Riverfront

Overview

The Riverfront site sits in New Haven, Missouri, in Franklin County. It was added to the National Priorities List in December 2000. The site is divided into six operable units covering different geographic areas. Cleanup is complete in some areas but still ongoing in others, and construction across the full site has not yet finished.

The main contaminants are chlorinated solvents, especially trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene (also called perchloroethene or PCE). These appear in groundwater, soil, and air across multiple areas. Other groundwater contaminants include benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, vinyl chloride, and dichloroethene compounds. Soil in the Front Street area also contains arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. PCE was detected in two city water wells starting in 1986. Both wells were taken out of service by 1993. Replacement wells have shown no PCE or other volatile organic compounds.

Cleanup methods vary by area. Front Street used soil vapor extraction and groundwater extraction, with remedial action finished in 2007. The Old City Dump needed only monitoring and institutional controls and was removed from EPA's priority list in September 2021. The Hat Factory area is monitored under institutional controls. The Industrial Drive and East New Haven areas use chemical oxidation, groundwater extraction, and whole-house water treatment, with work ongoing as of 2025. At the Maiden Lane area within East New Haven, PCE levels in soil remained very high after treatment. A resident at one home was relocated in 2019 due to unsafe indoor air. A 2021 Record of Decision Amendment called for permanent relocation of that resident. The home has since been demolished, the lot backfilled with clean soil, and a Focused Feasibility Study is underway to address remaining contaminated soil, with results expected by September 2026.

Human exposure across the site is currently assessed as under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater contamination is also considered stabilized, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Annual groundwater monitoring continues through the U.S. Geological Survey. The most recent five-year review was completed on November 14, 2024. Seven businesses operate on portions of the site, employing 108 people and generating roughly $12.9 million in annual sales as of December 2024.

Community members can get free help understanding the science and EPA actions through the Technical Assistance Services for Communities program. Qualified community groups may also apply for a Technical Assistance Grant of up to $50,000 to hire their own technical advisor. No public meetings or comment periods are currently scheduled, but residents can join the site mailing list to stay informed. Site records are available at the New Haven Scenic Regional Library at 200 Douglas Street in New Haven, Missouri.