Stauffer Chemical Co (Tampa)

Overview

From 1951 to 1986, Stauffer Chemical Company ran a 40-acre facility in Tampa, Florida, producing and distributing agricultural chemicals, mainly pesticides. Workers burned and buried waste on site, leaving behind contaminated soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater. EPA added the site to its National Priorities List in December 1996.

EPA identified 73 contaminants of concern across all four media types. Pesticides such as DDT, dieldrin, aldrin, chlordane, endrin, heptachlor, and toxaphene are among the key concerns. Heavy metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, and zinc were also found. Volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethane, xylene, and chloroform turned up in groundwater. All contamination is within Operable Unit 1, the primary cleanup area.

Cleanup started in 1993 when the responsible party removed buried drums and contaminated soil. A remedy selected in 1995 called for excavating and bioremediation of contaminated soil off site, plus capping pond sediments. A groundwater pump-and-treat system started running in August 2000 and discharges treated water to Tampa's sanitary sewer. Because early work did not fully meet soil cleanup goals, a 2006 remedy update added containment cells, engineered caps, and stabilization of excavated material on site. That work was completed in 2006 and 2007. Two contaminated ponds were drained, lined, and filled with clean dirt. A 5.6-acre portion of the property is now protected under a conservation easement as an ecological area to restore lost wetlands.

EPA's 2020 Five Year Review found the remedy protective of human health and the environment. Human exposure is under control, groundwater migration is stabilized, and physical construction is complete. The site has reached "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status. Since 2021, the responsible party has followed an approved groundwater treatment trench shutdown work plan with continued annual monitoring. A restrictive covenant prohibits digging and groundwater use on site, and zoning restrictions prevent residential development. Long-term response actions remain ongoing, and the most recent five-year review was completed in June 2025.

Community members can stay involved through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that EPA conducts as part of its community involvement program. Site documents are available at the public information repository at the University of South Florida Tampa Campus Library.