Progress update on Navassa Superfund Site to be held

Work to clean up an area within a federal Superfund Site in Navassa began earlier this week.

The cleanup of contaminated surface soil in an area referred to as operable unit 2 of the former Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp site may take up to four months to complete, according to a release.

Officials with the Multistate Environmental Response Trust, Environmental Protection Agency and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality are hosting a community meeting on Tuesday to update Navassa residents about the cleanup, which entails excavating contaminated soils.

Soils that are removed from the land will be temporarily stored and regularly monitored on a different area within the site that will eventually be cleaned as well. Soils that are not suitable to be stored within that neighboring operable unit will be recycled or disposed off-site.

Land within unit 2 is expected to be suitable for any future use once it is cleaned, according to officials.

Government officials will also discuss donated land that will be the site of the proposed Moze heritage center and the sale of nearly 90 acres of Multistate Trust-owned property that was once part of the former wood treatment operation.

Representatives with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will also join the meeting to update residents about ongoing restoration projects in the area.

Tuesday’s meeting will be held 6-7 p.m. in-person at the Navassa Community Center, 33 Main Street. The meeting will be livestreamed. An in-person only, drop-in session will be held following the meeting between 7-8 p.m.

To join the meeting by Zoom or phone, go to this Zoom link or enter tinyurl.com/NavassaMeetings into a browser, or call 301-715-8592. Use meeting ID 946 584 8922 and passcode 66456.