Timeline

Vertac was a chemical manufacturing company that produced pesticides in Jacksonville, Arkansas during the 1970s and 1980s.

• 1939: World War II begins.

• 1941: The United States enters World War II. The Arkansas Ordnance Plant is built and in operation.

• 1945: World War II ends. The AOP ceases operations and closes.

• 1946: The AOP site is marked for sale.

• 1948: The AOP site is sold to the Reasor-Hill Company, a pesticide producer.

• 1955: The Vietnam War begins.

• 1961: The site is sold to the Hercules Powder Company, a pesticide producer.

• 1975: The Vietnam War ends.

• 1976: The site is leased to Transvaal Incorporated, another chemical manufacturer. 

• 1978: Transvaal declares bankruptcy, and is reorganized into the Vertac Chemical Corporation.

• 1979: The Environmental Protection Agency investigates Vertac and finds drums releasing hazardous chemicals. Vertac is banned from producing the chemical 2, 4, 5-T. Life Magazine calls Jacksonville a ‘poisoned town’ in the October edition.

• 1983: The EPA places the site on the National Priorities Listing.

• 1987: Vertac declares bankruptcy. Control is handed over to Hercules, Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology, and the EPA.

• 1989: In July the disposal of waste was contracted out to MK Environmental Services Inc.

• 1998: Remedial action by the EPA is completed at the site.