Conrail Rail Yard Elkhart

⚠ Superfund · Ready for anticipated reuse

EPA completed the site’s fifth five-year review in July 2024, which included an evaluation of background information, cleanup requirements, effectiveness of the cleanup and any anticipated future actions, an analysis of ways for the site to operate more efficiently, and a study of maintenance and monitoring efforts.

Location

CityElkhart
CountyElkhart County
StateIndiana
Coordinates41.66340, -86.01150

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — 02/05/1987
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 06/24/1988
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — 08/30/1990
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 09/29/1988
  5. Remedy Selected — 06/28/1991
  6. Final Remedy Selected — 09/27/2000
  7. Remedial Action Started — 08/29/1994
  8. Final Remedial Action Started — 05/29/2003
  9. Construction Completed — 07/12/2004
  10. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved

EPA references

Other Superfund sites in Elkhart County

EPA-regulated facilities nearby

Understanding this Superfund site

Conrail Rail Yard Elkhart is a federal Superfund site in Indiana. 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: Ready for anticipated reuse. EPA considers this site ready for anticipated reuse, meaning cleanup has progressed enough for certain land uses. This does not necessarily mean all contamination has been removed — institutional controls like deed restrictions may limit how the land can be used.

EPA has identified 7 contaminants of concern at this site, including 1,1-dichloroethene, 1,2-dichloroethene (cis and trans mixture), carbon tetrachloride. 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.