EPA Adds Site in Albuquerque to the Superfund National Priorities List to Deliver Lasting Protections
DALLAS, TEXAS (July 8, 2025) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the agency is adding three sites to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) which includes Carlisle Village Cleaners in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The NPL is the list of sites of national priority that guide EPA in tackling the nation’s most serious hazardous waste sites.
“Cleaning up our nation’s Superfund sites provides tremendous health and economic benefits to local communities,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “We listened to these communities and using their input EPA determined the need to add these longtime contaminated sites to the National Priorities List. This action ensures we are working to provide clean air, land, and water for all Americans while Powering the Great American Comeback.”
“Today’s action by EPA is an important step in protecting the community surrounding the Carlisle Village Cleaners site from exposure to hazardous chemicals,” said Regional Administrator Scott Mason. “By adding the site to the National Priorities List, at the request of the New Mexico Environment Department, we are committing to working with the state to clean up this site and restore both environmental and economic vitality to the area.”
Carlisle Village Cleaners operated as a dry cleaner from 1953 through 1975 and used tetrachloroethene (PCE) and its byproduct, trichloroethene (TCE), which can travel through the soil and affect indoor air quality in buildings and homes. Several single-family and multi-family residences are located around the site along with various other commercial properties.
Since 2022, EPA and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) have been conducting indoor air sampling, installing air purifying units, and designing a Vapor Intrusion Mitigation System to identify and remove potential hazardous vapors from properties. With the assistance of NMED, EPA has identified 15 residential properties for VIMS installation and 6 commercial buildings for a soil vapor extraction system installation below ground surface. The installation of both the residential and commercial VIMS is scheduled to begin later this year. By adding this site to the NPL, EPA and state partners can use additional resources and funding to ensure these properties and nearby residents remain free of potential chemical exposure.
This actions support EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which guides EPA efforts to provide clean air, land, and water for all Americans by working to ensure that hazardous sites are cleaned up while also fostering economic growth across the country.
Background
The NPL serves as EPA’s basis for prioritizing Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases of hazardous substances at sites included on the list are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s risk thresholds and be proposed on the Federal Register, prompting a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.
Additionally, EPA strives to identify “Potentially Responsible Parties” who may also share the costs of cleaning up the contamination at NPL sites and conserve taxpayer dollars.
For information about Superfund and the National Priorities List, please visit: Superfund | US EPA
For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List sites, please visit: Superfund: National Priorities List (NPL) | US EPA
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