On March 2, 2021, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the cleanup of the Krejci Dump site in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is complete, and the site is fully restored.
In a multi-year cleanup process, NPS worked in close coordination with Ford Motor Company, the lead corporation involved in the cleanup, to recontour and revegetate the site with native grasses and wildflowers, reestablish natural wetlands and restore important wildlife habitat.
Implementation of those restoration efforts was largely completed in 2014. Since that time, NPS has closely monitored the restoration to ensure its success and long-term effectiveness.
“The completion of the remediation and restoration work necessary to eliminate public health risks and the impairment of park resources marks a great achievement for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and everyone who has been involved in this long process. Together, we have completely removed one of the most toxic Superfund sites in the national park system and made it safe for the public to enjoy,” said Acting Park Superintendent, Lisa Petit.
The Krejci Dump operated as a salvage yard and waste disposal facility from the 1940’s to 1980.
It received solid and hazardous wastes from nearby cities, towns and scores of companies.
At the time, dumps were largely unregulated and toxic materials were buried in unlined pits and allowed to seep unchecked into the environment.
In 1985, Cuyahoga Valley National Park acquired the property and soon realized the scale of pollution.
Partnering with the U.S. and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies, the park closed the site to the public in 1986 and initiated a comprehensive investigation.
The level of contamination qualified the site for cleanup under Superfund law.
Through close coordination and intensive construction work, Ford completed the removal of all contaminated material from the site.
The NPS has since issued a certification of completion to Ford, finding that all requirements and performance standards for cleaning up and restoring the site had been achieved.
All photos are by Chris Davis, courtesy of the National Park Service.