The Sheller-Globe Corp. Disposal site covers seven acres in Keokuk, Iowa. A rubber and automobile parts manufacturer used it to dispose of waste from 1948 to 1972. Materials including rubber, wood, plastics, solvents, and paint sludge were burned, buried, or spread across the property. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in August 1990 and deleted it in September 2001 after cleanup goals were met.
Contaminants of concern include metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and zinc in soil. Groundwater contains antimony, beryllium, manganese, and thallium. Organic compounds found in soil include naphthalene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, and pentachlorophenol, along with phthalate plasticizers. EPA determined that surface water, sediments, and groundwater do not pose significant risks and require no further action.
Cleanup work included demolishing on-site structures, removing exposed drums, capping exposed ash with soil and vegetation, and restricting future land use to non-residential purposes. Remedial construction ran from September 1998 through September 2000. The site reached readiness for anticipated reuse in June 2006.
The remedy is currently protective of human health and the environment. Human exposure is under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. A Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment completed in October 2021 and an Addendum to the Fourth Five-Year Review completed in December 2022 both confirmed this status. Routine inspection and maintenance of soil and vegetative covers continue. EPA completed its most recent five-year review in May 2025.
Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator, or the Remedial Project Manager for technical cleanup questions. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources can also answer questions.
