Gore continues to work with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and third-party technical experts to evaluate groundwater, soil and surface water conditions near certain Gore facilities in Maryland.
This update summarizes recent site investigation activities at Cherry Hill, Fair Hill, Appleton and Elk Mills. These activities are part of Gore’s ongoing work to collect and review site-specific data, support residents where appropriate, and help inform next steps in coordination with MDE.
Recent Progress At-A-Glance
In recent months, Gore has:
- Received MDE approval of the Elk Mills work plan, with soil and surface water sampling expected to begin this summer
- Continued to collect groundwater samples from monitoring wells at Cherry Hill and Fair Hill
- Submitted updated technical reports to MDE for Cherry Hill and Fair Hill
- Installed monitoring wells, collected samples and conducted aquifer testing at the Appleton site
The information collected through these activities will help Gore, its technical experts and MDE continue building an understanding of conditions at each site and determine appropriate next steps.
Site Updates
Cherry Hill
Recent work at Cherry Hill focused on updating the technical understanding of groundwater conditions at the site. In March 2026, Gore collected groundwater samples from 37 monitoring wells. In April, Gore submitted an updated Conceptual Site Model report to MDE. MDE responded with feedback in June and Gore is currently reviewing their comments.
The updated report brings together information collected to date, including site geology, hydrogeology, soil and groundwater quality. This information will support MDE’s review and help inform next steps for Cherry Hill.
Fair Hill
At Fair Hill, recent activity moved from groundwater sampling to consolidated reporting. Gore collected groundwater samples from all 20 monitoring wells in April 2026 and submitted a Conceptual Site Model report to MDE in June 2026.
The report summarizes site-specific information collected between 2023 and 2025, including geology, hydrogeology, soil and groundwater quality data. Together, these materials provide a clearer technical basis for evaluating future work at Fair Hill.
Appleton
In December 2025, Gore submitted a work plan to MDE outlining proposed activities to install deep and shallow monitoring wells, collect soil, groundwater and surface water samples, and conduct aquifer testing at the Appleton site.
From March through May 2026, that work advanced in the field. Monitoring wells were installed, aquifer tests were conducted, and soil, surface water and groundwater samples were collected for laboratory analysis. The data collected through these activities will support development of the Appleton Conceptual Site Model, which Gore expects to submit to MDE later in 2026.
Elk Mills
At Elk Mills, Gore is preparing to begin additional sampling work following MDE review of the site work plan.
Gore submitted a work plan in November 2025 to collect soil and surface water samples at various locations across the Elk Mills Campus. MDE responded with modifications, which Gore accepted in May 2026.
Soil and surface water sampling is expected to begin in summer 2026. The information collected will support development of the Elk Mills Conceptual Site Model, which Gore expects to submit to MDE later in 2026.
How This Work Helps Guide Next Steps
Environmental investigations take time and are completed in stages. Each round of sampling helps build a clearer understanding of site conditions before decisions are made about any future actions.
As this work continues, Gore will use the information collected to help evaluate appropriate next steps in coordination with MDE. Gore will continue to provide regular updates as additional information becomes available.
Continuing Communication
Gore understands that questions about water quality matter to our community, and we remain committed to sharing regular updates as site investigation and response activities continue.
Members of our community with questions can contact Gore at [email protected].
