EPA Began New Remediation Phase at Cabot/Koppers Site

Gainesville residents can attend an open house to learn about upcoming tree clearing and site construction.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Home Renovation

EPA Began New Remediation Phase at Cabot/Koppers Site

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The EPA has announced the next phase of remediation at the Cabot/Koppers Superfund Site in Gainesville, which will include tree clearing and soil removal. This effort aims to restore the former wood-treating facility to industrial and commercial standards.

Why it matters

The site holds a history of contamination including dioxin and benzene dating back to operations that lasted from 1916 to 2009. Remediating this land is necessary to contain groundwater and ensure the area meets safety standards, although a covenant prevents any future residential use.

The project involves building a 5,300-foot cut-off wall 65 feet deep to contain groundwater. Remediation is required because the site contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, pentachlorophenol, metals, and dioxin.

The players

Environmental Protection Agency

The federal agency responsible for managing the cleanup and remediation of Superfund sites across the country.

Gainesville City Commission

The local governing body that received the project briefing on the ongoing environmental restoration efforts.

The details

To prevent groundwater from passing through the contaminated area, crews are installing an impermeable cover and a massive underground wall. The project replaces an existing stormwater ditch with a new piping system designed to route water safely around the containment wall. These measures are designed to permanently isolate the legacy pollutants left behind by wood-treating operations that spanned nearly a century.

1916: Wood-treating operations began at the site.
2009: Wood-treating operations ceased at the site.
October 8, 2026: EPA provided a project update to the City Commission.
Mid-October 2026: Construction of the cut-off wall begins.
October 21, 2026: Public open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Home Front

This project follows the standards set by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act for managing legacy industrial contamination. The site remains strictly limited to commercial and industrial use, with a restrictive covenant prohibiting residential development.

Nearby residents should note that construction activities are scheduled to begin in mid-October. Those living in the vicinity can attend the public open house to ask questions directly to agency representatives about the containment process.

The takeaway

The ongoing remediation of the Cabot/Koppers site serves as a reminder of the long-term environmental legacy associated with historic industrial wood-treating facilities. Residents should track project updates through local government channels and attend the upcoming open house for specific site details.