Cleanup Underway at Former Murphysboro Shoe Plant

EPA to remove asbestos and other hazardous materials from shuttered facility

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun a two-month project to remove asbestos-containing materials and other hazardous substances from the former Brown Shoe Company site in Murphysboro, Illinois. The cleanup effort comes after an Illinois EPA inspection in 2022 found debris, drums of unknown liquids, and industrial equipment that may contain mercury on the property.

Why it matters

The presence of asbestos and other toxins at the abandoned industrial site poses potential health risks to the local community. Proper remediation is necessary to protect public safety and the environment before the property can be redeveloped for new uses.

The details

EPA crews will wet down work areas to control dust and particulates, conduct air monitoring and sampling, and wear respirators and other protective gear due to the asbestos hazard. The agency will identify, consolidate, package, and properly dispose of the hazardous materials found on the site.

  • The cleanup project is expected to take about two months.
  • An Illinois EPA inspection in 2022 first identified the hazardous materials at the former shoe plant.

The players

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The federal agency responsible for overseeing the cleanup of the former Brown Shoe Company site in Murphysboro.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

The state agency that referred the site to the EPA after an inspection in 2022 found hazardous materials.

Brown Shoe Company

The former occupant of the Murphysboro facility, which produced leather shoes and gloves at the site from the early 1900s until its closure in 1976.

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What’s next

Following the cleanup, the property will be available for redevelopment, though specific plans have not been announced.

The takeaway

This remediation project highlights the ongoing challenges of revitalizing former industrial sites, where hazardous materials left behind can pose serious public health and environmental risks that must be addressed before the land can be repurposed.