The North-U Drive Well Contamination site sits in Springfield, Missouri. Seven private wells in the area were found to contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that easily evaporate and can pose health risks when people drink or touch contaminated water. The contamination was traced to petroleum products. Because Superfund law does not cover petroleum-based contamination, the EPA used removal actions rather than a full Superfund cleanup to address the problem.
The EPA took several steps to stop people from being exposed to the contaminated groundwater. Public water supply lines were extended to the North-U Drive area so residents had a safe drinking water source. The EPA also permanently plugged 62 private wells to prevent anyone from using them. These actions eliminated the exposure pathway. A formal cleanup decision, known as a Record of Decision, was issued in March 1993 for the groundwater portion of the site. That decision called for no further active treatment of the groundwater, because the contamination no longer posed a significant threat to human health or the environment. Construction tied to the cleanup was completed in March 1993, and the site was deleted from the National Priorities List in September 1994.
Today, the EPA considers human exposure at the site to be under control. There are no unacceptable ways for people to come into contact with contaminants. Groundwater contamination is also considered stable, with no unacceptable discharge to nearby surface water, and the EPA continues monitoring to confirm the contamination stays in its original area. Physical cleanup work is complete across the entire site. However, the site has not yet met all goals needed to be fully ready for every anticipated future use, and some land-use restrictions may still be in the process of being put in place.
Community members with questions about the site can contact the EPA staff assigned to the site, including the Community Involvement Coordinator and the Remedial Project Manager.
