At times, things go wrong even when you try with all your might to ensure they are right. In the 1970s, Times Beach, a small town in Missouri, attempted to solve a common problem on its dirt roads by spreading residual oil to control dust.
Years later, officials discovered that some of the material contained dioxin, a highly toxic substance. The discovery of dioxin-laden oil on roads and other locations eventually led to the permanent relocation of the Times Beach population. The situation became even more serious after a severe flood of the Meramec River in December 1982.
With the town flooded and contamination already identified, federal authorities advised residents not to return.
Dioxin-Laden Oil Was Used to Control Dust
Times Beach was located in St. Louis County, approximately 20 miles, or about 32 kilometres, southwest of St. Louis. Its unpaved streets were treated with residual oil as a way to reduce dust created by passing vehicles.
According to historical information published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), oil haulier Russell Bliss was hired in the early 1970s to remove waste from a chemical plant in Verona, Missouri.
Some of the waste contained 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, commonly known as TCDD, a particularly toxic form of dioxin. Bliss mixed the contaminated material with waste oil, which was eventually used for dust control.
The resulting dioxin-laden oil was spread across more than 25 locations in Missouri, including dirt roads, horse trails, and Times Beach. Investigators later determined that the dioxin-laden oil had been distributed across multiple locations, creating a contamination problem that would take decades to resolve.
The EPA classifies the dioxin involved in the incident as highly toxic and has associated exposure with various health effects.
Early Signs of Environmental Damage
The first serious signs of contamination appeared away from Times Beach.
In 1971, more than 40 horses died at Shenandoah Stables, one of the properties where Bliss had spread the material. Birds, dogs, and cats were also found dead, while a six-year-old girl became seriously ill.
The deaths and illnesses raised serious questions about the effects of the dioxin-laden oil that had been applied to properties in the area. Subsequent investigations linked these incidents to dioxin contamination.
In March 1982, the EPA received records from the then-Centers for Disease Control (CDC) concerning dioxin contamination in Missouri. The agency subsequently began developing plans to analyze several locations across the state.
In November of that year, Times Beach residents were alerted to the possibility that their streets could also be contaminated. The EPA began collecting and analyzing soil samples.
It was at this point that a natural disaster made the situation significantly worse.
The 1982 Flood Changed Everything
In December 1982, a record flood struck the Meramec River. Times Beach was inundated, forcing residents to leave their homes.
The contamination itself was not caused by the flood. Dioxin-laden oil had already been applied to the town’s streets years earlier. However, authorities feared that floodwater could spread the contaminated material throughout the community and increase the potential for exposure.
Because of the potential risk, the EPA and CDC recommended that Times Beach not be permanently inhabited again.
The flood effectively transformed an existing environmental contamination problem into a major public health and relocation crisis.
$33.1 Million Was Allocated for Relocation
The situation took a definitive turn on February 22, 1983.
On that day, the EPA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the state of Missouri announced resources for the permanent relocation of Times Beach residents.
An official EPA statement released in February 1983 said the decision followed an analysis of extensive soil samples by the CDC, which concluded that the contamination represented a continuing threat to residents’ health.
Approximately 255 samples collected after the flood were analyzed. In streets, shoulders, and ditches, measured concentrations ranged from non-detectable levels to 100 parts per billion.
Some backyards and one residence showed concentrations greater than 1 part per billion and less than 5 parts per billion.
The findings reinforced concerns about the long-term risks associated with the dioxin-laden oil that had been used for dust control.
The then-EPA Administrator Anne M. Burford announced the transfer of $33.1 million from the Superfund to FEMA to help fund the relocation.
Missouri would participate in implementing the relocation program and cover 10% of the costs under the rules established for the operation.
According to the EPA’s historical account, Times Beach had more than 2,000 residents. The relocation plan involved purchasing approximately 800 residential properties and 30 commercial establishments.
Relocating Residents Was Only the Beginning
Moving the residents did not eliminate the contamination.
In 1988, the EPA approved a temporary incinerator in Times Beach to treat contaminated materials from the former town and other locations in eastern Missouri.
Two years later, in 1990, an agreement established responsibilities for the cleanup. Contaminated soil from other sites would be excavated and transported to Times Beach, while remnants of the former town, including structures and debris, would also be processed.
Full-scale operation of the incinerator began in March 1996 and continued until June 1997.
The cleanup demonstrated the enormous scale of the contamination caused by the dioxin-laden oil incident and the extensive effort required to make the former town site safe.
More Than 265,000 Tons of Contaminated Material Were Treated
EPA records show that approximately 265,354 tons of dioxin-contaminated material from 27 sites in eastern Missouri were treated during the cleanup.
Of that total, 37,234 tons came directly from Times Beach.
This distinction is important because the more than 265,000 tons often mentioned in connection with the Times Beach cleanup did not all originate within the town itself.
The remaining material was transported from other contaminated locations across the region and treated at the incinerator established in Times Beach.
Much of the contaminated material ultimately treated during the cleanup was connected to the broader distribution of dioxin-laden oil across eastern Missouri.
An EPA historical report concerning the removal of Times Beach from the Superfund priority list also states that solid waste produced by the incineration process was deposited on-site after testing confirmed that the required treatment levels had been achieved.
From Abandoned Town to State Park
After the cleanup was completed, Times Beach underwent a dramatic transformation.
Homes and other structures were demolished. Residents and businesses were relocated, and the former town site underwent extensive restoration.
In September 1999, Missouri announced the opening of Route 66 State Park on the land once occupied by Times Beach.
The EPA reports that the park covers approximately 409 acres, or about 1.65 square kilometres. It was named after the historic Route 66 highway that passes through the region.
The former town no longer exists as a residential community, but its history remains connected to one of the most notable environmental cleanup operations in the United States.
Times Beach Was Removed From the Superfund List
On September 25, 2001, Times Beach was officially removed from the National Priorities List, the federal list of sites targeted for cleanup under the Superfund program.
The EPA and the state of Missouri concluded that the site no longer posed a significant threat to public health or the environment and that no further remediation measures were required.
Today, Route 66 State Park occupies much of the former town site.
The story of Times Beach remains a powerful reminder of how an attempt to solve an everyday problem, such as controlling dust on dirt roads, can have devastating long-term consequences when hazardous materials are involved.
What began with the use of dioxin-laden oil eventually resulted in the evacuation of a community of more than 2,000 people, a $33.1 million federal relocation effort, and one of the largest environmental cleanup operations in Missouri.
Jagroop Singh is a seasoned tech journalist, digital content strategist, and niche publisher specializing in breaking down complex technical frameworks and emerging digital media trends into actionable, consumer-friendly insights.