NAVASSA — The Navassa Kerr-McGee Superfund Site is preparing for its next round of cleanup, which the Environmental Protection Agency aims to complete by the fall.
A community meeting is scheduled for July 28 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to discuss the cleanup of the contaminated soil stockpiled in Operable Unit 4 — split into two sections, one at the northernmost part of the site and one in the south above the southern marsh.
Hosted by the Multistate Environmental Response Trust, the EPA and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the meeting will take place at the Navassa Community Center, though attendants may also join over Zoom here. However, there will also be a drop-in session held immediately after between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. which will be held solely in person.
The soil was originally transferred from Operable Unit 2, just north of the current cleanup site, and will now be brought to an EPA-approved landfill. The EPA hopes to have it cleaned up by November 2026.
The meeting will also include information about the proposed Operable Unit 3 cleanup plan, which has yet to be finalized and will cover the 32-acre marshland in the southernmost portion of the site. It will also cover the upcoming Operable Unit 4 North cleanup work, local contracting, the land donation for the Moze Center and conservation easement.
The Kerr-McGee site was home to a chemical corporation by the same name, who operated a wood-treating facility using creosote. The wood preservative is considered highly hazardous by the EPA and according to the Center for Disease Control, is considered a carcinogen. However, those currently living or working near the site are not at risk from the contaminated soil.
At Port City Daily, we aim to keep locals informed on top-of-mind news facing the tri-county region. To support our work and help us reach more people in 2026, please, consider helping one of two ways: Subscribe here or make a one-time contribution here.
We appreciate your ongoing support.
