Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation ran a wood-treating plant in Navassa, North Carolina from 1936 to 1980. The operation generated contaminated wastewater that ended up in onsite ponds and nearby marshes. The EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2010, triggering a formal cleanup process. The site is divided into five operable units (OUs), each targeting a specific area or type of contamination.
The confirmed contaminants of concern are all found in soil within Operable Unit 2. They include 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxicity equivalents, benzo[a]pyrene equivalents, naphthalene, pentachlorophenol, and high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Beyond OU2 soils, the site also has contaminated groundwater, including dense nonaqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) plumes, as well as contaminated marsh sediments and pond and process areas.
The EPA leads cleanup with support from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the Multistate Environmental Response Trust, which manages the property. OU1, covering soils in the northern area, was given a "no action" remedy in April 2021 and was partially deleted from the NPL in September 2021. OU2, covering about 15.6 acres of former wood storage areas, had its cleanup plan signed in September 2022, with remedial action beginning in spring 2024 and estimated completion between August and October 2026. OU4, the pond and process area, received a Record of Decision on March 30, 2026. The remaining two units, OU3 (marsh sediments) and OU5 (groundwater), are still in the investigation and design phases.
Human exposure is currently under control. The most contaminated areas are fenced off, and nearby residents and businesses use the public water supply rather than contaminated groundwater. Groundwater migration is not yet stabilized, and physical cleanup work is not complete across all units. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services published a Public Health Assessment in 2012 and can be reached at (919) 733-5900 for health-related questions.
Community members can stay involved through EPA public participation activities, including public meetings, public notices, and community interviews. The EPA held a public meeting on September 23, 2025 to present proposed cleanup alternatives for OU4 North, and extended the public comment period through November 24, 2025. A quarterly community update was scheduled for November 18, 2025. Site records are available at the Navassa Community Center at 338 Main Street and the Leland Library at 487 Village Road NE in Leland. Questions can go to the Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager assigned to the site.
