Gadsden, AL: Techtrix
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now almost finished removing the hazardous wastes from the Techtrix, Inc. site (the Site), an electroplating and metal finishing facility located at 525 Plainview Street in Gadsden, Alabama. The cleanup has been performed as a time-critical removal action to permanently remove the material from the Site and protect human health and the environment. To date, approximately 93,000 gallons of liquid waste - including approximately 34,000 gallons of cyanide - and 60 cubic yards of contaminated debris have been removed from the Site, greatly reducing the threat this facility posed to the surrounding community. Specific properties near the Site will be sampled in the upcoming weeks to determine if contamination has spread off-site.
EPA hosted a public meeting on October 15, 2024, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Mission Baptist Church in Gadsden, AL to discuss the cleanup. Please review the U.S. EPA Techtrix, Inc. Cleanup Fact Sheet (pdf) - Hoja informativa sobre limpieza de Techtrix, Inc. de la EPA de EE. UU. (pdf) for more cleanup information. This PowerPoint was presented at the public meeting on October 15, 2024 to show the conditions inside the Techtrix, Inc. building. (pptx) Pictured are vats of chemicals used in the electroplating process, containers that the hazardous waste is stored in and, lastly, security measures in place.
In March 2024, after the death of the property owner, the estate declared it could not complete required cleanup and closure actions. It then became necessary for EPA to assess the site for a cleanup. In July 2024, EPA conducted a site assessment, which included samples of the wastes and soil outside the facility. While the complete sampling results are still preliminary, they confirm liquid containing cyanide, stored in totes and vats, and corrosive wastes. An emergency response was initiated in August 2024 after a follow up site visit revealed several damaged tanks that were leaking and in danger of critically failing. The response action included emptying the tanks of the liquids and disconnecting utilities.
Community residents are strongly encouraged to avoid the property. Twenty-four-hour security is currently in place at the Site, and a fence and video cameras have been installed around the building perimeter to prevent anyone from entering.
More cleanup details, to include fact sheets, public meeting notices, etc. will be posted as they become available. For more information, please contact:
- Community Involvement Coordinator, Marjorie Thomas, at thomas.marjorie@epa.gov
- On-Scene Coordinator, Chuck Berry, at berry.chuck@epa.gov
- On-Scene Coordinator, John Maddox, at maddox.john@epa.gov
Questions for the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency should be directed to: ema@cityofgadsden.com.
For community members needing computer access to view the Site webpage, please visit the Gadsden Public Library branches at the addresses below:
Main Branch
254 South College Street
Gadsden, AL 35901
Genealogy Branch
2700 West Meighan Boulevard
Gadsden, AL 35904
A Community Involvement Plan (CIP) (pdf) has been developed for the Techtrix, Inc. Site. It specifies EPA-planned community involvement activities to address community needs, concerns and expectations identified through community interviews and other means. The CIP provides the backbone of the community involvement program and serves as a useful reference that the Site Team may turn to during the cleanup for advice on appropriate activities for community involvement.
View the Administrative Record, which announces the time critical removal action and other Site-related documents.