The Moss-American Co., Inc. site is an 88-acre former wood-preserving facility on Milwaukee's northwest side. It operated from 1921 to 1976, treating railroad ties with creosote and fuel oil. The site was placed on the National Priorities List in 1984 and has not yet been deleted from it.
Past operations left behind 44 contaminants of concern in soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water. These include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene, BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene), metals including lead and cadmium, pentachlorophenol, chloroform, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a toxic dioxin detected in surface water. People could be exposed through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. Site workers and trespassers face particular risk from dermal contact with or ingestion of contaminated groundwater.
A significant portion of cleanup is already done. Soil excavation on the main property wrapped up in 2017, with contaminated material hauled to a licensed Michigan landfill. Minor restoration work followed in 2019. The adjacent Little Menomonee River was cleaned through sediment dredging and river rerouting, completed in December 2009. EPA's 2019 five-year review confirmed the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment. Human exposure is currently under control across the entire site, and contaminated groundwater migration has been stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. A November 2014 settlement resolved fraudulent conveyance claims against Kerr-McGee Corporation and related subsidiaries of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
However, cleanup is not fully finished. Additional remedial design work began in September 2024 and is expected to wrap up between December 2026 and February 2027. A final remedial action phase is estimated to start between August and October 2027 and conclude between July and September 2028. The most recent five-year review was completed in December 2024. Operation and maintenance under state oversight continues. Milwaukee County and Union Pacific Railroad own most of the property. One on-site business was operating as of December 2024.
Community members who want to stay informed or ask questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. Site records are also available for public review at the Milwaukee Public Library Good Hope Branch, located at 7715 W. Good Hope Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53223.
