Verona Well Field is a National Priorities List site in Battle Creek, Michigan, listed since 1983. Two Thomas Solvent Company facilities and a Grand Trunk Western Railroad paint shop leaked hazardous chemicals into the ground, contaminating three aquifers and 27 drinking water wells across about 160 acres. The site has also been known as Battle Creek Verona Well Field, Thomas Solvent, and Cello Foil.
More than 130 chemicals have been identified at the site. These include volatile organic compounds like trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, toluene, and chloroform. Chlorinated solvents such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane and carbon tetrachloride are present, along with metals including chromium, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and beryllium. Both soil and groundwater are affected across multiple parts of the site.
Cleanup began in 1987. Actions included blocking contaminated groundwater from spreading, extracting and treating groundwater, pulling vapors from soil, and setting up long-term groundwater monitoring. Affected residents were connected to public water supplies. Physical construction wrapped up in 1997 for the initial remedy, with overall cleanup completed in 2010. The site is divided into three operable units. Two have moved into operation and maintenance phases managed by the state. The third unit, focused on Thomas Solvents at Raymond Road, still needs a feasibility study, expected to finish between December 2027 and February 2028.
Human exposure is currently under control, and contaminated groundwater is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The most recent five-year review, completed in September 2022, confirmed that cleanup actions remain protective in the short term. Long-term protection depends on meeting cleanup standards and keeping institutional controls in place. The site has not been deleted from the National Priorities List, and it has not yet achieved readiness for anticipated reuse. The next five-year review is estimated for September through November 2027.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
