The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host a community open house Wednesday, Oct. 21, to update residents on a major new phase of cleanup at the Cabot/Koppers Superfund Site in Gainesville.
The open house will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the former Koppers facility (200 NW 23rd Ave.). EPA representatives will discuss cleanup progress, explain upcoming construction activities and answer questions from community members.
The cleanup is scheduled to begin in October and continue into mid-2027. The work is intended to contain historic contamination and prepare the property for potential future redevelopment.
The cleanup was discussed on Thursday, Oct. 8, when EPA presented the plan to the Gainesville City Commission.
Major components of the project 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 an 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 contaminated soil and groundwater.
Extensive cleanup work has already been completed, including soil excavation and replacement at 100 nearby properties, according to the EPA.
What Residents Should Expect
Nearby residents may notice construction equipment, vegetation clearing and some noise during the cleanup. Air and noise monitoring and other protective measures will be in place, according to the EPA.
Road closures are not expected, and nearby businesses are not expected to be affected.
Beazer East Inc. is conducting the cleanup under EPA oversight, with involvement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department and the city of Gainesville.
Residents can review project details, maps and frequently asked questions in the EPA’s October 2026 Cabot/Koppers fact sheet.
For more information, contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Zariah Lewis at 404-562-8342 or lewis.zariah@epa.gov.