COMMUNITY CLEANUP
PLAN, UNITED
HECKATHORN
SUPERFUND SITE
Richmond Shoreline Alliance
www.richmondshorelinealliance.org
July 7,
2026
City Council Ask
• Dangerous pesticide pollution remains in
and around the United Heckathorn
Superfund site.
• Richmond has waited decades for a
cleanup.
• EPA will release its own cleanup proposal
in late August 2026. This is a critical time
for the City to act.
• A strong resolution tells EPA: Richmond
expects a cleanup that protects public
health and addresses long-standing
environmental harm.
• Located along the Lauritzen Channel, off
Richmond’s Inner Harbor, near 4th St. and
Wright Ave., across Cutting Blvd. from the Santa
Fe neighborhood.
• The site covers about 20 acres. Most is under
water.
• Zoned commercial.
United Heckathorn
How the Pollution Started
• 1940s–1960s: United Heckathorn formulated and packaged pesticides, mainly DDT and dieldrin.
• These chemicals were widely used in agriculture and malaria control.
• Negligent operations at the site contaminated soil and the Lauritzen Channel.
Why It's a Health Risk
• EPA classifies DDT and dieldrin as probable human
carcinogens.
• Both chemicals banned in the U.S. since the 1970s, but remain dangerous because they don’t break down.
• These chemicals accumulate in fish and shellfish,
which creates a direct exposure risk when people eat
contaminated seafood.
• First cleanup leaves contamination in place, which spreads through marine environment.
• Samples from 2013 and 2016 found DDT and dieldrin far above acceptable levels.
• Cleanup fails for 3 reasons: flawed plan, insufficient oversight and QC, minimal community involvement.
• Cleanup fails to consider sea level and groundwater rise.
The First Cleanup Failed
What Richmond residents want
• Richmond residents need a complete,
permanent cleanup, not another
partial fix.
• The cleanup must recognize the
environmental justice burdens
Richmond residents have carried for
generations.
• A complete cleanup protects
residents now and keeps the problem
from passing to the next generation.
• Build a temporary waterproof barrier across
the mouth of the Lauritzen Channel, so water
can be pumped out.
• Work in relatively dry conditions, so crews can
remove contamination thoroughly and safely.
• Avoid underwater dredging, which can disturb
contaminated sediment and spread pollution.
Community Cleanup Strategy
What Must Be Removed
• Remove contaminated sediment and
all materials from the Lauritzen
Channel.
• Excavate the sides of the channel until
clean material is reached.
• Check, remove and sample pipes and
cavities so no contamination remains.
1. Isolate and drain
channel, remove
materials
1. Dispose of
contaminated
materials offsite.
1. Monitor fish and
shellfish after
cleanup.
1. Address
groundwater and
shoreline seeps.
*Goal: contamination
levels low enough for
insignificant risk
Cleanup Plan Requirements
1. Protect workers
affected by
cleanup activities.
Responsible Parties Must Pay
• Federal Superfund law: responsible
parties pay for cleanup, not
Richmond residents or the city.
• Cleanup responsibility includes
protecting workers during
construction and compensating them
for work stoppages caused by the
cleanup.
Why the Resolution
Matters • The City Council has a strong
voice with regulatory agencies.
• A resolution from Richmond
shows that local government
stands with the community’s
demand for a complete cleanup.
• This support matters before EPA
releases its proposed cleanup
plan in late August 2026.
Complete Cleanup
Facilitates Reuse
A complete and thorough cleanup
means:
• Area becomes a valuable resource
for Port, city, and business
• Modernization -> more commerce,
more revenue, more jobs
• Protects public health, advances
environmental justice, helps build a
resilient future for Richmond
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING.
QUESTIONS?
[email protected]
www.richmondshorelinealliance.org