The Sixty-Second Street Dump sits in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. During the 1960s and 1970s, the site was used to dispose of battery wastes and shredded auto parts, leaving soil and groundwater contaminated with metals and other substances. EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The NPL is EPA's roster of the most serious known or threatened releases of hazardous substances. The site was removed from the NPL in 1999 after cleanup was completed.
Fourteen contaminants of concern have been identified at the site. These include metals such as antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead found in soil and groundwater. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are synthetic chemicals linked to health risks, were detected in soil. Groundwater also contained sodium and sulfate. All contamination is within Operable Unit 1 (OU01), the single cleanup unit organized for this site. Health risks come from ingesting or touching contaminants in debris, soil, and groundwater.
The companies responsible for the contamination, The David J. Joseph Company and Lafarge Corporation, carried out the cleanup. Work included building an underground barrier wall to contain contaminated groundwater, excavating and treating contaminated materials, and placing a 4.5-acre engineered cap over the waste. Construction ran from 1993 to 1995. The two companies continue to conduct annual groundwater monitoring and regular inspections. Groundwater contamination remains on site but is not spreading. Human exposure is under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways currently identified.
Several institutional controls limit how the site can be used. The site is fenced and secured. Zoning restrictions rule out residential development. The Southwest Florida Water Management District has designated the area as a groundwater delineation area, so any new wells nearby require the District's approval. A restrictive covenant is being placed on the property to prohibit access to the cap and restrict groundwater use. The site achieved "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status in November 2020, though it is not currently in active reuse. EPA completed its most recent Five-Year Review in 2024, following an earlier review in 2019 that confirmed the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment.
Community members can stay involved through EPA's community involvement activities, which include public notices, public meetings, and interviews to gather input. Records related to cleanup work at the site can be viewed at the John F. Kennedy Public Library in Tampa. For direct questions, the Remedial Project Manager for the site is Halla Rezgui, reachable by email or phone.
