Paint waste found at the site was from the Chrysler Motors plant located in Fenton, Missouri. The dumping occurred for at least 5 years between 1957 and 1967. The site contained hardened blue-gray paint sludge in the soil, at an average depth of 3 feet, and decaying drums in an old creek channel paralleling a tributary flowing into Fenton Creek. The estimated areal extent of the paint waste disposal area was 22,500 sq. ft. Adjacent to the paint waste, solid waste consisting of metallic debris, glass, concrete, plastic, tires, household waste, and other non putrescible constituents was disposed, The areal extent of the solid waste was estimated to be 35,000 sq. ft. Within the extent of the paint and solid waste area, there were identified non-native surficial soils consisting of black to brown granular materials containing soil, ash, metal, and glass debris. The areal extent of the site that was affected during remediation was approximately 2.5 acres; the areal extent of the contaminated land was approximately 1.3 acres.

Soil and sludge samples from on-site were collected along with water and sediment samples from the tributary and Fenton Creek. Constituents found in the soil and sludge samples include di-n-butylphthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, xylenes, toluene, ethylbenzene, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium, arsenic, mercury, silver, and zinc. Pre-flood 1993 sediment samples from the tributary exhibited detectable levels of barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium, arsenic, silver, and zinc. Zinc was also detected in surface water samples from the tributary and at the confluence of the tributary and Fenton Creek. Postflood 1993 sample collection data suggests that the site may have contributed bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, chromium, and arsenic to Fenton Creek. The key contaminants of concern on-site, which triggered an EPA removal action, were high concentrations (exceedance of federal site screening standards) of arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, and zinc, and the ignitability of the paint sludge due to the organic chemicals detected.