HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to add an abandoned chemical manufacturing facility in Phillips County to its list of Superfund sites.
The EPA says environmental issues persist at the former Cedar Chemical Corp. site south of Helena-West Helena. The EPA uses the Superfund designation for sites that will require long-term plans for cleanup because they're so contaminated.
The EPA says the facility has abandoned chemicals and groundwater and soil contamination. The plant was initially operated by Helena Chemical in 1970. Its last owner was Cedar Chemical Corp., which filed for bankruptcy in 2002 and shut down the facility shortly thereafter.
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality currently acts as caretaker of the facility. The EPA says it's seeking the Superfund designation at the request of Gov. Mike Beebe.