The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting residents to an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m., to learn about a major new phase of cleanup at the Cabot/Koppers Superfund Site in Gainesville.
The open house will take place at the former Koppers facility (200 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville). EPA representatives will provide updates on cleanup progress, explain upcoming construction activities and answer questions from community members.
The cleanup work, scheduled to begin this month and continue into mid-2027, represents an important step toward containing historic contamination and preparing the property for future redevelopment.
Major improvements include:
- Groundwater protection: Construction of a 5,300-foot-long underground barrier extending approximately 65 feet deep to contain contaminated groundwater.
- Contaminated soil removal: Removal of contaminated soil and sediment from the city's former Municipal Storage Yard, with affected materials relocated inside the containment area.
- Stormwater improvements: Replacement of an existing drainage ditch with a new underground piping system.
- Long-term environmental protection: Continued groundwater treatment and monitoring, followed by future soil covers to help prevent exposure to contamination.
The approximately 140-acre Cabot/Koppers Superfund Site includes two former industrial properties where decades of manufacturing and wood-treatment operations have contaminated soil and groundwater.
The EPA reports that extensive cleanup efforts have already taken place, including soil excavation and replacement at 100 nearby properties.
What residents should expect: Nearby residents may notice construction equipment, vegetation clearing and some noise. EPA reports that air and noise monitoring and other protective measures will be in place. Road closures are not expected, and nearby businesses are not expected to be affected.
The cleanup is being conducted by Beazer East Inc. under EPA oversight, with involvement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department and the City of Gainesville.
For complete project details, maps and answers to frequently asked questions, read the EPA's Cabot/Koppers October 2026 Fact Sheet.
For more information, contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Zariah Lewis at 404-562-8342 or lewis.zariah@epa.gov.
