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Odessa Property Added to National Superfund List

Release Date: 9/29/1997
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

An update adding an Odessa site to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) was published in the Federal Register last week. The approximately 180-acre site surrounds the properties of three former plating facilities along Sprague Road northwest of downtown Odessa, Texas.

Established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, Superfund is our country's program for cleaning uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.

"For many citizens, EPA's Superfund program is their only protection from the health hazards of toxic waste. The speed with which this site was evaluated, rated and approved for NPL listing shows the Superfund reforms launched under this Administration are working to protect the public health and environment in a faster and more efficient manner," EPA Region 6 Acting Administrator Jerry Clifford said.

Before a site can be added to the NPL, the potential risk to human health is evaluated. This risk is determined by how harmful to human health the pollutants are, the amount of pollutants, and the probability of human contamination. Each risk factor is given a number rating and the total determines if the site qualifies for the NPL. This process helps ensure that areas posing the greatest threat to human health receive the highest priority for cleanup.

Groundwater samples taken at the Sprague Road site show chromium contamination. Private water wells near the site were closed after samples showed chromium in concentrations 100 times higher than what is considered a safe level. Although chromium is an essential nutrient that is needed for proper metabolism, too much is harmful to humans and can damage kidneys and the liver.

EPA removed contaminated sludge and soil from two former plating companies during the summer of 1996. Dirt to fill more than 14 railroad boxcars was removed and disposed in a certified hazardous landfill. About 80 tons of polluted sludge also was removed. A dozen wells were installed to monitor the contaminated groundwater.

Last week in Louisiana, EPA Region 6 celebrated the cleanup of the 450th Superfund site. This is halfway to fulfilling President Clinton's pledge to clean 900 Superfund sites by the year 2000. In the past four years 292 sites have been cleaned. This is more than in the previous 12 years combined. More than 80 percent of all Superfund sites are either cleaned or are currently being cleaned - and this number continues to grow.

"We have been achieving this progress while keeping faith with the original promise of the Superfund law to protect the public health and the environment and to ensure those responsible perform or pay for the cleanup," Mr. Clifford said.