ALCOA, TN — State environmental officials have finalized a legally binding Notice of Land Use Restrictions for the southern portion of the former ALCOA SOUTH PLANT (Blount County Parcel No. 068.01), citing extensive subsurface chemical contamination and groundwater pollution. The 162.5-acre property has been deemed suitable only for non-residential use, provided strict protective measures are permanently maintained.
Critical Environmental Findings
Phase II environmental sampling of the ALCOA SOUTH PLANT property revealed a severe legacy of industrial pollution:
- Groundwater Pollution: Environmental assessments documented “free product” (pure, undissolved liquid contaminants) floating directly in the groundwater samples beneath the site.
- Toxic Chemical Cocktail: Testing identified widespread soil and subsurface contamination, including metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), cyanide, extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.
- Subsurface Waste Layers: Under the surface, the site contains extensive layers of coal tar pitch, alumina, demolition debris, and spent potlining, a hazardous byproduct of aluminum smelting.
- Concentrated Hazard Areas: Soil and water were impacted by historical equipment pits, leaking underground storage tanks, vehicle lift pits, used oil reservoirs, and dedicated PCB and hazardous waste storage areas.
A Century of Industrial Smelting
The property, located at 302 North Hall Road in Alcoa, Tennessee (Parcel ID 046 068.01), was used continuously for heavy industrial aluminum smelting from the early 1900s until operations ceased in 2009. While most of the ALCOA SOUTH PLANT structures have since been demolished, more than a century of heavy manufacturing left the soil and water heavily degraded.
Mandatory Restrictive Covenants
To protect public health and prevent exposure to the buried contaminants, the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has mandated the following permanent restrictions:
- Prohibited Developments: The site cannot be used for residential purposes, schools, daycares, or churches without prior, written approval from TDEC.
- Groundwater Ban: Extraction or use of the groundwater beneath the site for any purpose—especially as a potable drinking water source—is strictly prohibited.
- Soil Management: Any excavation or soil disturbance during redevelopment must strictly adhere to the state-approved Soil Management Plan (SMP).
- Vapor Intrusion Mitigation: Prior to constructing any new buildings, developers must conduct vapor intrusion assessments and, if necessary, install active or passive vapor mitigation barriers and venting systems to prevent toxic gases from entering indoor spaces.
Failure to comply with these land-use restrictions constitutes a Class B misdemeanor and carries a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day.