East 67th Street Ground Water Plume

Overview

The East 67th Street Ground Water Plume is a federal Superfund site in Odessa, Texas. It sits on the National Priorities List and is still in active cleanup. The contamination started when more than 15,000 gallons of solvents, including over 635 gallons of tetrachloroethene (PCE), were intentionally released at the former Delta Chemical facility, now operated as Brenntag, on East 67th Street. The plume has spread eastward to Stevenson Avenue and has reached the Trinity Aquifer, the only local source of drinking water.

EPA has identified 32 contaminants of concern at the site. They appear in both groundwater and soil. The list includes volatile organic compounds such as PCE, trichloroethene, benzene, chloroform, and vinyl chloride. It also includes dichloroethane compounds and several metals, including arsenic, lead, chromium, and manganese.

Cleanup involves several methods working together. In the shallow aquifer, naturally occurring bacteria break down PCE into harmless byproducts through bioremediation. In the lower aquifer zone, a liquid carbon product captures PCE as it moves. Three horizontal soil vapor extraction wells pull vapors from beneath the spill site, and a granular activated carbon unit traps those vapors. A new PlumeStop injection line is also being installed to stop PCE from spreading further in the lower sand aquifer. Earlier actions included installing 17 replacement private water supply wells and plugging 18 contaminated wells to cut off exposure. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions, limit land uses that would conflict with cleanup goals. As of December 2024, three businesses operate at the site, employing 23 people and generating about $24.1 million in annual sales.

Current human exposure is under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways exist right now. However, contaminated groundwater is still migrating beyond the original spill area, and physical construction is not yet complete. The most recent five-year review was completed on August 26, 2025. Construction is estimated to finish between September and November 2027. An Explanation of Significant Differences is expected between August and October 2026.

Community members can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager. For state-related questions, contact the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Regular sampling of monitoring wells and private supply wells continues to track the contamination.