On July 30, 2024, the EPA and the city of St. Joseph entered into a Prospective Purchaser Agreement (PPA). The PPA required performance of a cleanup action at the property to resolve the city’s liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The city purchased the property on Nov. 21, 2024, initiating the effective date of the PPA and establishing the timetable for completion of the work pursuant to the PPA.
An Enforcement Action Memorandum was approved Feb. 24, 2025, authorizing a Removal Action (led by the potentially responsible party) to address the hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants present at the site. The objective of the Removal Action was to implement Institutional Controls (IC), asbestos-containing building material abatement, building demolition, disposal of all generated waste, and installation of a protective cap (in the form of a parking lot). EPA performed oversight of the work performed by the city to ensure site activities do not result in any further release of CERCLA-hazardous substances to the surrounding community.
On July 7, 2025, an On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) and a START contractor mobilized to the site to oversee operations performed by the city of St. Joseph contractors including establishing security fencing surrounding the site, staging of equipment, and planning for demolition activities. From July 8, 2025 to Aug. 29, 2025, contractors performed activities outlined in the EPA approved work plan. Following completion of the site work, perimeter fencing was removed and all remaining equipment was demobilized from the site.
On Oct. 13, 2025, the city of St. Joseph provided the final report to the EPA for review. EPA performed review and provided comments on November 4, 2025. EPA received the updated final report on Nov. 14, 2025, and approved it on Nov. 17, 2025, documenting the completion of the removal action.
Site Background
The HPI South Eighth Street Site includes property addresses 408 and 424 South 8th Street and consisted of an unoccupied commercial building and an asphalt parking lot. The property had historically been occupied by a lumberyard, a car dealership, and a service garage. The most recent usage of the property was as a chemical mixing and storage facility for HPI Products, Inc. HPI and the site have been subject to an EPA enforcement order that required cleanup and disposal of leaking and improperly stored hazardous waste. HPI completed disposal of hazardous waste containers but did not complete site characterization.
EPA targeted brownfields assessments (TBAs) conducted at the property documented releases of CERCLA hazardous substances and the presence of asbestos-containing building material (ACBM) and lead-based paint containing building materials (LBP) as well as universal wastes including fluorescent light ballasts containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB).
