Ochoa Fertilizer Co

Overview

The Ochoa Fertilizer Co. site covers about 125 acres in Guánica, Puerto Rico, where fertilizer manufacturing and chemical production took place from 1950 onward. The site sits near roughly 23 residences, borders the UNESCO-designated Guánica Dry Forest, and lies about 500 feet east of Guánica Bay. EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 2022, which formally triggers federal cleanup authority.

Soil at the site contains lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), thallium, trichloroethylene (TCE), vanadium, mercury, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), all at levels above EPA benchmark standards. Stormwater runoff carries PCB-contaminated soil from the Eastern Lot across PR Route 333 and onto nearby residential and commercial properties and into Guánica Bay sediments. Residents, property maintenance workers, and utility workers face potential exposure through contact with contaminated soil. People who fish, swim, or recreate in the bay face additional exposure concerns. The West Indian Manatee, a federally threatened species, also lives in the bay.

In March 2023, EPA reached a legal agreement with Guánica-Caribe Land Development Corporation to fund cleanup. Removal work began April 1, 2023. Crews assessed 65 properties, found contamination at 20 of them, including the shoulder of PR-333, and removed contaminated soil, replacing it with clean fill. Three parking areas were paved. In total, 8,598 tons of PCB-contaminated soil went to authorized landfills, at an estimated cost of $10 million. A combined remedial investigation and feasibility study covering the entire site started June 5, 2025. Additional removal activities are expected to begin between January and March 2026, with overall removal work targeted for completion between September and November 2026. A final cleanup remedy has not yet been selected.

Community members can stay involved by joining the Community Advisory Group, which EPA formed to give residents a direct voice in cleanup decisions. EPA held an informational meeting in July 2025 to explain the group and available technical assistance programs. Meetings run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with specific dates and locations to be confirmed. Residents can also subscribe to email updates through Community Involvement Coordinator Maria Elena Garcia. EPA provides cleanup information in both English and Spanish.