Wasatch Chemical Co. (Lot 6)

Overview

Wasatch Chemical Co. (Lot 6) is an 18-acre former industrial site in Salt Lake City, Utah, listed on the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL). From 1957 to 1992, the company warehoused, produced, and packaged industrial chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and cleaners there. Wastewater discharged into on-site tanks, evaporation ponds, and the ground left behind widespread contamination in soil, sludge, and groundwater. Enbridge owns the property today and serves as the active potentially responsible party. The site currently operates as a mixed industrial and commercial facility with a steel warehouse, a plumbing supply company, and office buildings.

EPA identified 28 contaminants of concern at the site. They appear across soil, groundwater, and sludge. Chlorinated pesticides include alpha-chlordane, gamma-chlordane, heptachlor, and DDT compounds. Herbicides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid are present in soil and sludge. Chlorinated organic chemicals found in groundwater and other media include 1,1-dichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, and pentachlorophenol.

Cleanup work began in the 1990s and covered soil excavation, waste consolidation in the former evaporation pond, landfarming of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, and groundwater extraction and treatment. Construction was completed by September 1997. Groundwater extraction and treatment stopped in 2003, though groundwater monitoring continues. A shallow soil investigation found no unacceptable risk for utility workers. Indoor air in three buildings within the site boundary is currently under investigation. A remedial investigation for the second operable unit is underway, with estimated completion between June and August 2028.

According to EPA assessments, human exposure is currently under control, with no unacceptable human exposure pathways across the entire site. Contaminated groundwater migration is also stabilized, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical construction of the cleanup is complete for the entire site, but the site has not yet achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status, meaning not all cleanup goals have been met or required land-use controls are still being finalized. EPA prohibits installation of on-site wells and continues monitoring to confirm contaminated groundwater stays within the original area. The most recent five-year review was completed in September 2022, with the next estimated between September and November 2027.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA Remedial Project Manager. For state-related questions, contact the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ). Site records are available through the UDEQ Division of Environmental Response and Remediation in Salt Lake City and the EPA Superfund Records Center in Denver.