MRI Corp (Tampa)

Overview

The MRI Corp site in Tampa, Florida operated as a recycling facility from 1961 to 1986. The EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) in December 1996 after finding contaminated soil and groundwater. The site sits in Hillsborough County within Congressional District 11. Cleanup construction finished in March 2013, and the site achieved sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse in April 2022. It remains on the NPL, and long-term groundwater monitoring continues under EPA oversight.

The EPA identified fourteen contaminants of concern across soil and groundwater. Lead is the primary concern and appears in both soil and groundwater in multiple areas. Other metals found in groundwater include aluminum, arsenic, chromium, fluoride, sodium, and thallium. Mercury was found in soil. Contamination affected soil, groundwater, and sediment both on-site and off-site. Groundwater is not used for drinking water in this area, so it is not considered a direct threat to residents.

Cleanup was organized into distinct areas. Work on one area included excavation, soil stabilization, capping, and deed restrictions. Work on the groundwater area included excavation, installation of a below-ground barrier wall, and monitored natural attenuation. Residents and businesses nearby connect to the public water supply, and human exposure is currently under control. Groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The EPA, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and potentially responsible parties have all been involved. The responsible parties continue to fund monitoring and maintenance under consent decrees from 2002 and 2009.

Deed restrictions remain in place. They prohibit residential use and the use of shallow groundwater for drinking. Zoning restrictions also limit land uses to those consistent with the cleanup level. The EPA's 2022 Five-Year Review found the remedy protective of human health and the environment in the short term. The next five-year review is estimated between January and March 2027.

Community members can review site records at the Brandon Regional Library at 619 Vondenburg Drive in Brandon, Florida. The EPA involves the public through notices, meetings, and interviews. For questions, residents can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.