Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust LLC — trustee of the Multistate Environmental Response Trust — owns and is responsible for managing and cleaning up the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp – Columbus Superfund Site in Columbus, Mississippi.

The Multistate Environmental Response Trust (Multistate Trust) is working to address contamination at the ±89-acre former Kerr-McGee Site in Columbus (the Site). The Multistate Trust is a private, independent trust created as part of a bankruptcy settlement and dedicated to:

• Protecting human health and the environment

• Facilitating the safe, beneficial redevelopment of the Site

• Providing opportunities for meaningful community involvement

As part of redevelopment planning efforts, the Multistate Trust is also seeking interest from future potential owners who would facilitate safe, beneficial, community-supported reuses of the Site.

EPA Held Public Meeting for OU5 Proposed Plan August 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), together with the Multistate Trust and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, hosted a public meeting on August 6 to discuss the Revised Proposed Plan for cleanup of Operable Unit 5 (OU5) at the Site. OU5 is the Northern Former Main Plant Area.

The 30-day public comment period was updated to run from August 5 to September 4, 2025.

See OU5 Revised Proposed Plan fact sheet or the OU5 Revised Proposed Plan for more information.

Site Funding and Transition Plan

Work at the Columbus Site is currently going through a transition because there are limited funds remaining in the Multistate Trust cleanup account for the Site. The Multistate Trust, EPA, and MDEQ have developed a plan to ensure that environmental investigations and cleanup work continue after Multistate Trust funds are depleted.

EPA, MDEQ, and the Multistate Trust plan to perform future work using: remaining Multistate Trust funds. EPA funds, and MDEQ cost-sharing contributions.

Read more in our fact sheet here.

Ms. Dorothy McClung-Lewis Joins Multistate Trust Team as Community Liaison

As community liaison, Ms. Dorothy shares information with residents about the Multistate Trust’s work. She communicates with residents, assists with community meetings, and shares resident questions or concerns with the Multistate Trust. Ms. Dorothy will also be staffing the Community Resource Building (Tuesdays 8 a.m.–10 a.m. and Thursdays 12 noon–2 p.m.). 

Ms. Dorothy is a longtime Columbus resident. She is a retired teacher and an active member of the Stephen Chapel Baptist Church. Ms. Dorothy can be reached at 601-940-7229 or dorothym.lewis@comcast.net. 

Community Resource Building is Open

Stop by the Multistate Trust’s Community Resource Building to get information and materials, ask questions about our work, or provide suggestions. Enter our parking lot from North 21st Street near 14th Avenue North.

Location: 2300 14th Avenue North
Hours: Tuesdays 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. and
Thursdays 12 noon - 2 p.m.

Recent Activities

City of Columbus stormwater drainage ditch looking southeast toward Waterworks Rd
before and after removal action and ditch improvements.

Record of Decision for OU3

On September 30, 2024, EPA signed and finalized the Record of Decision (ROD) detailing the plan for remediating and addressing contamination at Operable Unit 3 of the Columbus Site. Read the ROD and see the ROD fact sheet. EPA is currently working on designing the remedy.

Pine Yard RegradinG

Contaminated soil and creosote have been removed from a portion of the 44-acre Pine Yard. In 2024, the Multistate Trust completed regrading and seeding most of the Pine Yard. An area in the southern part of the Pine Yard is now ready for reuse. Read our Fact Sheet about Pine Yard Soil Removal.

Remedial Action at Residential Properties

The Multistate Trust completed cleanup and final restoration at two residential properties near the Site. Read the Cleanup of Off-Site Property Surface Soil Fact Sheet.

DNAPL Removal and Reuse

The Multistate Trust removed ±9,500 gallons of dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contamination from the former main plant site and transported it for reuse as rotary kiln fuel in an off-site EPA-approved facility.

Phytoremediation

A variety of trees were planted at the Site in 2021 as part of a Phytoremediation Pilot Study by EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey to evaluate if tree groves can be used in combination with other cleanup actions to control groundwater movement and help maintain protective conditions. In 2024, phytoremediation was selected as a component of the Operable Unit 3 remedy.

In July 2022, the Tronox Tort Claims Trust sent the Multistate Trust a letter in response to Multistate Trust requests that Tronox Tort Claims Trust representatives participate in community meetings, meet with affected residents, and provide information about the claims process in an accessible way.

Contact Us

Questions or concerns? Contact Claire Morgan, Multistate Trust at cm@g-etg.com or (910) 765-7237.

Greenfield Environmental Trust Group, Inc. (Greenfield) is the sole member of Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust LLC. Visit the Greenfield Environmental Trust Group website.

About the Former Kerr-McGee Site in Columbus

The Site is located at 2300 14th Avenue North and consists of two parcels separated by 14th Avenue North. The former Main Plant Area occupies 45 acres south of 14th Avenue North. The 44-acre Pine Yard is north of 14th Avenue North.

In 1928, the T.J. Moss Tie Company started wood treating operations at the Site. Wood treating ended when the Kerr-McGee plant shut down in 2003.

During operations, chemicals were used to pressure-treat the raw timber for use as railroad ties and other wood products. The wood treating operations released creosote and other hazardous materials into the soil, stormwater ditch sediment, and groundwater at and around the Site.

Visit Superfund Cleanup and Site Overview to learn more.