CALCASIEU ESTUARY SITE UPDATE
INFORMATION BULLETIN
Lake Charles, Louisiana
October 1999
EPA BULLETIN BOARD
EPA Bulletin Board
Fall 1999
Outreach Office Grand Opening
Public Availability of Calcasieu Estuary Documents
Internet Information
Upcoming Events
Special Notice Letters and Requests For
Information Letters
Calcasieu Emergency Response Workshop
Rogers Enterprises Site Removal
Well Sampling in Lake Charles
Administrative Order on Consent for North Ryan
TAG Grant
Other Media Activities
Evaluation of Mossville Public Water System
TAGA Monitors Air Quality in Calcasieu Parish
"Brownfields '99 - Environmental Challenges
and Solutions" conference December 6-8, 1999
in Dallas, TX.
For more information, 1-877-343-5374 or visit
the World Wide Web at
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields.
CALCASIEU ESTUARY COMMUNITY
OUTREACH OFFICE
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased
to announce the new Calcasieu Estuary Community
Outreach Office. The office will be centrally located in the
heart of Lake Charles, Louisiana, at 110 West Prien Lake
Road. The office will provide you access to computers with
information about the Calcasieu Estuary and other
Superfund sites. An official Grand Opening of the office
will be announced in the fall of 1999.
PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF CALCASIEU
ESTUARY DOCUMENTS
Investigation documents resulting from the Calcasieu
Estuary Superfund project will be posted
on the Internet as they become available.
This will allow you to review plans,
progress, and results of the investigation
at all times. This process will not take
the place of the formal public review
and comment period that is provided
when the Proposed Plan is announced. While we will notify
you by mail about information available on the Internet,
copies of investigation documents will also be available at
the local repository located at the Central Library on Claude
Street and at the Community Outreach office on West Prien
Lake Road. The Internet address for Calcasieu Estuary
information is www.epa.gov/region6/superfund.
We believe public input obtained as the investigation
proceeds will result in a thorough analysis of the Calcasieu
Estuary and incorporate all existing information. The
investigation will include several sampling efforts to be sure
that meaningful information is collected. For example, in
Bayou Verdine the first sampling goal will be to determine
the extent of contamination in the sediment and surface
water. We expect the field work for this data collection to
begin in November or December. A second sampling goal
will be to collect data to determine the impacts to fish. This
field work is expected to begin in the Spring of 2000.
Due to the expedited schedule for doing this extensive
investigation, we may not be able to respond directly to you
before the actual field work is required to start. However,
since we are planning several trips to conduct sampling, any
input we receive will be evaluated for inclusion into any
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subsequent sampling in order to build the best possible
study of the estuary. While we may not respond directly to
you on each individual comment, we will summarize all
comments received and provide responses to you through
bulletins and on the Internet on a regular basis.
INTERNET INFORMATION
The EPA has posted two new sites on the Internet to provide
information regarding the Calcasieu Estuary Superfund
project. The first site provides answers to frequently asked
questions about the Calcasieu Estuary. The questions are
grouped into several categories, including Superfund,
drinking water and ground water, air, and health issues.
Nearly one hundred questions and answers are available for
viewing. The second site contains the Statement of Work
that EPA issued to its Superfund contractor. This document
is required by EPA's contracting process and enables the
contractorto estimate the work required for the project. The
contractor will also use this document in preparing the
required work plans for the investigation of the estuary.
Both sites can be found atwww.epa.gov/region6/superfund.
UPCOMING EVENTS
We are currently working on a Sampling and Analysis Plan
for Bayou Verdine, which we expect to be
completed this Fall. Actual field sampling
would begin shortly after the plan is
completed. We will complete a separate
Sampling and Analysis Plan for Bayou d'Inde
and the Calcasieu River in early winter. All
sampling is expected to be completed in the
Spring of 2000. For additional information about the
investigation, please contact John Meyer at (214) 665-6742.
releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances into
the Calcasieu Estuary; (2) the EPA was going to do an
investigation of the Calcasieu Estuary; and, (3) EPA was
requesting that the industries repay past costs which are
slightly more than $2,000,000.
We also sent letters to 22 industries located along the
Calcasieu Estuary requesting information. We sent these
letters because these industries may have information which
would assist us in determining whether hazardous
substances were released into the Calcasieu Estuary. The
information requests do not imply that the industry is a
potentially responsible party.
We plan to review information from our investigation as
well as additional information supplied by the industries to
determine additional potentially responsible parties.
