OU1 - Routine groundwater sampling is being conducted by Iowa Department of Natural Resources to verify that the contaminants continue to degrade through natural attenuation processes.
| City | West Des Moines |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| State | Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41.57833, -93.70222 |
Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination is a federal Superfund site in Iowa. 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 5 contaminants of concern at this site, including chloroethene (vinyl chloride), cis-1,2-dichloroethene, tetrachloroethene. Contamination has been detected in groundwater.
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.