Commerce Street Plume

⚠ Superfund · Cleanup underway

The excavation and off-site disposal of approximately 830 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the rear of the parcel at 96 Commerce Street were completed from October to November 2017. Site restoration (plantings, seeding, gravel compaction) and permanent fencing were completed in July 2018.

Location

CityWilliston
CountyChittenden County
StateVermont
Coordinates44.45258, -73.12139

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — 03/30/1987
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 09/23/2004
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — 04/27/2005
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 08/11/2008
  5. Final Remedy Selected — 09/30/2015
  6. Remedial Action Started — 04/25/2017
  7. Final Remedial Action Started — 06/28/2022
  8. Construction Completed — Estimated Sep - Nov 2027
  9. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved
  10. Most Recent Five-Year Review — 01/31/2023

EPA references

Other Superfund sites in Chittenden County

EPA-regulated facilities nearby

Understanding this Superfund site

Commerce Street Plume is a federal Superfund site in Vermont. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.

Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.

EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including 1,2-dichloroethane, arsenic, benzo(b)fluoranthene. Contamination has been detected in groundwater, soil.

If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.