The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a major step forward in the decades-long cleanup of the Hastings Ground Water Contamination Site, deleting part of the site from the National Priorities List of Superfund sites. The announcement was part of a nationwide update Wednesday that highlighted cleanup progress at 11 contaminated locations across the country. EPA officials say the action reflects significant progress in protecting public health and the environment while creating new opportunities for community redevelopment.
The Hastings site was added to the Superfund list in 1986 after groundwater contamination was traced to a variety of sources, including industrial operations, former landfills, a coal gas plant, agricultural chemical handling facilities, and the former Naval Ammunition Depot east of the city. The site includes seven subsites and 21 operable units. Over the years, extensive cleanup efforts have removed contamination from some areas and restored portions of the site, although long-term monitoring and remediation continue in several locations.
EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi said the cleanup milestone demonstrates the agency’s commitment to getting Superfund sites “back on track” and delivering concrete results for communities. While only a portion of the Hastings site is being removed from the federal list, EPA said years of work by the agency, responsible parties, and state and local partners have led to significant improvements. Operation, maintenance and monitoring activities will continue at remaining areas of the site to address ongoing environmental concerns.
