Taputimu Farm sits in Taputimu, American Samoa, and was once used by the Government of American Samoa to store outdated agricultural chemicals and pesticides in a warehouse and trailer. Improper storage practices left the floors of both structures contaminated. The site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) on September 8, 1983, marking it as a priority for federal cleanup action.
Ten contaminants of concern were identified at the site, all found in debris within a single cleanup area called Operable Unit 001. Those contaminants are 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, aldrin, dieldrin, ethylbenzene, heptachlor, methoxychlor, p,p'-DDT, pentachlorophenol, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and toluene. People could have been exposed by touching or ingesting hazardous materials inside the warehouse or trailer. The site is not a groundwater site, so there is no concern about contamination spreading through groundwater.
The EPA selected offsite disposal as the cleanup method in a Record of Decision issued on December 27, 1983. Cleanup work included sealing the warehouse to restrict entry, repacking and disposing of pesticides, sweeping, vacuuming, and washing exposed surfaces, painting, pouring concrete, and installing access controls. The EPA carried out removal actions at the site from May through July 1984, and again from January through March 1994. Physical construction of the cleanup was completed on March 7, 1986, the same day the site was deleted from the NPL.
Human exposure to contaminants is now under control. Assessments show no unacceptable exposure pathways remain. The site reached "Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use" status on September 18, 2018, meaning all cleanup goals for current and expected future uses have been met and required land-use restrictions are in place. The site is also part of the EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Program, which supports returning former contaminated properties to productive community use.
Community members or anyone with questions about the site can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator.
