The Arlington Blending & Packaging site sits in Arlington, Tennessee, and operated as a pesticide formulation and packaging facility from 1971 to 1978. Spills, leaks, and disposal practices contaminated both soil and groundwater. The EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in July 1987, formally identifying it as a priority for federal Superfund cleanup.
The site contains 12 contaminants of concern spread across soil and groundwater. Groundwater holds 1,1-dichloroethene, benzene, chlordane, endrin, heptachlor epoxide, and pentachlorophenol. Soil contains arsenic, chlordane, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and pentachlorophenol. Several of these, including chlordane, endrin, heptachlor epoxide, and pentachlorophenol, appear in both soil and groundwater.
Cleanup began with removal actions in 1983 and 1990. Workers excavated tens of thousands of tons of contaminated soil and treated it using low-temperature thermal desorption before returning it to the site. Over 200 tons of arsenic-contaminated soil went to an off-site landfill. Groundwater was initially addressed with a pump-and-treat system, but a 1997 Record of Decision Amendment shifted the approach to monitored natural attenuation, letting natural processes break down contaminants while the responsible parties monitor progress annually. Construction of the cleanup finished in July 1997, and the site achieved ready-for-reuse status in June 2006.
The 2.3-acre site has since been transformed into Mary Alice Park, which opened in November 2006 and includes a playground, walking and biking trails, exercise stations, and a basketball court. The site earned EPA's "Excellence in Site Reuse" award in 2009. Human exposure is under control. A public water line serves the nearby neighborhood, and a Shelby County ordinance prohibits private wells within a half-mile of the site. EPA assessed vapor intrusion and found it does not threaten residents or workers. The most recent Five-Year Review, completed in September 2022, confirmed the remedy protects human health and the environment under current recreational land use. The next Five-Year Review is estimated for August through October 2027. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.
Community members can get involved by attending public meetings, reviewing public notices, and providing input on site activities. Questions can be directed to the Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager assigned to the site.
