EPA Achieves Soil Cleanup Goals at PCE Superfund Site in York, Nebraska, More Than a Decade Early
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on November 12, 2026, that it has achieved its soil cleanup goals in Operable Unit 01 at the PCE Southeast Contamination Superfund site in York, Nebraska, far ahead of the original estimate.
Laboratory analysis of soils at Operable Unit 01, also known as the Seventh Street source area, confirmed that the cleanup goals for tetrachloroethene (PCE) set out in the site's Record of Decision have been achieved at all sampling locations and depths. EPA used in-situ thermal remediation, which heated the contaminated soil and turned the contamination into vapor before treatment, replacing the more expensive, time-consuming and disruptive remedy of removing the contaminated soil. EPA estimates it took only about two years to meet the cleanup goals at the source areas, compared with an estimate of more than 15 years under the removal remedy.
EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy said using the thermal remediation system to accelerate cleanup while minimizing impacts on the community demonstrates EPA's commitment to restoring contaminated sites and returning them to Heartland communities through gold-standard science. Operable Unit 01 will now transition to restoration activities, including removing components of the thermal remediation system and work trailers and removing the old concrete pad from the property.
Cleanup goals were met at the Fifth Street source area (Operable Unit 02) in 2025, with restoration activities taking place that summer. With both source areas complete, remediation at the site will now shift to the contaminated groundwater plume in Operable Unit 03. On June 3, 2026, EPA launched its Superfund Solutions initiative to accelerate cleanups of more than 1,340 Superfund sites on the National Priorities List. (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于华盛顿特区的美国环境保护署（EPA）总部大楼（联邦固定图库）。 / Photo: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters building in Washington, D.C. (federal asset library).
Follow-Up: White House Officials Are Discussing Commerce Secretary Lutnick's Future, Reuters Reports, as Lawmakers Step Up Export-Control Criticism2026-11-12
Department of War Contracts for November 12: $88.2 Million Navy Submarine Engineering Award Leads, Army Microgrid to Be Built in Mountain View2026-11-12