An Introduction to the Multistate Trust
The Multistate Trust is a court-appointed environmental response trust created to own, investigate, clean up, and facilitate reuse of hundreds of former Kerr-McGee Corporation (Kerr-McGee) and Tronox Incorporated (Tronox) sites in 31 states.
To accomplish its purposes and to protect human health and the environment, the Multistate Trust closely collaborates with its federal and state governmental beneficiaries.
In 2011, the Multistate Trust was created as part of a court-approved Tronox bankruptcy settlement involving the U.S. government, 22 state governments, and other parties. The Multistate Trust was set up to address the vast majority of Kerr-McGee/Tronox’s historic environmental liabilities.
Our Beneficiaries and Regulatory Agencies
The Multistate Trust’s beneficiaries are the United States and 21 state governments. Depending on the site, a state or federal agency, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for multiple sites, is the lead regulatory agency responsible for approving site-specific budgets, cleanup plans, and contractors.
Both EPA, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the state government involved in each site (as well as natural resource trustees for two sites) must approve the sale, transfer, or disposition of all or any portion of a site.
Our Funding
The Multistate Trust received cleanup funds from the companies responsible for the contamination associated with the sites—not from the U.S. government or U.S. taxpayers.
Multistate Trust funds that were provided as part of the Tronox bankruptcy settlement included proceeds from a settlement of fraud claims against Kerr-McGee and related subsidiaries of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko Litigation).
In 2011, when the Multistate Trust was created, initial funding was provided to maintain the sites and other basic activities. In 2015 and 2016, the receipt of additional funds from the Anadarko Litigation allowed the Multistate Trust to begin proactively investigating and remediating its sites under the oversight of each site’s lead agency.
The Multistate Trust can use site-specific cleanup funds only for environmental actions, such as site investigations, studies, designs, remedy construction, operations, and maintenance.
Cleanup funds cannot be used for other purposes, including the redevelopment of the sites, or compensating people for health effects or property damage associated with the sites.
The Trustee
In 2011, Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust LLC was appointed trustee of the Multistate Trust.
The Multistate Trustee serves in this capacity through its corporate parent and sole member, Greenfield Environmental Trust Group, Inc. For more information, visit greenfieldenvironmental.com.
Timeline of the Multistate Trust
Timeline
2005–2006
Kerr-McGee created Tronox Incorporated (now known as Tronox Limited) and transferred contaminated properties to Tronox.
2009
Tronox filed for bankruptcy protection, mostly due to financial issues associated with Kerr-McGee’s past environmental liabilities.
2011
As part of the Tronox bankruptcy settlement, the Multistate Trust was established by a federal bankruptcy court to take charge of hundreds of former Kerr-McGee/Tronox properties with funding provided by Tronox. The Multistate Trust assumed responsibility for owning, investigating, cleaning up, and facilitating reuse of the sites.
2011–2015
Prior to receipt of meaningful funding from the Anadarko litigation, the Multistate Trust cared for the sites, primarily by operating 10 groundwater treatment facilities, maintaining access controls, mowing grass, and performing other basic activities.
2015
Beginning in 2015, significant, site-specific cleanup funds finally became available when the Multistate Trust received a majority of cleanup funds from the Anadarko litigation, which enabled the Multistate Trust to begin actively conducting site investigations to better understand the extent and risk of contamination and to plan for and implement remedial actions.
2016
The Multistate Trust constructed the 7th Avenue Ditch in Columbus, MS, and supported EPA-issuance of a Record of Decision in Jacksonville, FL. We also removed almost 44,000 tons of waste from our sites in Sauget, IL, Soda Springs, ID, and Rome, NY.
2017
The Multistate Trust substantially completed demolition of all former process buildings and equipment in Mobile, AL, and performed extensive site investigations in Navassa, NC, Jacksonville, FL, Mobile, AL, and Rome, NY.
2018
The Multistate Trust removed a 10-acre pond and demolished all process facilities in Soda Springs, ID, and completed IOX impoundment investigations in Mobile, AL and soil vapor intrusion studies in Madison, IL.
2019
The Multistate Trust constructed an on-site repository in Soda Springs, ID, substantially completed the Pine Yard Removal Action in Columbus, MS, performed preliminary design studies in Jacksonville, FL, and disposed of 140 tons of radiation waste in Mobile, AL.
2020
The Multistate Trust finished closure design of the IOX impoundments in Mobile, AL, supported EPA issuance of Records of Decision in Navassa, NC, and Columbus, MS, completed the RCRA Facility Investigation in Meridian, MS, and initiated the final soil removal action in Cushing, OK.
2021
The Multistate Trust completed former process area investigations and initiated IOX impoundment closure in Mobile, AL, cleaned up residential yards and constructed the Moss Street Ditch in Columbus, MS, funded City repair of sewer lines in Springfield, MO, completed remediation and received a no-further-action letter for Corpus Christi, TX, and remediated 14 residential yards in Caselton, NV. The Multistate Trust also formally implemented its Environmental Justice Program, chartering an 8-member Environmental Justice Advisory Board.
The Multistate Trust completed excavating and removing creosote-related contamination on public housing property in Bossier City, LA, began the in-place closure and remediation of the IOX impoundments and former process area in Mobile, AL, supported EPA’s issuance of a Proposed Plan to amend the Record of Decision in Soda Springs, ID, completed a $40 million remedial action in Cushing, OK, and convened a Reuse Advisory Council to support redevelopment planning in Navassa, NC.
2022
Our Documents
The following are Multistate Trust governing documents and other materials that help explain how our organization works. Click the links below to view and download the PDFs.
Helpful Links
Links to information that may be useful: