Pepco is conducting the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for the Benning Road Facility pursuant to the requirements of a consent decree with the District of Columbia (DC) that was approved by the U.S. District Court on December 1, 2011 (Consent Decree). The RI/FS is conducted consistent with the requirements of Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The Study Area for the RI/FS consists of a “Landside Investigation Area” focused on the Site itself, and a “Waterside Investigation Area” focused on the shoreline and sediments in the segment of the Anacostia River in close proximity to the Site. The Site is one of 15 upland properties along the tidal Anacostia River currently identified by DOEE as potential environmental cleanup sites (PECSs) within the study area for the Anacostia River Sediment Project (ARSP).
Currently Pepco is in Feasibility Study phase. DOEE determined that the most expeditious approach for completing the Feasibility Study would be to divide the Site into two separate “Operable Units” for the purpose of evaluating, selecting, and implementing remedial actions. The landside area has been designated “Operable Unit 1 (OU1),” and the waterside area has been designated “Operable Unit 2 (OU2).” The decision to manage the Site through two separate operable units reflects the fact that the remedial actions being evaluated for the landside area are distinct from the remedial actions being evaluated for the waterside area and the remedial actions for each operable unit can be implemented independently. This approach also aligns better with the different remedial objectives for each operable unit – the landside remedy is intended to be the final remedy, whereas the waterside remedy is intended to be an Early Action, with the need for possible additional remedial action to be evaluated based on the effectiveness of the Early Action pursuant to the same adaptive management approach adopted for the rest of the Anacostia River under the Anacostia River Sediment Project. A Landside (OU1) Feasibility Study was approved by DOEE in March 2024.
DOEE solicited comments from the public on the Waterside (OU2) Focused Feasibility Study (FFS). The waterside FFS addresses remedial alternatives for Early Action in the Waterside Investigation Area (OU2). The OU2 Early Action focuses on sediments in the “Cove” exceeding the interim Remedial Action Level (RAL) of 600 µg/kg total PCBs. This interim RAL is consistent with the RAL selected for Early Actions under ARSP.
The public comment period was open from August 9, 2024 through September 30, 2024. DOEE and Pepco held a community meeting on June 22, 2024 at 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at DC Department of Employment Services Community Room #1 located at 4058 Minnesota Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20019. During the community meeting, Pepco and DOEE provided a summary of the Waterside (OU2) FFS, including recommendations of proposed cleanup actions for the Cove. Review the public meeting presentation. Additional virtual public meeting was held on July 24, 2024 at 6:00pm to 8:00pm.