Between 1949 and 1953, roughly 48,000 to 72,000 drums of paint manufacturing waste from a DuPont facility were buried at two locations near West Point, Iowa. The dumping contaminated soil and groundwater with metals and organic compounds. EPA added the site to its National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. The NPL is the federal government's list of the most serious uncontrolled hazardous waste sites in the country.
Contaminants found in soil at both the Baier and McCarl subsites included metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and zinc, along with volatile organic compounds like trichloroethane, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. Semi-volatile compounds such as naphthalene and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate were also present.
Cleanup wrapped up in 1993. Workers excavated contaminated soil from both subsites, mixed it with cement to stabilize it, and placed it in a disposal trench at the Baier subsite. That trench was then capped with clay and topsoil. The McCarl subsite was backfilled with clean soil after its contaminated material was removed. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in September 1995. Corteva, the company that now manages the former DuPont operations, maintains the soil cap and security fence at the Baier subsite. Groundwater is sampled every two years to confirm contamination has not reached water supplies.
An environmental covenant recorded at the Baier subsite since 2007 prohibits residential use, food production, and most excavation. Commercial and industrial uses are allowed within the fenced area, but access is limited to workers, vendors, contractors, and emergency personnel. The McCarl subsite has no deed restrictions because all contaminated material was removed. EPA tracking confirms that human exposure is under control, groundwater migration is under control, and the site is ready for anticipated reuse. The most recent five-year review, completed in April 2022, found that the cleanup continues to protect human health and the environment. The next five-year review is expected between April and June 2027.
Community members can review site records at the Fort Madison Public Library in Fort Madison, Iowa, or at EPA Region 7 offices in Lenexa, Kansas. For questions, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager.
