Sonford Products

Overview

Sonford Products is a 6-acre former chemical manufacturing facility in Flowood, Mississippi. Operations ran from 1972 to 1985 and released dioxins, pentachlorophenol (PCP), pesticides, and heavy metals into soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment. A 1983 reactor fire sent a vapor cloud over nearby homes, and a 2,000-gallon spill in 1985 led to a cease-and-desist order that ended manufacturing. The EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in March 2007.

The site is divided into two operable units (OUs). OU1 addresses groundwater and subsurface soil, which contain volatile organic compounds like trichloroethene, benzene, and vinyl chloride, along with chlorinated dioxins, furans, and metals. OU2 covers surface soil, sediment, and surface water, where pesticides such as aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, and lindane were found alongside mercury, PCP, and dioxins. Hexachlorocyclohexane compounds appear in both units.

Cleanup work has moved through several phases. In 2012, the EPA excavated contaminated soil from eight residential properties in the Payne Drive neighborhood and consolidated the material under a cap on site. For groundwater, selected treatments include in-situ chemical oxidation, enhanced bioremediation, and extraction of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL). More than 12,000 gallons of NAPL were removed between 2015 and 2020. A pilot study using sodium persulfate was completed in 2022, and full-scale treatment is planned for early 2025. New remedial design work for OU2 is estimated to finish between September and November 2027. The EPA completed its second Five-Year Review in December 2023.

Human exposure to contamination is currently under control. All nearby residents receive water from the public water supply and cannot access site groundwater. Fencing surrounds areas with remaining contaminated soil. Institutional controls restrict soil disturbance and groundwater use. A portion of the site currently operates as a septic tank manufacturing facility. Physical construction of the cleanup is not yet complete, and the site remains on the NPL. Groundwater migration status is uncertain due to insufficient data.

The EPA conducts community involvement activities throughout the cleanup, including public notices and public meetings. The site has received funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Residents and interested parties can contact EPA staff directly with questions or submit public comments during designated review periods.