&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Escambia Treating Company Site
Remedial Action Update
Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida
October 2007
Remedial Action Kick-Off
Through the combined efforts of community
members and local, state, and federal officials, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
secured the necessary funding for implementing a
long-term remedy for soil contamination associated
with the Escambia Treating Company Superfund
Site (ETC Site). The cleanup will protect the
community from contamination and allow
community members to focus on redeveloping the
area.
On Tuesday, October 30, 2007, officials from EPA
Region 4, the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP), City of Pensacola, Escambia
County, and the State of Florida will participate in a
ground-breaking ceremony hosted by the Pensacola
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce to officially kick
off the remedial action (RA) at the ETC Site in
Escambia County, Florida.
Over the next 18 months, EPA's RA contractors
will excavate 17 acres to a depth of 30 feet to build
a containment cell at the ETC Site. The
containment cell will be lined with both a high
density polyethylene (HDPE) liner and a
geosynthetic clay liner. The RA contractors will
then move about 200,000 cubic yards of
contaminated soil from the ETC Site and the
surrounding Rosewood Terrace, Herman-Pearl,
Clarinda Triangle, and Escambia Arms
neighborhoods, followed by an additional 200,000
cubic yards of contaminated soil in the existing
onsite stockpile known in the community as
"Mount Dioxin," into the containment cell.
The more highly contaminated soil, which is
designated as principal threat waste, will be
solidified/stabilized using cement to bind the
contaminants to the soil matrix before placement in
the containment cell. The containment cell will be
capped using a multi-layered capping system and
covered with about 6 feet of clean soil. The
capping system has been designed to allow for the
eventual commercial redevelopment over the
capped area.
The containment system envisioned by EPA and
community officials is designed to provide a long-
term and permanent solution for contaminated soils
at the ETC Site.
Site Background Information
The former ETC facility covers about 26 acres on
North Palafox Street in Pensacola. From 1942 until
1982, ETC treated wood products with creosote and
pentachlorophenol (PCP). ETC filed for bankruptcy
and abandoned the site in 1991.
In 1994, the ETC Site was placed on the National
Priorities List (NPL). EPA nominated the ETC Site
as part of the National Relocation Evaluation Pilot
in 1995. That same year, the ETC Site was named
a "Community Redevelopment Area" for
commercial reuse.
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The extent of the soil contamination at the ETC Site
is well defined. Approximately 400,000 cubic yards
of soil are targeted for action. Creosote,
naphthalene, pentachlorophenol, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxin are the primary
contaminants associated with the site.
Soil Remedy:
The Record of Decision
Focus on Health and Safety
During Construction
The health and safety of site workers and
community members is EPA's number one
concern. In addition to implementing a
comprehensive health and safety program for onsite
construction workers, EPA will monitor site
activities to ensure safe operations at all times,
alert community members to road closures and
openings or other traffic pattern changes, respond
promptly to community questions and concerns
about Site activities, and update the community on
construction progress.
Cleanup Actions to Date
authorizing long-term soil cleanup at the ETC
Site was signed in February 2006. This decision
includes construction of a lined/capped
containment system for storing the
contaminated soil as well as the remaining
residential relocations.
Cost : ~ $17.6 million.
•S Groundwater Remedy: EPA is currently
conducting a feasibility study to assess
contaminated groundwater remedies. The
Record of Decision for the groundwater
component of the site is expected in 2008.
Estimated cost range for groundwater
cleanup: $19 to 56 million.
Relocation Update
The EPA and the Corp of Engineers continue to
work with affected families and local community
groups including the current Technical Assistance
Grantee, the Clarinda Triangle Association, to
complete residential relocation, as stipulated in the
2006 Record of Decision for the ETC Site.
To date, EPA and the ETC Site community have
worked together on the following activities:
S Removal: In 1991-1992, the EPA stockpiled an
estimated 200,000 cubic yards of heavily
contaminated soils into a lined and capped
stockpile area. This stockpile has been referred
to as "Mt. Dioxin" by local residents. The EPA
also demolished the ETC facility buildings,
disposed of chemicals, and fenced the site.
Cost ~ $3.4 million.
Collecting Perimeter Air Monitoring Samples
Relocation: Starting in 1997, EPA began
relocating residents from the Rosewood
Terrace/Oak Park, Herman-Pearl Streets, and
Escambia Arms neighborhoods. More than 350
families were relocated as part of this effort.
Relocation of an additional 46 households in
the Clarinda Triangle neighborhood is ongoing.
Cost: ~ $31.9 million.
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EPA's Goal
EPA's goal is to protect the community and environment from soil contamination associated with the ETC Site
by implementing a long-term remedy that also supports future commercial redevelopment.
As of June 2007, EPA has spent or committed to spend $54.3 million to relocate residents and complete
the soil cleanup associated with the ETC Site.
What's Next
> Setting up Monitoring Stations: Over the next few weeks, EPA will begin setting up the air monitoring
stations around the perimeter of the site. Air monitoring will be performed whenever contaminated soil
handling operations take place at the site to ensure that airborne emissions (exceeding health-based risk
levels) does not migrate from the site.
> Setting up Perimeter Wind Screens: EPA will place fabric wind screens on the perimeter fences to
prevent airborne dust from migrating from the site. The wind screens are an added measure of protection to
prevent contamination from leaving the site.
> Clearing/Excavating the Site: In the next few weeks, EPA will finish setting up a site support area and
begin clearing the above ground vegetation on the site in preparation for excavation activities. Excavation
of contaminated soil will begin in the December 2007/January 2008 timeframe.
> Road Closure/Construction: As part of the remedial action, Hickory Street will be closed beginning in
February 2008 and remain closed for about one year. EPA will extend Beggs Lane to connect to Spruce
Street, which will provide access to the businesses located northeast of the ETC site.
> Ongoing Updates: EPA will update the community as construction milestones are met or changes occur in
the general construction schedule. EPA will support a website to provide the community with continuous
updates on construction progress, monitoring information, and other project activities (www.etccleanup.org)
For more information, please contact...
David Keefer
Remedial Project Manager
Superfund Division / Remedial
Branch
U.S. EPA Region 4
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
1 (800) 435-9234
L'Tonya Spencer
Community Involvement Mgr.
Superfund Division / Remedial
Branch
U.S. EPA Region 4
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
1 (800) 435-9234
Nancy Murchison
Project Manager
FL Dept. of Environmental Protection
Division of Waste Management
Twin Towers Office Building
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
(850) 245-8927
Information Repositories
West Florida Regional Library U.S. EPA Region 4
200 West Gregory Street Waste Management Division
Pensacola, FL 32501 61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Information on the Internet
U.S. EPA Headquarters
www.epa.gov
U.S. EPA Region 4 Project Web Site
www . epa. gov/region4 .gov www .etccleanup . org
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