The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to remove four contaminated sites in the Southeast from the federal Superfund cleanup list, signaling that decades-long remediation work at the locations may finally be complete.

The sites — located in Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky — are being proposed for deletion from the National Priorities List (NPL), the federal roster of the nation’s most contaminated properties requiring long-term cleanup under the Superfund program.

If finalized after a public comment period, the move would mark the end of federal cleanup oversight for the sites, though some monitoring and land-use controls could continue depending on local conditions.

The four sites include:

• Miami Drum Services (Miami, Florida) – A 1.2-acre property added to the Superfund list in 1983 because of contaminated soil and groundwater linked to industrial activities. The site is now owned by the Miami-Dade Transit Authority and used as a train maintenance facility.
  
  
• Pepper Steel & Alloys (Medley, Florida) – A 25-acre site contaminated by industrial operations that had been listed since 1984. Cleanup efforts addressed polluted soil and other environmental concerns.
  
  
• Diamond Shamrock Landfill (Cedartown, Georgia) – Placed on the list in 1990 after groundwater contamination was discovered from the disposal of waste oil and chemical byproducts.
  
  
• Caldwell Lace Leather Company (Auburn, Kentucky) – A 57-acre site where soil and groundwater contamination was linked to historical waste handling practices. Investigations determined that no additional Superfund cleanup actions were required, though monitoring and land-use controls were recommended.

Superfund deletions typically occur after EPA determines that cleanup work has reduced environmental risks to levels considered protective of human health and the environment.

In many cases, however, the end of Superfund listing doesn’t necessarily mean contamination has completely disappeared. Instead, it often means remediation systems, monitoring programs, or land-use restrictions are in place to manage any remaining contamination.

The Superfund program, created in 1980, has overseen the cleanup of thousands of contaminated sites across the country, many tied to legacy industrial practices that predated modern environmental regulations. Cleanup efforts can take decades as agencies investigate pollution, identify responsible parties, and complete remediation work.

EPA officials say removing sites from the list can help communities move forward with redevelopment. Former industrial properties often remain stigmatized as long as they stay on the federal cleanup roster, which can discourage investment or reuse.

At the same time, some environmental advocates note that redevelopment after Superfund cleanup often requires careful oversight, particularly when sites transition into commercial or industrial use.

For now, the EPA’s proposal opens a 30-day public comment period after publication in the Federal Register.