The Carter Lee Lumber Co. site covers 4 acres in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana. From 1960 to 1973, commercial and industrial waste hauling companies leased the property from Penn Central Corporation. Carter Lee Lumber Company took ownership in 1979 and used it for lumber storage. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in March 1989 after an initial assessment in September 1984. The NPL is the federal government's list of sites that may need cleanup under the Superfund program.
EPA identified four contaminants of concern at the site. Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane and p,p'-DDT were found in groundwater. Aroclor 1254 and heptachlor were found in soil. All four were detected across the overall facility. Despite their presence, the site's risk assessment showed the contaminants posed only a negligible health risk to people or the environment.
The remedial investigation began in April 1992. EPA conducted a combined remedial investigation and feasibility study, then issued a Record of Decision in September 1995. The selected remedy was No Further Action, meaning no physical cleanup was required. Construction was formally completed that same month. EPA deleted the site from the NPL on July 9, 1996. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse on June 26, 2006, confirming that cleanup goals had been met and the property could support future uses. As of December 2024, two businesses operate on the site.
Human exposure is currently under control. There are no unacceptable exposure pathways, all cleanup goals have been achieved, and all required land-use controls are in place. Because the site is not a groundwater site, groundwater migration is not a concern here. Community members or others with questions can contact EPA's Remedial Project Manager. Site documentation, including an administrative record of 18 documents, is available through EPA's records system.