Throughout the next two years, we expect to send letters to
additional industries. Copies of the letters sent to industries
so far are available at the Central Library on Claude Street.
For additional information, please contact Stacey Bennett at
(214) 665-6729 or Edwin Quinones at (214) 665-8035.
CALCASIEU EMERGENCY RESPONSE
WORKSHOP
On August 30-September 1, the EPA and Conoco
coordinated an Emergency Response Exercise in
Lake Charles, Louisiana. The open house and
workshop were held the evening of August 30 to
inform area residents and officials about emergency
response capabilities and community responsibility in
preventing, preparing, responding to and recovering from a
natural disaster, chemical or oil spill. If you would like
more information about this exercise please call Karen
McCormick at (214) 665-8365.
Lower Part of Bayou d'Inde
SPECIAL NOTICE LETTERS AND
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION LETTERS
On June 10, 1999, we sent letters to ten industries doing
business in Calcasieu Parish. The letters informed the
industries that: (1) they may be potentially liable because of
ROGERS ENTERPRISES REMOVAL
ACTION
The Rogers Enterprises site is the location of an inactive and
abandoned waste oil reclamation facility which managed
petroleum refining sludge, tank bottoms, and salvage oil
from production and lease pits. The property is located at
5350 Broad Street in Lake Charles. The facility operated as
Rogers Enterprises of Southwest Louisiana, Incorporated.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
(LDEQ) and the EPA Superfund contractor conducted
removal assessments of the site. The site consists often
aboveground storage tanks which contain approximately
81,000 gallons of waste liquids and approximately
seventy-four 55-gallon drums of sludge, solids, and debris.
A removal of this waste and debris is expected to begin this
fall. If you have any questions concerning the removal
action, please contact Bob Sullivan at (214) 665-2223.
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NORTH RYAN STREET NEWS
STATUS OF GROUNDWATER SAMPLING IN
PRIVATE WATER WELLS LOCATED IN THE
VICINITY OF THE NORTH RYAN STREET
SITE
The EPA conducted an investigation of private drinking
water wells located in the residential area along River Road
northwest of the North Ryan Street Superfund site. During
the week of April 12, 1999, we sampled 21 private wells.
We analyzed these drinking water samples for volatile
organics, semi-volatile organics, pesticides, PCBs, metals,
cyanide and dioxin. Results of this testing were sent to the
individual residents in June 1999. The most significant
findings were exceedences of iron and manganese above
secondary drinking water standards. Secondary standards
are non-enforceable guidelines regulating contaminants that
may cause cosmetic effects (tooth discoloration) or aesthetic
effects (taste, color and odor) in drinking water. We
recommend these standards but do not require water
systems to comply.
We conducted follow-up retesting on one sample for
cyanide and on all private well samples for dioxin to ensure
that the well water was safe for human use. The result of
the one retest for cyanide, received in mid-July, was below
the detection limit for Drinking Water Standards. It
represents no significant health risk. The retests for dioxin
in all of the private well samples used EPA Method 1613.
This test method provided a detection limit lower than the
Maximum Contaminant Level of 30 parts per quadrillion for
dioxin. EPA toxicologists and groundwater specialists
reviewed the results and concluded that there was no dioxin
contamination above the Maximum Contaminant Level for
dioxin. The results of this testing clearly conclude that there
is no significant health risk and that the well water is safe to
drink.
STATUS OF NORTH RYAN STREET SITE
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT
The North Ryan Street Superfund Site, located at 303 North
Ryan Street, is a former manufactured gas plant which
began operating in 1916. The contaminants of concern at
the site are polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX). The contaminants of
concern in the river sediment adjacent to the site are PAHs.
The site was proposed to the National Priorities List on
February 13, 1995. On July 7, 1997, Entergy Gulf States
consented to conduct an Engineering Evaluation/Cost
Analysis for soils and investigation for ground water. The
resulting Engineering Evaluation proposed a limited removal
of on-site soils from the marshland and sediment from the
Calcasieu River adjacent to the site. After reviewing the
proposal with the community and receiving public
comments, the EPA finalized its decision on June 4, 1999.
