oEPA Site Update United States San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site Environmental Protection Agency Harris County, Texas June 2014 This fact sheet will tell you about: • Site Background • Site Contaminants • About Dioxin • Water Quality • Residential Soil Sampling • Containment in Capped Areas • Community Engagement • For more information Site Background The San Jacinto River Waste Pits Site (Site) is on the west- ern bank of the San Jacinto River, in Harris County, Texas, located north and south of the Interstate Highway 10 (I-10) bridge over the San Jacinto River. The waste pits were constructed in the 1960s for disposal of pulp and paper mill waste. The Site was placed on the National Priorities List (Superfund) in March of 2008. The U.S. Environmen- tal Protection Agency (USEPA) is currently evaluating re- medial alternatives to address contamination at the Site. Site Contaminants Soil, sediment and fish tissue sampled during Site investi- gations indicate that dioxins are the chemicals that need to be addressed. Other chemicals including arsenic and poly- chlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are also present but do not contribute to a significant amount of risk compared to the dioxins. A temporary armored cap installed over the waste pits in 2011 isolated the dioxin in the pits. The cap prevents con- tinuing dioxin releases to the river as well as direct expo- sure to persons in the area. However, fish and shellfish in the river still contain high levels of dioxin (as well as pes- ticides and PCBs from other sources) and are covered by a fish consumption advisory issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services. About Dioxin Dioxins are produced from a variety of natural and man- made processes, primarily involving burning or combus- tion. Sources of dioxin include paper bleaching, petroleum refining, forest fires, diesel trucks, back-yard barrel burn- ing, diesel off-road equipment, boilers/industrial furnaces, and volcanic activity among others. The dioxin found in the site impoundments originated from the Champion In- ternational Paper Mill. Dioxins are adhered to the materi- als in the impoundments and are virtually insoluble in wa- ter. Water Quality A total of 11 monitoring wells were installed and ground- water samples were collected from across the site from 2011 to 2013. The results of the groundwater sampling in- dicate that dioxins have not migrated to the deeper Chicot aquifer, which is a drinking water source. Because dioxins are virtually insoluble, they do not move readily in the groundwater system. Groundwater is neither a transport pathway nor an exposure pathway at the Site. Sampling in surface water just above the cap in 2012 did not detect any tetra-dioxin or fiiran, and showed that the cap is effective in preventing dioxin releases to surface water. Residential Soil Sampling In 2011 and 2012 soil samples were collected from yards near the river banks in two residential areas: an area to the west of the Site (between Meadowbrook and River Road), and a second area along the eastern shoreline of the San Jacinto River to the northeast of the impoundments. The results of the residential soil sampling program show that dioxins in soil in residential areas near the site are no different than background concentrations (for example soil in public parks of Houston) and are below levels consid- ered protective by USEPA for residential soils. As noted above, dioxins originate from a variety of sources. Containment in Capped Areas The wastes in the impoundments are effectively contained by the temporary armored cap installed in 2011. Sampling indicates that the wastes are not leaking, and visual inspec- tions as well as elevation surveys show that the cap is in- tact and stable. The armored cap includes three layers of protective geotextile and geo membrane covered by rock, and was designed and constructed in accordance with USEPA and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) de- sign guidance to withstand major storms, including those that would only occur once every 100 years. The cap con- tinues to be routinely monitored and maintained. In July 2012 a relatively minor storm (much less than the 100-year design storm) event occurred and resulted in a loss of armor material in some areas. The cap was repaired following the minor storm, but a review by the USACE found that the cap slope was too steep in some areas, and ------- that the cap contained too much smaller sized material. The cap was upgraded in January 2014 to address these de- ficiencies. The various remedial alternatives that EPA is evaluating as part of the permanent remedy include methods of treating or removing the waste and affected sediment, or enhancing the effectiveness and reliability of the cap. Community Engagement In 2012, EPA awarded a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) to the Galveston Bay Foundation. The Galveston Bay Foundation is the lead agency to interpret site infor- mation and data for the community with the assistance of a Technical Advisor. The San Jacinto Community Awareness Committee (CAC), comprised of EPA, state and Harris County agen- cies, also meets frequently to review and respond to site community engagement and public issues impacted by the site. Community Meetings and discussions with local residents also have been conducted for the Site. For more information U.S. EPA Gary Miller Superfund Remedial Project Manager 214.665.8318 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) Valmichael Leos Superfund Remedial Project Manager 214.665.2283 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free Donn Walters, EPA Community Involvement Superfund Public Liaison 214.665.6483 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) Superfund Regional Counsel 214.665.2157 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Stephen Ellis, Project Manager, Superfund Section 512.239.6368 Crystal Taylor Community Relations, Superfund Section 512.239.3844 Texas Department of State Health Services Tina Walker tina.walker@dshs.state.tx.us 512.776.2932 or 1.800.588.1248 x2932 Site Repository Stratford Branch Library 509 Stratford Street Highlands, Texas All inquiries from the news media should be directed to the Region 6 Press Office at 214.665.2200. San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site on the in- ternet: http://www.epa.gov/region6/6sf/pdffiles/san- iacinto-tx.pdf http ://www.epa.gov/region6/6sf/texas/san i acinto/ https://www.epaosc.org/site/site profile.aspx?site id=6534 To receive a Spanish translation of this fact sheet call U.S. EPA at 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free). Para recibir una traduction en espanol de esta hoja de da- tos, comunicarse con la Agencia de Protection del Medio Ambiente de los EEUU (la EPA) al numero de telefono 1.800.533.3508 (llamadagratis). *>EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 1445 Ross Ave. (6SF-VO) Dallas. TX 75202 ------- |