At 1199 Warford Street (83 acres), Velsicol Chemical was a manufacturer of chemicals & pesticides. They both spilled onsite and dumped toxic wastewater into Cypress Creek, contaminating the backyards of neighborhoods downstream for decades. Full remediation of the site and Cypress Creek has yet to occur. Velsicol, who continues to broker chemicals now made in China, filed for bankruptcy in 2023.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is hosting public hearings to discuss the company's transition to the Superfund program and the state entering into a settlement agreement with Velsicol to transfer the Velsicol facility to an environmental response trust. TDEC invites the public to submit comments on this proposal during a 45-day comment period ending on July 21, 2025.
Find more details on Velsicol's history and the settlement information here.
A virtual public hearing will be held on Monday, June 30, 2025. An information session will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., CDT. The formal hearing will begin at 11:30 a.m., CDT, with a presentation from TDEC on the terminated permit and Velsicol settlement. Those who wish to join the public hearing virtually can do so by using the following link: tn.gov/environment/notices/velsicol/public-hearing.
An in-person public hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library at 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38111. An information session will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., CDT, for the public to inspect the draft documents with representatives from TDEC. The formal hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m., CDT with a presentation from TDEC on the terminated permit and Velsicol settlement. After the presentation, TDEC will receive oral comments from the public that will be recorded. The public may submit written comments at the meeting.
