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Gulf Nuclear Superfund Cleanup Complete

Release Date: 6/28/2001
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the Texas Bureau of Radiation Control and the city of Odessa announced the cleanup completion of the Gulf Nuclear site, an abandoned radioactive materials processing and waste shipment storage facility near Odessa, Texas.

     The site cleanup was completed after more than 700,000 pounds of radioactive material was removed and properly disposed of by EPA's Superfund program. Most of the material was shipped to Utah and South Carolina for disposal. This material included laboratory wastes, lab and office equipment, 200 gallons of lead shot, tools, soils, septic tanks, the building slab and the building itself.

     The site was cleaned to the agency's most stringent health-based standards, which allows unrestricted redevelopment of the property, including residential uses.  

     Gulf Nuclear operated on the site from the mid 1970's to 1992.  Although the TBRC maintained security to prevent people from entering the site, it sat abandoned for 8 years. In May 2000, TNRCC requested EPA's assistance in cleaning up the site.