Project Profile: Conduct CERCLA Response at El Capitan

Fall Half Dome and the Merced River during sunset

NPS Photo

Inflation Reduction Act
Restoration | FY23 $4,200,000

The National Park Service (NPS) is exercising its authority under Section 104 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to conduct a critical response action at El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. This response action will remove tons of legacy contaminated soils and debris from a former waste dump, now referred to as the El Capitan Former Waste Disposal Area (Site), which was used between 1905 and 1930 by hotels and military camps.

Why? The Site poses a threat to human health and the environment, negatively affects an ancient Indian Village, is infiltrating groundwater and the Merced River, a National Wild and Scenic River, is crossed by the Valley Loop Trail, a significant trail for Yosemite Valley, and is situated beneath El Capitan, a prominent rock formation and one of the most popular feathers within the park. The response action will remove all legacy pollution and restore the Site to its original, unimpaired state, reflecting NPS's commitment to environmental preservation for present and future generations.

What Else? Beyond the removal of all contaminated soil and debris, the action includes field and lab analyses of soil samples to ensure a thorough understanding of the Site’s environmental impacts. Following removal, NPS will install five groundwater monitoring wells and year-long monitoring process to advance the goal of sustained health and ecological integrity within Yosemite National Park.

About the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act provides the National Park Service with an historic opportunity to address critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs. Projects funded in national parks represent broad-scale and impactful resource investments across every corner of out nation—from Alaska to Florida to Maine.