From 1948 through 1980, Hercules, Inc. disposed of industrial waste on 7 acres of a 16.5-acre property in Brunswick, Georgia. Groundwater, sludge, and soil contamination found in 1980 led EPA to add the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1984. Hercules, Inc. carried out investigation and cleanup work under EPA and Georgia Environmental Protection Division oversight.
EPA identified 56 contaminants of concern across soil, groundwater, and sludge. These include metals such as arsenic, lead, chromium, cadmium, and mercury. Volatile organic compounds include benzene, toluene, trichloroethene, and carbon tetrachloride. Pesticides such as dieldrin, heptachlor, toxaphene, and DDT breakdown products are also present, along with chlorinated dioxins and furans.
Cleanup moved through several phases. In 1991, EPA issued an interim plan to connect nearby residents and businesses to city water, and that work finished in 1992. The long-term plan, issued in 1993, called for stabilizing contaminated soil and sludge, capping the landfill, and setting up groundwater monitoring. Soil excavation and replacement took place from 1994 to 1995. Between 1998 and 1999, remaining contaminated sludge and soil were stabilized and covered with a cap. Construction was completed in September 1999. A car dealership north of the landfill later paved the top of the cap to create a parking lot for displaying cars, helping preserve the cap's integrity.
The most recent Five-Year Review, completed in August 2021, found that cleanup actions protect human health and the environment in the short term. Human exposure is under control, and contaminated groundwater is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Institutional controls restrict land use and groundwater use to protect the cap. Nearby residents and workers are connected to the public water supply. The site reached sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse in September 2020 and remains on the National Priorities List. The next Five-Year Review is estimated between August and October 2026.
Community members can stay involved through EPA's ongoing outreach activities, including public notices, meetings, and interviews. EPA held a community update meeting on May 20, 2025, at the Rise Risely Building in Brunswick, Georgia, covering this site and three other nearby Superfund sites. The presentation from that meeting is available. For questions, contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Rosemarie Nelson or Remedial Project Manager Scott Martin using the information below.
