xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
For more information
For questions, comments or more
information contact these U.S. EPA
team members:
Rafael P. Gonzalez
U.S. EPA Public Affairs Specialist
Land and Chemicals Division
312-886-0269
gonzalez. rafaelp@epa. gov
Carolyn Bury
U.S. EPA Project Manager
Land and Chemicals Division
312-886-3020
burv.carolvn@epa.gov
U.S. EPA toll-free: 800-621-8431,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., weekdays
Information repositories and
website:
Official documents are available for
your review at: Carbondale Public
Library 405 W. Main St.
and
U.S. EPA Records Center
Seventh Floor, 77 W. Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL
U.S. EPA mailing address:
U.S. EPA Region 5, LU-16J
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
On the web:
Former Koppers Wood-Treating
website at:
https://www.epa.gov/hwcorrectiveac
tionsites/former-koppers-wood-
treatment-site -current-documents -
reports-and-graphics-2
Direct link to the ESD:
https://www.epa.gov/hwcorrectiveac
tionsites/administrative-record-
explanation-significant-difference-
former-koppers-wood
U.S. EPA Explains Changes
to Cleanup Plan
Koppers Wood-Treating Site
Carbondale, Illinois	March 2019
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to add 15.8 acres to
the cleanup plan approved for the former Koppers Wood-Treating site in
Carbondale. In a document called Explanation of Significant Difference,
(ESD), U.S. EPA has selected a change to the current remedy requiring
that current owner Beazer East Inc. excavate 8.4 acres of soil in additional
parcels and take it to an off-site landfill. The remaining 7.4 acres of
contaminated soil would be managed with a one-foot engineered soil
cover, per the proposal.
The ESD explains the additional remedy in greater detail. The document is
available online, at the local library, and at the EPA Records Center in
Chicago (see sidebar to the left). If you are unable to access the ESD
document, please ask Rafael Gonzalez to mail it to you.
Public Participation Opportunities
The proposed ESD will be issued on March 28, 2019 and public comments
will be due April 19, 2019. If requested, U.S. EPA will host a public
meeting in Carbondale to further explain the proposed additional cleanup
actions and take comments. See the front of the mailing for instructions on
how to submit comments.
Expanded Investigation and New Risk Assessments
U.S. EPA determined that dioxin and fiiran compounds on the Koppers
site were not fully evaluated in the 1990s. While these chemicals were not
used for wood-treating, they are byproducts of pentachlorophenol
manufacturing. Pentachlorophenol was used as a wood preservative during
one period of plant operations. Dioxins and fiirans break down slowly in
the environment, remaining in soil and sediment and accumulating in
animals.
Comprehensive sampling and analysis of these chemicals was completed
on the Koppers site and in the adjacent residential area through 2016. The
sampling data were used in human health and ecological risk assessments.
Based on the ecological risk assessment, the additional 15.8 acres of soil
on the former plant property were identified as needing cleanup to protect
the environment. As reported earlier in public meetings and outreach
materials, the sampling in the residential area did not find wood-treating
chemicals.
Site History
The former Koppers Wood-Treating site is on the far northeast side of
Carbondale occupying 219 acres. Wood-treating processes from 1902 to
1991 left a legacy of contamination. In 2010, Beazer finished cleanup
actions that included creek excavation and on-site management of soil.
Beazer constructed a landfill cell to consolidate and contain much of the
waste material. Liquid creosote chemicals continue to be extracted from
the ground and taken offsite for disposal or recycling. The cleanup is
regularly monitored to ensure it continues to protect people and the
environment.

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KOPPERS WOOD-TREATING SITE:
EPA Proposes Cleanup Changes
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U.S. EPA Proposes
Additional Cleanup Actions
Koppers Wood-Treating Site
Carbondale, Illinois
COMMENTS WELCOME
Comments can be submitted to:
Email: bury.carolyn@epa.gov
Mail: Carolyn Bury, U.S. EPA Region 5,
77 W. Jackson Blvd., Mail Code LU-16J, Chicago, IL 60604
U.S. EPA will review and consider all public comments, develop a summary of our responses, and
	issue a final Explanation of Significant Difference that will be available to the public.	

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