EPA orders $20 million facility built to treat groundwater

Sept. 16 -- A Virginia company has been ordered to spend an estimated $20 million to build a groundwater cleanup system to address contamination stemming from one of its former facilities in Industry, Calif., the U.S. EPA announced.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation will install wells and a treatment plant to contain and treat groundwater contaminated by volatile organic compounds at the former Benchmark Technology facility, the EPA said.

"Today´s order will protect the essential drinking water supplies in the San Gabriel Valley," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA regional administrator, in a statement. "The treatment system is designed to intercept the most highly contaminated groundwater plume and prevent it from migrating further."

The groundwater in the area was contaminated by more than 60 companies that used VOCs for degreasing, metal cleaning and other purposes, the EPA said. Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation was on of those companies.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@crain.com or 313-446-6780.

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