The Cedartown Industries site covers seven acres in Cedartown, Georgia. It operated as an iron foundry starting in 1874 and ran a secondary lead smelting operation from 1978 to 1980. Those industrial activities contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater with heavy metals. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. Today the property is leased to H&W Transfer Company for truck parking and maintenance.
Eight contaminants of concern were identified at the site. Arsenic, cadmium, and lead were found in both soil and groundwater. Antimony and beryllium were found in soil only. These substances drove cleanup decisions because EPA determined they posed unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
Cleanup began in 1990 when the potentially responsible parties (PRPs), the companies or individuals responsible for the contamination, removed 8,380 tons of contaminated slag, debris, and soil. A formal remedy was selected in 1993 and included excavating contaminated soil, solidifying and stabilizing it off site, disposing of treated soil on site, and using monitored natural attenuation to address groundwater. Monitored natural attenuation means relying on natural processes to reduce contaminant levels over time. Construction was completed by 1997. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 2006. Institutional controls remain in place, including deed restrictions and a chain-link fence on the north, south, and east sides of the property. These controls prevent residential development and restrict land and groundwater use.
EPA's Five-Year Reviews have tracked whether the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. Reviews were completed in 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016. The most recent review completed in July 2021 is noted in cleanup progress records. The 2016 review found that human exposure is under control and that contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Due to elevated lead levels in groundwater, additional sampling has taken place since December 2016. The next Five-Year Review is estimated for July through September 2026. The PRPs continue to fund monitoring and oversight.
Community members can stay informed through EPA's outreach efforts, which include public meetings, public notices, and interviews with local stakeholders. Site documents are available at the Cedartown Public Library at 245 East Avenue in Cedartown, Georgia. For specific questions, two EPA staff members are available by phone or email.
