Letter Health Consultation
Evaluation of Physical Hazards at the Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
TARHEEL ARMY MISSILE PLANT (TAMP) SITE
ALAMANCE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
CERCLIS ID: NC7210020544
Prepared by:
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
March 15, 2017
Prepared under Cooperative Agreement with the
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Community Health Investigations
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Health Consultation: A Note of Explanation
An ATSDR health consultation is a verbal or written response from ATSDR to a specific request
for information about health risks related to a specific site, a chemical release, or the presence of
hazardous material. In order to prevent or mitigate exposures, a consultation may lead to specific
actions, such as restricting use of or replacing water supplies; intensifying environmental
sampling; restricting site access; or removing the contaminated material.
In addition, consultations may recommend additional public health actions, such as conducting
health surveillance activities to evaluate exposure or trends in adverse health outcomes;
conducting biological indicators of exposure studies to assess exposure; and providing health
education for health care providers and community members. This concludes the health
consultation process for this site, unless additional information is obtained by ATSDR which, in
the Agency’s opinion, indicates a need to revise or append the conclusions previously issued.
You May Contact ATSDR TOLL FREE at
1-800-CDC-INFO
or
Visit our Home Page at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
LETTER HEALTH CONSULTATION
Evaluation of Physical Hazards at the Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
TARHEEL ARMY MISSILE PLANT (TAMP) SITE
ALAMANCE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
CERCLIS ID: NC7210020544
Prepared By:
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch
Under a cooperative agreement with the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Community Health Investigations
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health
Roy Cooper Mandy Cohen
Governor Secretary
Daniel Staley
Division Director
March 15, 2017
David Lown
Federal Remediation Branch Head
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
217 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
Saucier Investments LLC (property owner)
5415 Chand Creek Road
Tallassee, AL 36078
RE: Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site Physical Hazards
Dear Mr. Lown and TAMP property owner:
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (N.C. DEQ) contacted the North
Carolina Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Health Assessment, Consultation and Education
(HACE) program in October 2016 regarding the Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) site. N.C.
DEQ staff believe there may be a potential for vapor intrusion at homes near the site and
requested DPH’s assistance in evaluating the risk to public health from vapor intrusion. DPH
staff visited the site that month with staff from N.C. DEQ, U.S. Army Environmental Command,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and ARCADIS, the environmental remediation contractor. While
visiting the site, DPH staff noticed caved in roofs, broken glass and other sharp objects and
additional physical hazards to people who may access the site. DPH staff also noticed signs of
recreational users and trespassers frequently using the site.
DPH concludes that trespassers and site workers could be at risk for physical harm due to the
deteriorating buildings and improperly maintained site areas. Additionally, because there is
evidence of frequent access to this site, the physical hazards at the site are an urgent public health
hazard.
www.ncdhhs.gov
Tel 919-707-5900 • Fax 919-870-4807
Location: 5505Six Forks Road • Raleigh, NC 27609
Mailing Address: 1912 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1912
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer
Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
DPH recommends the:
• property owner immediately restrict access to the site to only those who are involved in
the site investigation or remedial activities. This includes repairing any breaches in the
fence surrounding the site and monitoring the fence to ensure trespassers cannot gain
access to the site.
• property owner immediately restricts remedial workers’ access to the buildings on-site
until roofs and other potentially falling materials are stabilized or removed. Due to the
age of the buildings on site, the presence of asbestos in building materials should be
evaluated prior to any demolition or remodel work.
• property owner immediately post signs alerting remedial workers to physical hazards on
site and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) needed on site. Signs should be
maintained until physical hazards are removed.
• remedial workers at the site wear appropriate PPE to protect themselves from physical
hazards on site.
DPH will provide outreach and education to residents living near the site and workers on-site
regarding potential physical health hazards associated with accessing the site. DPH will also
review available groundwater data on-site and near neighboring homes to address the potential
for vapor intrusion at homes. DPH will continue to evaluate environmental data collected for this
site and exposures that may impact public health.
The remainder of this letter provides more detailed information on the physical hazards at the
TAMP site.
Background
The TAMP site (CERCLIS ID: NC7210020544) is located at 204 North Graham Hopedale Road
in Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina. The property has 22 buildings on
approximately 32 acres. The property is bordered on the east side by North Graham Hopedale
Road. Businesses are located immediately across the road to the east and back up to the property
on the south and west sides. Residential properties back up to the property on the north side. The
U.S. Army formerly owned the site, which was used for aircraft production and tank rebuilding.
Saucier Inc. acquired the property in 2013 and there are currently no activities on-site. Former
operations and leaking underground storage tanks on site have contaminated soil and
groundwater, particularly under the Waste Accumulation Pad located toward the center of the
site, with petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [Johnson
2003].
Many investigations and remedial activities have been ongoing since 1993. These have included
soil, groundwater and surface water sampling. Additionally, the underground storage tanks have
been removed. These activities have also included the operation of an air sparge/soil vapor
extraction system from 1996 to 2004 and the operation of a groundwater pump and treat system
from 1999 to 2013. Also, the U.S. Army conducted an in-situ bioremediation pilot test from
2005 to 2007 to attempt to treat VOCs in the groundwater [Weston 2013]. Activities have slowed
in the last few years due to a change in property owner and a loss of electricity on-site.
