City Chemical Company ran a hazardous waste facility on a 1-acre site in Winter Park, Florida from 1971 to 1983. After the company abandoned the site, the EPA placed it on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) on October 4, 1989. The site is now occupied by small commercial and retail businesses and warehouses, and two on-site businesses currently employ 13 people.
Improper waste disposal contaminated both soil and groundwater. The EPA identified 18 contaminants of concern, all found in groundwater. These include volatile organic compounds like benzene, toluene, trichloroethene, and tetrachloroethene, along with chlorinated solvents, ketones, aromatic compounds, and 1,4-dioxane, which was added as a contaminant of concern in 2015.
Cleanup started with drum, sludge, and soil removal in 1983 and 1984. The EPA built a groundwater pump-and-treat system that began operating in 1994. The remedy has been updated three times since the original 1990 decision, with the most recent change in 2020 adding chemical oxidation and switching to an infiltration basin for treated water discharge. The system was relocated and upgraded with a HiPox component in 2023. A final remedial action that started in October 2021 has an estimated completion date between December 2027 and February 2028. Potentially responsible parties fund cleanup under legal agreements with the EPA.
The EPA has determined that human exposure is under control. Nearby residents and workers use the public water supply, not groundwater, for drinking. The site is fenced with warning signs posted, and zoning restrictions prevent residential use. A 2009 review found no vapor intrusion exposure occurring in buildings. Groundwater contamination is stabilized in its original area with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site achieved ready-for-anticipated-reuse status in July 2007, and the most recent five-year review was completed in May 2024.
Community members can stay involved through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that the EPA holds throughout the cleanup process. Site records are available at the Winter Park Public Library at 460 E New England Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789. Questions can be directed to the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
