Ciba-Geigy Corp. (McIntosh Plant)

Overview

The Ciba-Geigy McIntosh Plant is a 1,500-acre former chemical manufacturing facility beside the Tombigbee River in McIntosh, Alabama. The plant made DDT starting in 1952 and later produced pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals. DDT production stopped by 1965, but unlined waste pits and landfills left behind widespread contamination. The EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. BASF Corporation, which took over from Ciba-Geigy, currently owns and operates the facility and is responsible for cleanup.

EPA identified more than 50 contaminants of concern across the site. Groundwater contains benzene, arsenic, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, lindane, and other chemicals. Soil holds DDT and its breakdown products DDD and DDE, along with lead, diazinon, and several other pesticides. The wetland area near the Tombigbee River also has contamination in sediment, surface water, and fish tissue, posing a risk to fish-eating and insect-eating birds, mammals, and fish.

EPA divided cleanup into four operable units. Unit 1 (shallow groundwater) received a No Further Action decision in 1986 because containment wells were stopping contamination from spreading offsite. Units 2 and 4 addressed contaminated soil through excavation, treatment, and capping, with land-use restrictions now in place. Unit 3 covers the floodplain and wetland areas. A sand cover was installed in 2008, and cleanup work there was considered complete by 2014. However, a 2020 review found groundwater cleanup standards had not been met, and in 2024 EPA issued an Amended Record of Decision for Unit 3. That updated plan adds engineered caps, habitat and wetlands restoration, stream realignment, excavation, and monitored natural recovery. Remedial design for Unit 3 is estimated for mid-2026, with final cleanup action expected between August and October 2028.

Human exposure across the site is currently under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater migration is considered stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site holds a "ready for anticipated reuse" designation, and two businesses currently operate there, employing 557 people. Institutional controls remain in place, prohibiting groundwater use and limiting soil disturbance in remediated areas.

Community members can stay informed by contacting the EPA directly or asking to be added to the site mailing list through Ronald Tolliver. A public meeting was held in March 2024 at McIntosh High School, and BASF meets regularly with a local Community Advisory Group. Site documents are available online and at the McIntosh Public Library. The next Five-Year Review is scheduled for August through October 2026 and will evaluate how well the cleanup protects human health and the environment.