MOORESVILLE, IN | October 2026
A major environmental cleanup has been successfully completed at 310 Indianapolis Road in Mooresville, addressing decades-old industrial groundwater contamination and marking an important milestone in the community's environmental stewardship and future redevelopment.
The project, representing an estimated $750,000 investment in environmental investigation and cleanup, was made possible through a unique partnership between former property owner Jerry Smith and Sunco Properties, along with the efforts of environmental professionals, legal counsel, and the recovery of historical insurance coverage. The active remediation program was completed on October 7, 2026, with initial groundwater testing already showing encouraging reductions in contamination. While continued monitoring and regulatory review remain ahead, the completion of active treatment represents a major accomplishment for the property owners involved and the Town of Mooresville.
A Legacy Problem Discovered During Redevelopment
The contamination was discovered during environmental due diligence associated with Sunco Properties' acquisition of the former industrial property at 310 Indianapolis Road. Environmental investigations identified perchloroethylene (PCE), a solvent historically used in manufacturing and industrial cleaning operations, in groundwater beneath the property. Further testing revealed that the contamination had migrated beyond the original property, creating a groundwater plume approximately 600 feet long and affecting an estimated 100,000 square feet. The contamination was associated with historical industrial activity rather than the current ownership or operations. The discovery presented a major challenge to the property transaction, but also an opportunity to address an environmental issue that had existed beneath the surface for many years.
Protecting Mooresville's Environment
Perhaps the greatest significance of the cleanup is what it helps prevent. Environmental studies confirmed that contaminated groundwater was migrating southeast, generally toward the East Fork of White Lick Creek corridor. Had the contamination remained untreated, it could have continued migrating through groundwater toward additional properties and environmentally sensitive areas. The proximity of underground utilities and stormwater infrastructure also raised concerns about potential pathways through which contamination could spread beyond the original site, including toward surrounding developed and residential areas.
Although the investigations have not established that contamination reached White Lick Creek, entered the stormwater system, or affected nearby homes, the potential for continued migration made this an important environmental problem to address. By treating the contamination, the parties involved have taken meaningful action to reduce those long-term risks rather than leaving the problem for future property owners or generations to confront.
A Partnership Built on Trust and Shared Responsibility
One of the most important parts of this project is the cooperation that made it possible. When contamination was identified, former property owner Jerry Smith and Sunco Properties faced a difficult situation. Environmental investigation, regulatory oversight, legal representation, insurance recovery, and remediation can be complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. These challenges can easily prevent property transactions and redevelopment efforts from moving forward.
Rather than allowing the discovery to bring the process to a halt, Smith and Sunco worked together to find a responsible path forward. The partnership required both parties to make early financial commitments to environmental investigation and legal representation, long before historical insurance coverage was secured to help pay for the cleanup. Smith has emphasized that the cooperative relationship with Sunco was central to his willingness to undertake the process together.
Statement from Jerry Smith:
“When we discovered the environmental issue, we knew it was going to take time, money, and a tremendous amount of cooperation to work through it. Having a partner like Sunco made all the difference. We had confidence that we could work through the challenges together, and I am proud of what we've been able to accomplish for this property and for Mooresville.”
The shared commitment to finding a solution allowed the project to move forward despite the significant environmental and financial challenges.
Recovering Historical Insurance Coverage
An important part of the cleanup effort involved identifying historical insurance policies that could provide coverage for the legacy environmental contamination.
Environmental attorney Nick Gahl of Gahl Legal Group worked through the complex legal, regulatory, and insurance issues associated with the property. Through these efforts, historical insurance coverage was identified to fund the majority of the environmental cleanup costs. However, this was not an immediate or effortless solution.
Smith and Sunco made financial commitments during the early stages of legal representation and environmental investigation, allowing the work to continue while insurance matters were being addressed.
This cooperation, along with the efforts of legal counsel and environmental professionals, helped make the substantial cleanup financially achievable.
Environmental Remediation Completed October 7, 2026
Terra Environmental Corporation of Brownsburg, Indiana, led the environmental investigation and remediation program. The effort involved extensive groundwater testing, soil investigations, evaluation of contaminant migration, and development of a treatment program coordinated with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).
Beginning in August 2026, Terra implemented a chemical injection remediation program designed to break down chlorinated solvents within the contaminated groundwater. The active treatment program was successfully completed on October 7, 2026. Initial groundwater samples collected October 2 showed encouraging reductions in chlorinated solvent concentrations, and the treatment is expected to continue working over the coming months.
The project has now transitioned into post-remediation monitoring, with quarterly groundwater sampling anticipated over approximately the next two years. IDEM will continue reviewing the results and determining when the property meets the requirements for regulatory closure.
A Significant Win for Mooresville
The successful completion of the active cleanup provides meaningful benefits to the community.
Protecting the Environment: Treating a significant groundwater contamination plume reduces the potential for continued migration toward surrounding properties and sensitive environmental areas.
Addressing Historical Industrial Impacts: The project confronts a legacy environmental condition instead of allowing it to remain an unresolved problem for future generations.
Private-Sector Cooperation: The collaboration between Smith and Sunco demonstrates how property owners can work together to address difficult environmental challenges.
Utilizing Historical Insurance Resources: Recovering available insurance coverage allowed substantial environmental work to proceed without requiring a new Town-funded cleanup program.
Supporting Future Redevelopment: Resolving the contamination is an important step toward preparing the Indianapolis Road and Bridge Street corridor for future investment and productive reuse.
Preparing the Property for a New Chapter
Over the past several years, Sunco has been assembling properties and studying redevelopment opportunities along the Indianapolis Road corridor. The larger vision includes new housing, neighborhood commercial opportunities, improved connectivity, and enhancements to one of Mooresville's important gateways.
But meaningful redevelopment often begins long before new construction. It begins with addressing aging infrastructure, challenging site conditions, and environmental problems left behind by previous generations of industrial activity. These investments are often invisible to the public, but they are essential to preparing properties for responsible future use. The environmental cleanup at 310 Indianapolis Road represents an important step in that process.
Recognizing the People Behind the Progress
This accomplishment reflects the cooperation and commitment of several parties who helped navigate a difficult environmental project.
Special recognition is extended to Jerry Smith, former property owner, for his willingness to work collaboratively through the investigation, insurance recovery, and remediation process.
Sunco Properties helped advance the project through its acquisition, early financial participation, and ongoing commitment to responsible redevelopment.
Nick Gahl and Gahl Legal Group provided legal and environmental regulatory coordination and helped pursue the historical insurance coverage necessary to make the cleanup possible.
Terra Environmental Corporation, including its environmental investigation and remediation team, developed and executed the cleanup program.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management provided regulatory oversight throughout the process.
Together, these efforts turned a complicated environmental challenge into measurable progress.
A Reason to Be Proud
Environmental contamination from past industrial activities is a challenge faced by communities throughout Indiana. Too often, such conditions can remain unresolved for years because of the financial, technical, and legal difficulties associated with cleanup. At 310 Indianapolis Road, the people involved chose to work together toward a solution. A significant groundwater remediation program has been completed. Initial results are encouraging. A legacy environmental concern is being addressed. And an important property in Mooresville is moving closer to a productive new future.
There is still environmental monitoring and regulatory work ahead, but this milestone deserves recognition. It is an example of what can be accomplished when property owners, private businesses, environmental professionals, and regulatory agencies work together toward a common goal.
Most importantly, it is a meaningful victory for Mooresville and the generations who will call this community home.