The nearby Branch River is used for swimming, fishing, and canoeing, and the area commonly is used for hunting. Approximately 2,700 people live within three miles of the site. The residents depend on public and private wells located within three miles of the site as a source of drinking water. This site is being addressed through Federal, State, and potentially responsible parties' actions. The groundwater is contaminated with VOCs including vinyl chloride and methylene chloride.
Surface water is contaminated with phenols, VOCs, and heavy metals including cadmium and lead.
Subsurface soils contain VOCs and inorganics. Potential health threats include ingesting or coming into direct contact with contaminated groundwater, soil, or surface water. Cleanup Progress WDNR drilled wells to provide water to residences with contaminated wells. The results showed elevated levels of several contaminants. In 1987, U.S. EPA began an investigation to determine the extent and nature of contamination and to identify cleanup alternatives.