The site’s long-term remedy includes consolidation and capping of contaminated soil; repair of stormwater and sanitary sewer lines; groundwater extraction and treatment; institutional controls; and long-term monitoring and cap maintenance. Remedy construction began in 2000 and is ongoing.
| City | Mead |
|---|---|
| County | Spokane County |
| State | Washington |
| Coordinates | 47.75500, -117.37670 |
Kaiser Aluminum Mead Works is a federal Superfund site in Washington. 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.
Contaminants of concern include cyanide, fluoride. Contamination has been detected in groundwater, surface water, 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.