Pioneer Sand Co.

Overview

Pioneer Sand Company ran an unpermitted waste disposal operation in Warrington, Florida from 1973 to 1979. The 11-acre site, located in a former quarry south of Saufley Field Road, accepted shredded auto parts, construction waste, and industrial sludge. That waste contaminated both soil and groundwater, leading the EPA to add the site to the National Priorities List in 1983.

Contaminants found at the site include metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, mercury, and thallium. Organic compounds include benzene, toluene, xylene, chloroform, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, and phenolic compounds. These contaminants were detected in solid waste, leachate, and groundwater across the site.

The EPA selected a cleanup plan in September 1986. Work included stabilizing and capping contaminated material, installing fencing, collecting contaminated water, and monitoring groundwater. Construction ran from March 1990 through December 1991. The EPA deleted the site from the National Priorities List in February 1993, confirming cleanup goals had been met. The site reached ready-for-anticipated-reuse status in June 2006. The last responsible party went bankrupt in 2016, and the EPA received over $700,000 from that settlement to fund ongoing activities. The EPA is now transferring operation and maintenance responsibility to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Human exposure is under control, meaning there are no unacceptable pathways for people to contact contaminants. Groundwater contamination has not spread beyond the site boundary, and nearby residences are connected to the public water supply. The site is fenced and not in active use. Institutional controls restrict construction, disposal, residential use, and commercial use on the property. The South Florida Water Management District has designated the site and surrounding area as a groundwater delineation area, requiring District approval for any new wells. Groundwater monitoring continues under EPA oversight with support from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor. The EPA completed its most recent five-year review on December 2, 2024.

Community members can get involved through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that the EPA hosts as part of its community involvement program. Site records are available at the University of West Florida John C. Pace Library in Pensacola. Questions can be directed to the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.