Cleanups in Arkansas

• Brownfields
• Federal Facilities Base Closure
• Land Revitalization
• Hazardous Waste
• Ready for Reuse
• Superfund Redevelopment
• Superfund Sites

Base Closure

In 1988, Congress established a process to realign and close surplus military property and return the property for local economic development. The process required the President to establish the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. The Secretary of Defense proposed a list of bases for closure and realignment. The Commission held public hearings and reported its findings to the President. The President had 15 days to approve or disapprove. After approval, the recommendations were sent to Congress, which had 45 days to disapprove or the recommendations became law. There have been five Base Closure rounds: 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 2005.

The latest round of Closures includes two major facilities in Arkansas: Former Eaker Air Force Base and the Fort Chaffee Army Training Facility

Federal Facilities/Base Closures in Arkansas

• Eaker Air Force Base, Blytheville, AR
• Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith, AR

Land Revitalization

Land Revitalization (LR) efforts revive previously contaminated properties back into productive uses such as public parks, restoring wetlands and establishing new businesses. Revitalizing previously contaminated properties helps reinvigorate communities, preserve greenspace, and prevent sprawl.

To learn more about land revitalization, visit the Land and Revitalization webpage.

Hazardous Waste

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program requires investigation and cleanup of releases of hazardous wastes and hazardous constituents that pose an unacceptable risk at RCRA hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities. Facility evaluations, conducted by EPA or the State, are based on human health and environmental risks posed by actual or potential releases to the environment, potential migration pathways, target receptors, and waste characteristics. EPA and the States designate facilities as either High, Medium, or Low priority.

The EPA South Central Region (Region 6) developed a Corrective Action Strategy (CAS) guideline to accelerate corrective action at RCRA facilities. 

EPA announces billions in Economic Benefits from Resource Conservation and Recovery Act cleanups at hazardous waste facilities across the nation

EPA has developed a new 2030 Vision, Mission, and Goals for the RCRA Corrective Action program. RCRA Corrective Action cleanups support healthy and sustainable communities where people and the environment are protected from hazardous contamination today and into the future.

Ready for Reuse encourages cleanups that will quickly support protective redevelopment opportunities. As part of this Program, EPA and/or the states provide a regulatory "determination" that affirms that the conditions on the site are protective of human health and the environment based on the current and planned future use(s) of the property.

View a complete list of Site-Specific Determinations in Arkansas.

Superfund Redevelopment

Superfund Redevelopment in Arkansas helps local communities return contaminated Superfund sites to safe and productive uses. EPA is working with these communities and other stakeholders - prospective purchasers, local governments - to consider reuse opportunities and to integrate appropriate reuse options into the cleanup process. Learn more about Superfund Redevelopment Initiative.

Sites in Reuse in Arkansas

• Jacksonville Municipal Landfill, Jacksonville
• Mid-South Wood Products, Mena
• Mountain Pine Pressure Treating, Plainview
• Vertac, Inc., Jacksonville

Superfund Sites

Superfund is the federal government's program to clean up the nation's uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. EPA is committed to ensuring that these hazardous waste sites are cleaned up to protect the environment and the health of all Americans.

Superfund Sites in Arkansas