United Heckathorn Co

⚠ Superfund · Cleanup underway

Sediment, surface water, and tissue data in the Lauritzen Channel continue to exceed remediation goals nearly twenty years after the remedy implementation. Do not eat fish or shellfish caught in the Lauritzen Channel. See OEHHA’s fish advisory for more information .

Location

CityRichmond
CountyContra Costa County
StateCalifornia
Coordinates37.92260, -122.36540

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — 09/01/1986
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 10/26/1989
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — 03/14/1990
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 09/26/1991
  5. Final Remedy Selected — 10/26/1994
  6. Remedial Action Started — 07/23/1996
  7. Construction Completed — Not Yet Achieved
  8. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved
  9. Most Recent Five-Year Review — 09/23/2021
  10. Achieved Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Reuse — Not Yet Achieved

EPA references

Other Superfund sites in Contra Costa County

EPA-regulated facilities nearby

Understanding this Superfund site

United Heckathorn Co is a federal Superfund site in California. 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 dieldrin, p,p'-ddt. Contamination has been detected in soil, sediment, surface water.

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.