The Phoenix-Goodyear Airport Area covers roughly 35 square miles near Goodyear, Arizona, about 17 miles west of downtown Phoenix. The site has two zones. PGA-North was home to the former Unidynamics facility, which made military detonators and explosives. PGA-South includes the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport, built on the former Litchfield Naval Air Facility, where military aircraft were maintained and operated. Contaminated groundwater and soil were found in 1981, and EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in 1983.
EPA has identified 39 contaminants of concern in groundwater and soil. These include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethene, benzene, and chloroform. Heavy metals found at the site include chromium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and selenium. Perchlorate and acetone are also present. Groundwater is the most widely affected medium, though soils contain metals, chlorinated solvents, and VOCs as well.
Cleanup has been underway since 1989. At PGA-South, crews extracted and treated contaminated groundwater, removed about 4,000 cubic yards of chromium-contaminated soils, and used soil vapor extraction and air sparging. Three groundwater treatment systems have removed about 3,300 pounds of VOCs and 2.8 pounds of chromium. The soil vapor extraction system at PGA-South shut down in 2003 after removing about 2,300 pounds of VOCs. At PGA-North, groundwater extraction and soil vapor extraction have removed over 36,000 pounds of TCE. New treatment facilities are expected to remove about 1,500 pounds of TCE annually at full capacity. A 2014 remedy amendment added chemical reduction, anaerobic bioremediation, bioaugmentation, and hydraulic containment approaches at PGA-North.
Human exposure is currently under control at the site. However, groundwater migration is not yet stabilized. Physical construction is not complete across the full site, and the site has not been deleted from the National Priorities List. EPA completed its fifth Five-Year Review in September 2025 and determined the cleanup is currently short-term protective of human health and the environment. Despite ongoing cleanup, the site supports active businesses. As of December 2024, 24 on-site businesses employed 407 people, and the airport contributes about $200 million annually to the local economy.
Community members can get involved through the Community Advisory Group, which meets regularly to discuss site activities. The Five-Year Review document, as well as other site documents, are available at EPA Region 9 Superfund Records Center in San Francisco, CA, and at the Goodyear Branch Library in Goodyear, AZ. To join the Community Advisory Group, contact the EPA Remedial Project Manager.
