The Eagle Picher Carefree Battery site sits in Socorro, New Mexico. It was added to EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in September 2007. The site is split into two operable units (OUs), which are separate problem areas EPA addresses one by one. OU-1 covers contaminated soil, construction debris, and groundwater. OU-2 covers vapor intrusion, which is when contaminated vapors from underground migrate up into buildings.
Contaminants found here include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, 1,1-dichloroethene, and 1,4-dioxane in the groundwater. Soil and construction debris contain lead and asbestos. Those same VOCs also show up in soil gas and indoor air near the site, posing a vapor intrusion risk to nearby homes.
For OU-1, EPA selected a cleanup remedy in September 2014. That remedy includes digging out contaminated soil and debris, hauling it off-site, and treating groundwater using methods like ultraviolet oxidation, air stripping, and pump-and-treat systems. Excavation began in August 2023. By December 2023, workers had removed 960 cubic yards of soil. During that work, additional contamination was found under the manufacturing building, requiring more study and a revised work plan. This discovery is expected to delay completion. Groundwater remediation plans are also being developed.
For OU-2, EPA and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) sampled soil gas at 40 locations and indoor air at 11 homes between 2015 and 2016. One home had indoor air levels above screening thresholds. EPA finalized a Record of Decision for OU-2 in September 2019, selecting sub-slab depressurization systems to prevent vapor from entering homes, along with ongoing air monitoring. Human exposure at the site is currently considered under control, but contaminated groundwater continues to spread beyond the original area.
A community meeting was scheduled for September 4, 2025 at Socorro City Hall to discuss soil, groundwater, and remedy design progress. EPA and NMED also hold quarterly Community Advisory Group meetings on the second Thursday of January, April, July, and October at Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Residents with questions about meetings can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator. Site documents, including the Remedial Design and Workplan for Soil and Construction Debris, are available at the Socorro Public Library and at the EPA Dallas office.
