SALISBURY, Md. — The City of Salisbury is keeping the public informed about the ongoing cleanup at 317–325 Lake Street, a property that has been formally designated as a Brownfield by both the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Maryland Department of the Environment.
A Brownfield is defined as a property where the potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants may complicate efforts to expand, redevelop, or reuse the land. At this particular site, petroleum contamination was found in both the soil and groundwater. The main chemical concern is Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, or TPH — compounds that can be carcinogenic, contribute to neurological disorders, and cause respiratory or reproductive health problems. To address the contamination, the City of Salisbury was awarded $1,791,543.00 in federal funding from the USEPA to bring the property up to federal environmental standards.
A Long History of Industrial Use
The two parcels — 317 Lake Street and 325 Lake Street — have a complicated past. From the late 1930s through the mid-1980s, the site functioned as a fuel tank farm, housing 15 aboveground storage tanks of various sizes along with two underground storage tanks. The land sat abandoned until 1990, when 317 Lake Street reopened as a waste oil processing facility. That same year, an aboveground storage tank spilled roughly 12,000 gallons of No. 6 fuel oil, with an estimated 4,000 gallons flowing into the Wicomico River. The facility went dormant again in 1992 and remained inactive until 2008, when the property owner removed all aboveground storage tanks.
The City of Salisbury purchased both parcels in 2020. In 2023, all remaining structures on the site were demolished down to their foundations. Following a thorough review of cleanup options, city officials selected a plan involving the excavation and removal of two feet of contaminated soil, replacement with a two-foot soil mitigation cap, and then placement of eight inches of clean soil on top to support future plantings.
Public Input Opportunity
The City of Salisbury Department of Infrastructure and Development is inviting community members to attend a public meeting to share their thoughts on the project’s progress. The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 9th, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Government Office Building, located at 125 N. Division Street, Room #306, Salisbury, MD 21801.
