Waterloo Coal Gasification Plant

⚠ Superfund · Remedy selected

The EPA has conducted a Five-Year Review of the site’s remedy. Five-Year Reviews evaluate and confirm that the remedies put in place protect human health and the environment, and are functioning as intended by site remedy selection decision documents. The most recent review was completed in August 7, 2023.

Location

CityWaterloo
CountyBlack Hawk County
StateIowa
Coordinates42.49139, -92.32639

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — 01/12/1989
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 10/14/1992
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 05/30/1995
  5. Final Remedy Selected — 09/24/2004
  6. Final Remedial Action Started — 08/21/2008
  7. Construction Completed — Not Yet Achieved
  8. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved
  9. Most Recent Five-Year Review — 08/07/2023
  10. Achieved Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Reuse — Not Yet Achieved

EPA references

EPA-regulated facilities nearby

Understanding this Superfund site

Waterloo Coal Gasification Plant 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: Remedy selected. EPA has selected a cleanup remedy but construction has not yet begun. The remedy selection process involves a feasibility study, public comment period, and a Record of Decision documenting the chosen approach.

EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including 2-methylnaphthalene, antimony, arsenic. Contamination has been detected in groundwater, 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.