del monte corp. (oahu plantation)

94-1000 KUNIA RD

he Del Monte Corp. (Oahu Plantation) site covers 3,000 acres in Honolulu County, on the Island of Oahu. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural and military. Del Monte began growing pineapple on the plantation in the 1940s. Fumigants, such as ethylene dibromide (EDB), 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) and 1,2-dichloropropane (DCP) were used from the early 1940s until 1983 to control nematodes that infest the pineapple root. On April 7, 1977, there was an accidental spill of approximately 495 gallons of ethylene dibromide (EDB) within approximately 60 feet of the Kunia Well, which provided drinking water to about 700 people. The well was tested one week after the spill and no contamination was detected. In 1980, the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) initiated an investigation to determine whether the fumigants used in pineapple agriculture had contaminated drinking water wells on Oahu. As part of the investigation, the Del Monte Kunia well was sampled. The results indicated the presence of EDB and 1,2-dibromo-3- chloropropane (DBCP). The HDOH ordered the well removed from service. Groundwater occurs within two distinct zones in the Kunia Village Area; the perched (shallow) aquifer and the basal (deep) aquifer. The perched groundwater is not used for any purpose, but water from the perched zone does infiltrate down to the basal aquifer. The basal groundwater is used for drinking water and irrigation. The perched zone is a localized aquifer that exists in the vicinity of the Kunia Well. It extends to approximately 100 feet below ground surface. The basal groundwater begins at approximately 850 feet below ground surface. As a result of the spill as well as the storage and mixing of pesticides in the vicinity of the Kunia Well, both soil and perched groundwater in this area contain high levels of fumigants. The basal aquifer contains much lower levels of contaminants; however, the levels are above safe drinking water levels. A Remedial Design/Remedial Action Consent Decree (CD) with Del Monte Fresh Produce (Hawaii), Inc. was filed in the United States District Court, District of Hawaii on September 27, 2005. The CD requires Del Monte to design and construct a vegetated soil covering (cap) and soil vapor extraction system in the Kunia Well spill area. An Institutional Controls Consent Decree with James Campbell Company (JCC) LLC. was entered with the District Court on September 18, 2007 . The CD requires JCC to take measures to protect the public from exposure to contaminated soil and groundwater and restricts land use in the Kunia Village Area, the source of the contamination. The CD establishes a "well restriction area" where application for a Water-Use Permit is restricted without prior written approval from EPA. The CD also insures that EPA will have access to monitoring and treatment equipment and facilities while the cleanup is progressing. Del Monte Corp. leased the farm from James Campbell Company (JCC) LLC. On November 17, 2006, Del Monte announced they would cease all production, operations and shipments of pineapple out of Hawaii, effective immediately. Their lease expired in December 2008. While Del Monte has vacated the site, they still provide for the operation and maintenance of the treatment systems. JCC has sold all parcels. The majority of the former farm was sold to the US Army to expand housing for Schofield Barracks. EPA delisted the Poamoho section of the Site from the NPL list on January 13, 2004 based on investigation results which indicated that the Poamoho section of the site poses no significant threat to human health or the environment. On June 14, 2010, EPA finalized the Five Year Review Report for Del Monte. The purpose of the Five Year Review is to evaluate the implementation and performance of the selected remedy in order to determine if the remedy is or will be protective of human health and the environment. The Five Year Review concluded that although recent groundwater data shows that the groundwater in the basal aquifer has "background" levels of ethylene dibromide, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane , 1,2-dichloropropane, and 1,2,3-trichloropropane above Hawaii maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) due to the historical application of pesticides in the area, the remedy for the Del Monte Superfund Site is found to be protective of human health and the environment because there is no exposure to untreated perched or basal aquifer groundwater.

Hazardous Ranking Score

50 / 100

A score of 28.5 or higher qualifies a site for the Superfund National Priority List.

Regional Contact

Region 9
Phone: (415) 947-4251

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Timeline

Discovery
Site Inspection
Preliminary Assessment
Final Listing On NPL
Removal

Contaminants & Health Effects

      Carcinogen
      Endocrine Disrupter
      Neurotoxic
      Sensitiser
      Reproductive Toxin
      Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
      VOC
      Mutagen

        Census

        White
        African American
        Asian
        American Indian and Alaska Native
        Native Hawaiian
        Other

        457

        People living
        within a 1 mile radius

        $44,934

        Average Income

        109

        Occupied homes

        Potentially Responsible Parties

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