The Waste Research & Reclamation Co. site covers 9 acres in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. A roofing company operated there through the 1970s until 1981, when Waste Research & Reclamation Co. took over and began running reclamation and recycling businesses. Waste handling practices at the facility contaminated soil, surface water, and groundwater with volatile organic compounds and other hazardous chemicals.
Investigators divided the site into six solid waste management units. These included drum storage areas, a pole barn with cooling water discharge, an abandoned lagoon, holding tanks, collection sumps, and two reclamation areas called the LUWA and Kontro areas. Companies responsible for the contamination investigated the extent of pollution across all three media.
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) on September 21, 1984. After further review, EPA transferred oversight to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program and deleted the site from the NPL on February 5, 1993. The deletion indicated that cleanup goals were met and further Superfund remedial action was not needed at that time. Physical construction of the cleanup is not complete for the entire site, and the site has not achieved ready-for-anticipated-reuse status.
Institutional controls are in place to limit exposure. These include zoning restrictions that block residential use and other uses inconsistent with the cleanup level. Soil, groundwater, and surface water still contain volatile organic compounds, so people who accidentally ingest or directly contact contaminated materials may face health risks. As of December 2024, one business operating on the site employed 83 people and generated about $21.2 million in annual sales.
Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