The EPA met with Entergy Gulf States, Inc., the Potentially
Responsible Party, on June 29, 1999, to negotiate the
conduct of the soil and sediment removal. Most of the
issues have been resolved and a final signed agreement is
anticipated soon. Once the Order is signed, Entergy Gulf
States, Inc., will begin the removal action. For additional
information regarding the North Ryan Street Superfund Site,
please contact Caroline Ziegler at (214) 665-2178.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT
AVAILABLE FOR NORTH RYAN STREET
SUPERFUND SITE
The EPA announced the availability of a Technical
Assistance Grant (TAG) for the North Ryan Street
Superfund Site. The TAG is available to any local citizens'
group to secure the services of a technical advisor. The
technical advisor will assist in increasing the community's
awareness and understanding of the scientific and technical
information that will be developed about the site during the
Superfund process. By law, only one TAG of up to $50,000
may be awarded to a citizen's group at any one Superfund
site that is listed or proposed on the National Priorities List.
To be eligible for a TAG, the group must incorporate. The
applicant must meet a 20% in-kind matching requirement
which may be in cash or donated services. If you are
interested in applying for the TAG, or if you need additional
information, please call Beverly Negri at (214) 665-8157 or
1-800-533-3508 (Toll Free).
OTHER MEDIA ACTIVITIES/INITIATIVES IN CALCASIEU
EVALUATION OF THE MOSSVILLE PUBLIC
WATER SYSTEM
The residents of Mossville have voiced concerns about the
drinking water quality being provided to the community by
the Calcasieu Parish Waterworks District #2. To investigate
these concerns, during the week of July 12-16, 1999, three
senior engineers from the EPA and a senior engineer from
District 5 of the Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH),
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH),
conducted a Comprehensive Performance Evaluation (CPE)
of the Mossville Water System. The CPE conducted at the
Mossville Water System was the first CPE conducted at a
groundwater system in the country.
The water system was evaluated from "well to tap," to
determine its performance. The evaluation data was
compared to optimal goals developed for ground water
systems by EPA Region 6. These goals are more
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challenging than the Safe Drinking Water Act regulatory
standards as they are intended to determine if a water system
is being operated beyond State and Federal regulations.
Federal and State standards require periodic monitoring for
more than eighty contaminants and bacteriological
monitoring conducted on a monthly basis. Additional State
requirements address design and construction of the wells,
storage tanks and other treatment facilities at the water plant,
and further safeguard the water supply. Both Federal and
State regulatory programs in addition to diligence on the part
of the system operator must all work in concert to ensure the
safety of the public water supply.
The Mossville Water System is in compliance with all the
regulatory requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA). The recent CPE identified areas for
improvements that normally would not be found by
conducting a regular inspection or required sampling.
Minimal corrections to the water treatment system will
further reduce any future contamination risks to the water
supply. The Mossville Water System operator participated
extensively in the CPE with EPA and LDFiH representatives.
This joint effort is essential in assuring safe drinking water
is delivered to Mossville residents.
The operator of the Mossville water system has a good
understanding of the treatment plant operations, and began
looking for solutions to some of the factors during the
evaluation period. The willingness of the operator to solve
these problems along with the support of the Board of
Directors should result in an effective plan to ensure the
long-term viability of the water system. The EPA and
LDHH will continue their oversight roles to assure continued
regulatory compliance at this water system.
TRACE ATMOSPHERIC GAS ANALYZER
UNIT MONITORS AIR QUALITY IN
CALCASIEU PARISH
During the week of June 14 and June 21, 1999, EPA utilized
a Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer to monitor the ambient
air in Calcasieu Parish. This data is currently under review
for use of possible monitoring locations and inspection
targeting. We plan to provide a presentation of this data in
the next two to three months.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have questions about EPA or the Calcasieu
Estuary Project, please contact:
Duane Wilson
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
7290 Bluebonnet
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
(225)765-0463
John Meyer
Remedial Project Manager
U.S. EPA Region 6 (SF-RI)
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 76202-2733
(214)665-6742
1-800-533-3508
Janetta Coats
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 6 (SF-PO)
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 76202-2733
(214)665-7308
1-800-533-3508
Media inquiries should be directed to U.S. EPA, Region
6, Office of External Affairs, at (214) 665-2200
INFORMATION REPOSITORIES
Calcasieu Parish Library
Central Branch
301 West Claude Street
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70605
(318) 475-8792 (Reference)
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Inactive and Abandoned Sites
7290 Bluebonnet Boulevard
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810
(225) 765-0428 or 1-888 763-5424 (toll free)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75202
(214) 665-2424
ON THE WEB...
Information can also be accessed at the U.S. EPA
Internet Homepage at:
U.S. EPA Headquarters: http://www.epa.gov
U.S. EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/earth 1 r6
U.S. EPA Region 6 Superfund Division:
htto://www.epa.gov/earthlr6/6sf/6sfhtm
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