Site Summary
For several decades, the Kettleworth Plating plant near Main Street and NE 14th Street finished metal parts until it closed in the early 2000s. Solvents released at the plant contaminated the soil and groundwater beneath it, and dozens of nearby homes sit over the affected area. Chemical vapors can move up through the soil and collect inside buildings.
EPA has tested soil gas and indoor air in homes and businesses in the neighborhood, and some buildings had measurable trichloroethylene (TCE) indoors.
EPA has offered vapor mitigation systems to eligible homes ever since, and that offer still stands. The vapors are not a concern outdoors; the risk exists only inside buildings that sit above the contaminated groundwater. People living within the plume should not drink well water and should rely on city tap water, which is fully safe. The city's goal is for every home in the area of concern to allow EPA indoor testing, so each household can learn whether a mitigation system is needed to protect the people who live there. Homes located directly over the plume can receive a system without being tested first. Federal Superfund funding will pay for additional testing and for cleanup of the soil and groundwater. EPA also maintains a detailed online profile of the site.
Public Meeting
Most recent meeting: April 9, 2026, at the Cobble Street Life Center (see the meeting listing).
Next meeting: to be announced. Updates will be posted here.
EPA Milestones
| Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
| Initial assessment | Complete |
| Listed on the National Priorities List | Complete |
| Remedial investigation | Complete |
| Remedy chosen | Complete |
| Remedial action | Pending |
| Construction | Pending |
| Deletion from the National Priorities List | Pending |
| Five-year review | Pending |
| Site ready for reuse | Pending |
Most Recent EPA Work at the Site
EPA has finished field tests of possible cleanup methods in the most contaminated area, and a study now supports an interim cleanup decision.
Public Information Repository
EPA has set aside space where the public can review records about the Superfund work at this site:
Cobble Street Library (inside the Cobble Street Life Center)
2760 Cobble Street, Fredville, TX 75999
Phone: (555) 010-9170
Common Questions
How can my home get a vapor mitigation system? Call the EPA remedial project manager at (555) 010-4993, or email the city's environmental quality staff at [email protected].
Can a tenant approve installing a mitigation system? No. Only the property owner can authorize the installation, so renters are encouraged to talk with their landlords about it.
What comes next for the Kettleworth Plating Superfund Site? EPA and TCEQ met with residents on April 9, 2026, at the Cobble Street Life Center to review the Remedial Investigation and the cleanup approach selected for the source area. Updates will be posted here as they become available.
Fact Sheets
English
- Preliminary Assessment Report (PDF)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) Fact Sheet (PDF)
- TCE: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- Vapor Intrusion Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Vapor Investigation Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Job Safety Fact Sheet (PDF)
- About the State Health Assessment and Toxicology Program (PDF)
Spanish
- Hoja informativa sobre el tricloroetileno (PDF)
- Preguntas frecuentes sobre el tricloroetileno (PDF)
- Hoja informativa sobre la intrusión de vapores (PDF)
- Hoja informativa sobre la investigación de vapores (PDF)
- Hoja informativa sobre la seguridad en el trabajo (PDF)
Reports
- Kettleworth Plating Interim Record of Decision (PDF)
Contacts
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
- Remedial Project Manager, Superfund Remediation: (555) 010-4993
- Acting Section Chief, Regional Outreach and Community Involvement: (555) 010-9569
State Health Department (Texas Department of State Health Services)
- Health Educator, Environmental Surveillance and Toxicology Branch (Health Assessment and Toxicology Program): (555) 010-5731
- Toxicologist, Health Assessment and Toxicology Program (Community Health Improvement Division): (555) 010-7989
City of Fredville
- Director of Health and Environment, 100 Civic Center Drive, 2nd Floor, Fredville, TX 75999: (555) 010-7740
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.