Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Krejci Dump Cleanup is Complete, Site Fully Restored
From 1948 to 1980, the Krejci Dump was a waste disposal facility and salvage yard in Boston Township, Ohio. It is now part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. At the time, however, the site received all kinds of hazardous wastes from towns in the area, as well as numerous companies. Dumps were not regulated then and buried toxins seeped into the environment for decades.
After Cuyahoga Valley Nation Park acquired the site in 1985, the pollution’s scale soon became clear. Rangers even experienced headaches and got rashes as the result of exposure to toxic fumes.
Krejci Dump Site in 1985 – Credit: NPS Collection
An investigation was done, during which it was discovered that several major companies disposed industrial waste at the Krejci Dump. This included such behemoths as Ford Motor Company, Chevron, General Motors, Chrysler and 3M.
Toxins found at the site ranged from PCBs, dioxins and arsenic to paint, pesticides and herbicides. It was an absolute environmental disaster.
Krejci Dump Site in 1985 – Credit: NPS Collection 
Krejci Dump Site in 1985 – Credit: NPS Collection
The site’s huge level of contamination qualified it for cleanup under the Superfund Law, known officially as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). This made those companies liable for the cleanup costs.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Krejci Dump Restoration Project Is Complete
The national park closed the site in 1986 and began a massive restoration project. This was in collaboration with Ford Motor Company, the main company involved in the cleanup. In total, the responsible parties ended up paying $50 million to remove the toxic materials, restore and revegetate the site.
Krejci Dump Site Restoration Project in 2012 – Credit: NPS / Ted Toth
Now, after a multi-year cleanup process, the National Park Service and Ford have succeeded in cleaning up the former Krejci Dump site. On March 2, 2021, the NPS announced that the project is complete and the site fully restored. It’s now in a stable natural state, which should ensure its long-term success as a natural wetland and wildlife habitat.
The completion of the remediation and restoration work necessary to eliminate public health risks and the impairment of park resources marks a great achievement for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and everyone who has been involved in this long process. Together, we have completely removed one of the most toxic Superfund sites in the national park system and made it safe for the public to enjoy.
Lisa Petit, Acting Cuyahoga Valley National Park Superintendent
Krejci Dump in 2015 – Credit: NPS / Chris Davis 
Krejci Dump in 2015 – Credit: NPS / Chris Davis
By all accounts, this is a huge achievement. The success of this project shows the importance of protecting natural areas, as well as the amazing possibilities of purchasing and restoring polluted places.
The Krejci Dump in Cuyahoga Valley National Park site was almost incomprehensibly polluted when the NPS purchased it. Now, 35 years later, however it is a beautiful wetland once again.
When visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park, make sure to swing by this former waste disposal site. It’s a fantastic example of what can happen when parties as different as commercial companies and governmental institutions come together.
