The site’s long-term remedy for source control, selected in 1984, included excavation of waste and contaminated soil with off-site disposal. The remedy also included backfilling the excavation, revegetation and installation of a fence. Cleanup removed 22, 200 cubic yards of waste and soil from the site. Cleanup finished in December 1987.
| City | Highlands |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| State | Texas |
| Coordinates | 29.81410, -95.07860 |
Highlands Acid Pit is a federal Superfund site in Texas. 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: Construction complete. Physical construction of the cleanup remedy is complete, though long-term monitoring and institutional controls typically continue for years or decades. Groundwater treatment systems, for example, often run long after surface cleanup finishes.
EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including arsenic, benzene, beryllium. Contamination has been detected in groundwater, solid waste.
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.