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
Discussion
Physical Hazards
As shown in the photos provided in Attachment B, many physical hazards exist on the site for
trespassers and workers, and evidence shows that the site is frequently accessed. The roofs in
Buildings No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are caving in and collapsing under the weight of large air
conditioning units on top of the buildings. Additionally, ceiling tiles in these buildings are
degrading and electric fixtures have begun to fall from the ceiling. Portions of the interior wall of
Building No. 4 are beginning to collapse. Building 16 contains large sharp metal poles hanging
from the ceiling, which could pose a threat given the deteriorating ceilings and roofs. Due to the
age of the buildings on site, the presence of asbestos in building materials should be evaluated
prior to any demolition or remodel work.
In addition to the physical hazards posed by collapsing buildings, sharp debris scattered
throughout central site areas and walking paths is a health hazard due to the potential of being
cut or punctured while walking around the site. Broken glass, broken wood, loose bricks, large
empty barrels, other debris and unmarked wellheads pose a tripping hazard, which could lead to
serious injury to trespassers or workers. Finally, the site currently has no electricity and most
buildings lack natural light, making it difficult to navigate the property safely.
While visiting the site, DPH staff noticed a large hole in the fence located in the northwest corner
of the property near Building No. 22 and neighboring residents, indicating that trespassers are
gaining access to the site. Additionally, the property has a known history of being trespassed on.
While DPH staff were on site, they were not required to wear any PPE or take any precautions
while moving about the site. All buildings were able to be accessed and no areas of the site were
blocked off due to potential hazards. Finally, a recreational event was held on site in October
2015, with people accessing many of the buildings on site for the event, even in their unsafe
condition.
In conclusion, DPH reiterates that the physical hazards on site pose an urgent public health risk
for workers and trespassers and should be addressed immediately. DPH will continue to work
with the property owner and potentially responsible party to evaluate site conditions and
environmental data and make recommendations to protect public health as necessary.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at (919) 707-5900 if you have any questions regarding this
letter.
Sincerely,
Jamie Pritchett, MTox
Health Assessor, Health Assessment, Consultation & Education Program
Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Public Health
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
cc: John Beasley
U.S. Army Environmental Command
2450 Connell Road, Bldg. 2264
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
Shelley Gibbons
ARCADIS
801 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27607
REFERENCES
[Johnson 2003] Tarheel Army Missile Plant Remedial Action Plan – Final Report. C.C. Johnson
& Malhotra, P.C. May 21, 2003.
[Solutions 2003] Tarheel Army Missile Plant Remediation Long Term Monitoring Plan –
NCDENR Draft. Solutions Industrial & Environmental Services, Inc. December 31, 2003.
[Weston 2013] RE: Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Facility, Burlington, North Carolina,
NC7210020544. Weston Solutions, Inc. August 6, 2013.
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
REPORT PREPARATION
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services prepared this letter health
consultation for the Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) site under a cooperative agreement
with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). We wrote it in
accordance with the approved agency methods, policies, and procedures existing at the date of
publication.
Author
Jamie Pritchett, MTox
Public Health Assessor
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health
Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch
State Reviewers
Beth Dittman, MS, N.C. DHHS/DPH/OEEB
Mina Shehee, PhD, N.C. DHHS/DPH/OEEB
Crystal Lee Pow Jackson, PhD, N.C. DHHS/DPH/OEEB
Rick Langley, MD, N.C. DHHS/DPH/OEEB
Emily Earnest, MPH, CHES, N.C. DHHS/DPH/OEEB
ATSDR Reviewers:
Division of Community Health Investigations
Audra Henry, MS, Technical Project Officer
Annmarie DePasquale, MPH, Central Branch Associate Director for Science
Trent LeCoultre, MS, Acting State Cooperative Agreement Team Lead
Tina Forrester, PhD, Acting Division Associate Director for Science
Ileana Arias, PhD, Division Director
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
Attachment A
Maps of the Tarheel Army Missile Plant Site
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
Figure 1. Map of the Tarheel Army Missile Plant site. Property line is marked in red. Homes are located immediately north and
northwest of property line.
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
Attachment B
Site Photos
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
Photo 3 (left). Collapsing roof in Building No. 2. Source: DPH, October 25, 2016.
Photo 4 (right). Sharp metal poles hanging from ceiling in Building No. 16. Source: DPH, October 25, 2016.
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
Photo 5 (left). Collapsing interior wall on Building No. 4. Source: DPH, October 25, 2016.
Photo 6 (right). Debris strewn on floor in Building No. 2. Source: DPH, October 25, 2016.
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Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) Site
Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina
Photo 7 (left). Hole in fence surrounding property in northwest corner near residences. Source: DPH, October 25, 2016.
Photo 8 (right). Materials remaining from recreational event held on-site in October 2015. Source: DPH, October 25, 2016.
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