Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Caribe General Electric (GE) Meters, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
On March 2012, GE conducted soil and groundwater sampling as part of the RCRA Facility Investigation. A total of 12 surface (0-2 ft) and subsurface (2-4 ft) soil samples were collected beneath the concrete slab at four boring locations around the perimeter of SWMUs #5 and #6. Results indicate that only arsenic exceeded the industrial soil screening level (3.0 mg/kg, January 2015) with concentrations that varied from 0.75-23.1 mg/kg. Arsenic or arsenic-derived components have not been used historically at the Site.
In August 2013, GE conducted additional soil sampling to determine if arsenic exceedances are part of regional soil background concentrations. Surface (0-2 ft) and subsurface (2-4 ft) soil samples were collected from 12 boring locations within the perimeter of the Site, in areas historically undisturbed (a total of 36 samples). Results of additional sampling indicate that arsenic in background soil varied from 0.47 to 5.3 mg/kg. Soil arsenic concentrations at the Site do not exceed its generic Soil Screening Level (SSL) for migration to groundwater (i.e. 29 mg/kg), based on a dilution attenuation factor of 20.
A groundwater sample was collected from the onsite well. Sample was analyzed for Cyanide, Hexavalent Chromium, Total Metals and Volatile Organic Compounds. No exceedances were found in the groundwater sample.
In 2015 EPA determined that No Further Action (NFA) is necessary at the Site as long as current conditions are maintained. The Site is currently and anticipated to be utilized for manufacturing purposes in the foreseeable future. The on-site soils where arsenic exceedances were detected are located beneath concrete or asphalt and are not readily accessible to create a complete exposure pathway to human beings. These conditions are expected to remain in the foreseeable future.
Site Description
The General Electric (GE) Industrial of Puerto Rico LLC Arecibo facility (Site), formerly known as Caribe GE Electric Meters, is located in an industrial zoned region of the City of Arecibo, on the north central coast of Puerto Rico. The Site covers approximately five acres of fenced property owned by the Puerto Rican Industrial Development Company and is surrounded by the industrial park. Since 1992, the facility has been operating as a Large Quantity Generator (LQG). On June 2018, Industrial C & S of Puerto Rico LLC started operations at the Site.
The Site began operations in August 1973 and has remained active since that time. Prior to 2018, manufacturing processes include electroplating activities, and also a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was located onsite to treat the residuals from electroplating activities. Copper, nickel, silver, and zinc were used in the electroplating process. The process wastes were treated at the wastewater treatment plant. Currently, no electroplating activities are conducted at the Site and the WWTP has been shut down. Current Site activities include manufacturing processes of industrial circuit breakers, including plastics molding, steel welding, metal stamping, painting, and assembly of circuit breakers.
Contaminants at this Facility
In November 1980, GE submitted to EPA the Notification of Hazardous Waste Activity and the Part A Permit Application. The list of wastes managed at the Site included 1,1,1-trichloroethane, wastewater treatment sludge (spent cyanide plating bath solution from electroplating operations), plating bath residuals (cyanides), quenching bath residuals (cyanides), soluble cyanide salts, silver cyanide, and sodium cyanide.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Cleanup at this site has been addressed by GE with oversight from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources also participates with EPA in the investigation and cleanup decision-making and oversight.
Site Repository
Copies of supporting technical documents and correspondence cited in the site fact sheet are available for public review at the following location:
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2
Caribbean Environmental Protection Division