Fort Detrick Groundwater Still Polluted

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- An Army contractor says groundwater beneath a former dump site at Fort Detrick in Frederick continues to show high levels of toxic chemicals.

Arcadis presented the findings at a meeting Wednesday of the fort's Restoration Advisory Board.

The project manager says 15 new and existing sampling wells detected five compounds at levels above federal drinking-water standards. They include the known human carcinogen TCE and the suspected carcinogens PCE and chloroform.

None of the compounds was found in the groundwater of five nearby residential properties. But TCE was found in water at a spring outside the fort.

All readings were far below the historical maximums detected in 1998.

Arcadis plans further tests this spring and summer to help guide a continuing cleanup of the site known as Area B.

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