Initial investigations began in the 1970s with surface media investigations. By the 1990s, groundwater and soil contamination was confirmed in many of the industrial areas. As part of the site cleanup strategy, EPA identified 25 operable units (OUs) at RSA. These OUs refer to different parts of the site.
| City | Huntsville |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| State | Alabama |
| Coordinates | 34.64694, -86.67306 |
Usarmy Nasa Redstone Arsenal is a federal Superfund site in Alabama. 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.
EPA has identified 5 contaminants of concern at this site, including arsenic, mercury, perchlorate. Contamination has been detected in sediment, soil, surface water, 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.