South Valley

Overview

The South Valley Superfund site sits in southern Albuquerque, New Mexico and covers two main properties: the Univar site and the former Air Force Plant 83 site, now owned by General Electric Aviation. Chemical distribution and military manufacturing operations dating to the 1950s contaminated groundwater with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983. The NPL is EPA's roster of hazardous waste sites that need long-term cleanup attention.

Groundwater holds the bulk of the contamination. Identified contaminants include trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, chlorinated compounds such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane and chloroform, acetone, toluene, dichloromethane, arsenic, and 1,4-dioxane. Some soil contamination, including tetrachloroethene and 1,1-dichloroethene, has also been found. Groundwater levels exceed federal drinking water standards, but no private wells exist in the affected area, and human exposure is currently under control.

Cleanup is divided into six operable units (OUs). Three OUs were partially deleted from the NPL in September 2019 after their remedies proved effective. Three remain active. At the Univar site, VOC cleanup goals have been met, but 1,4-dioxane persists in groundwater and is still being treated. New monitoring wells track contamination moving eastward. At the GEA site, VOC cleanup is complete, and a network of wells is being monitored for eight quarters to confirm contamination does not rebound. A successful monitoring period would make that OU eligible for deletion. Deed restrictions limit the GEA property to commercial and industrial use, prohibit groundwater use, and require engineered barriers where semi-volatile organic compounds and chromium remain above industrial screening levels.

The most recent five-year review, completed in July and August 2025, confirmed that current response actions protect human health and the environment in the short term. Long-term protectiveness depends on continued evaluation of 1,4-dioxane and rising levels of methyl tertiary butyl ether and trichloroethylene at the GEA site. As of December 2024, three businesses operating on the site employed 21 people and generated about $11.9 million in annual sales. Bernalillo County also plans a roadway connecting Interstate-25 to the Albuquerque airport that will cross the site.

Community members can get involved by attending the upcoming public meeting on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Henry "Kiki" Saavedra Community Center, 201 Prosperity Ave SE, Albuquerque. The meeting will cover findings and recommendations from the 2025 five-year review. For questions, residents can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. For state-related questions, contact the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED).