under the institutional control, future groundwater use in the vicinity of the Building G property will be managed through Volusia County and the St. Johns Water Management District permitting process. The drilling of new drinking water wells in a defined area will be prohibited at certain depths. Properties located within the boundary of this restriction are currently served by public water; therefore, this administrative process is not expected to have a significant impact on the community. The boundary of this institutional control can be found here.
Wyeth will continue to implement the voluntary remediation program responsibly, effectively and in full cooperation with FDEP, the Florida Department of Health and Volusia County.