From 1947 to 1989, Geigy Chemical Corporation and its predecessors blended and formulated pesticides on a 1-acre property in Aberdeen, Moore County, North Carolina. The site landed on the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1989 because facility operations left behind contaminated soil and groundwater. It remains on the NPL today.
EPA has identified 28 contaminants of concern at the site. They include pesticides and their breakdown products, such as aldrin, dieldrin, DDT compounds, chlordane, lindane, heptachlor epoxide, and toxaphene. Industrial chemicals such as trichloroethene, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene are also present. Most contaminants were found in both soil and groundwater.
Responsible parties, including Syngenta Crop Protection, led cleanup work under EPA and state oversight. Workers removed all contaminated soil, debris, and structures. A groundwater pump-and-treat system started operating in 1997, and soil cleanup wrapped up by 1998. In 1998, EPA updated the cleanup plan to add monitored natural attenuation for contaminated groundwater beyond the site boundary. Zoning restrictions are in place to prevent land uses, such as residential development, that would be inconsistent with the cleanup level achieved. The property is currently maintained by responsible parties and is not in use, covered by grasses and trees.
EPA's 2023 Five-Year Review found that the remedy currently protects human health and the environment in the short term. No unacceptable exposure pathways exist for contaminated soil or groundwater. A water line supplies nearby residents and businesses with public drinking water, protecting them from groundwater contamination. Groundwater remediation is ongoing, and the contaminant plume may have migrated off site. The next Five-Year Review is estimated between September and November 2028.
Community members can stay involved through EPA's community involvement activities, which include fact sheets, public notices, and public meetings. Site records are available for public viewing at Aberdeen Town Hall, located at 115 N. Poplar Street in Aberdeen, North Carolina. Residents with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
