Sites tracked in EPA's Superfund program — from assessment-stage CERCLIS entries to confirmed National Priorities List cleanup sites.
Total Sites
15K
EPA FRS CERCLIS
Search Radius
1.2 mi
Per-parcel proximity read
Agency
EPA
EPA FRS CERCLIS
About This Database
- Formal Name
- Superfund (CERCLIS/NPL)
- Program
- EPA FRS CERCLIS
- Maintaining Agency
- EPA
- Sites Tracked
- 14,809
What This Means for Growers
Superfund sites represent the most severe contamination in the federal system. Contaminants reach gardens through two primary pathways: groundwater migration (which can carry dissolved metals and solvents laterally for hundreds of meters) and direct soil contamination from historic dumping, spills, or airborne deposition. The EPA Hazard Ranking System (HRS) scores these sites based on confirmed contamination severity, and proximity alone warrants caution.
Leafy greens and root crops present the highest uptake risk because they directly contact or grow within contaminated soil. Professional soil testing is strongly recommended before any food production within 1.2 mi of an NPL site.
Crop Risk Assessment
Leafy greens
Lettuce, spinach, and kale accumulate heavy metals from soil and irrigation water through foliar uptake.
Root crops
Carrots, beets, and radishes grow directly in potentially contaminated soil, maximizing contact exposure.
Fruiting crops
Tomatoes, peppers, and squash have lower translocation factors but can still accumulate contaminants from soil.
Tree fruits
Deep root systems and bark barriers reduce contaminant translocation to fruit, but soil testing is still recommended.
Know Before You Grow — Mitigation Steps
- 1.Commission professional soil testing before any food production (test for heavy metals, VOCs, and SVOCs).
- 2.Use raised beds with imported clean soil and a geotextile barrier fabric to prevent root contact with native soil.
- 3.Test irrigation water source — municipal water is generally safe, but private wells near Superfund sites should be tested.
- 4.Check EPA site status — remediated sites with institutional controls may have reduced risk.
- 5.Avoid growing root crops or leafy greens in native soil within 0.6 mi of an active NPL site.
Top States for Superfund
| State | Sites | Density |
|---|---|---|
| California | 1,073 | 0.01 |
| New Jersey | 877 | 0.12 |
| New York | 738 | 0.02 |
| Michigan | 711 | 0.01 |
| Ohio | 669 | 0.02 |
| Illinois | 622 | 0.01 |
| Florida | 602 | 0.01 |
| Georgia | 521 | 0.01 |
| Texas | 480 | 0.00 |
| North Carolina | 464 | 0.01 |
| Indiana | 423 | 0.01 |
| Massachusetts | 417 | 0.05 |
| Pennsylvania | 393 | 0.01 |
| Washington | 329 | 0.01 |
| Alabama | 327 | 0.01 |
| Tennessee | 321 | 0.01 |
| Wisconsin | 314 | 0.01 |
| Alaska | 281 | 0.00 |
| Colorado | 281 | 0.00 |
| Connecticut | 279 | 0.06 |
Top Counties for Superfund
| County | State | Sites | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | CA | 305 | 0.08 |
| Wayne | MI | 223 | 0.36 |
| Cook | IL | 220 | 0.23 |
| Middlesex | MA | 105 | 0.13 |
| Essex | NJ | 102 | 0.81 |
| Middlesex | NJ | 101 | 0.33 |
| Harris | TX | 89 | 0.05 |
| Capitol | CT | 83 | 0.08 |
| Bergen | NJ | 81 | 0.35 |
| San Bernardino | CA | 80 | 0.00 |
| Hillsborough | FL | 78 | 0.08 |
| Fulton | GA | 75 | 0.14 |
| Pierce | WA | 75 | 0.04 |
| Cuyahoga | OH | 74 | 0.16 |
| Duval | FL | 72 | 0.09 |
| Miami-Dade | FL | 70 | 0.04 |
| Salt Lake | UT | 70 | 0.09 |
| Shelby | TN | 68 | 0.09 |
| Honolulu | HI | 67 | 0.11 |
| Morris | NJ | 67 | 0.15 |
Check Your Address for Superfund
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Superfund is one of 9 contamination databases we check per parcel. See the full picture for your land.
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