The Martin-Marietta, Sodyeco site covers roughly 1,500 acres about 10 miles west of Charlotte in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Chemical companies operated there from the mid-1930s, producing dyes and specialty chemicals and running on-site landfills until 1978. Past waste disposal practices contaminated both soil and groundwater with industrial byproducts, and some contamination reached the nearby Catawba River. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 1983.
EPA identified 16 contaminants of concern across soil and groundwater. These include solvents such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, chlorobenzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and 1,2-dichlorobenzene, along with polycyclic aromatic compounds including anthracene, fluorene, and phenanthrene. Soil also tested positive for o-dinitrobenzene.
Clariant Corporation led the cleanup as the primary responsible party. Work began as early as 1973 and included removing buried wastes and contaminated soils, washing and treating excavated material, capping disposal areas with asphalt, and installing an 11-well groundwater pump-and-treat system in 1990. A 1987 Record of Decision originally called for excavation, incineration, bioremediation, and other active treatments. A 2011 amendment changed the remedy to institutional controls and no further active treatment, reflecting the progress made. Institutional controls limit digging into subsurface soil, and the groundwater treatment system continues to operate under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act post-closure permit.
EPA deleted the site from the National Priorities List in January 2012 after determining cleanup goals were met. Human exposure to contaminants is under control. Soil caps are intact and regularly inspected. Groundwater contamination stays within the facility boundary, and no residences rely on affected wells. EPA will keep monitoring to confirm contamination stays in place. The most recent Five-Year Review, completed in September 2022, confirmed the site remains protective of human health and the environment. The next review is expected between August and October 2027.
The site has been redeveloped as ReVenture Park, EPA Region 4's first eco-industrial park. It includes industrial space, rail and interstate access, and a large conservation area with wildlife habitat and trail connections. Businesses at the park focus on recycling, alternative fuels, and renewable energy. Community members who want to stay informed can contact EPA staff directly, attend public meetings, or review site documents at the Mt. Holley Public Library in Mt. Holley, North Carolina.
