SIKES DISPOSAL PITS TEXAS EPA ID# TXD980513! Updated: 10/01/2002 SITE DESCRIPTION EPA REGION 6 Congressional ISTRICT 09 rris County Location: ! The Site is located about two miles southwest of Crosby, immediately north of old U.S. Highway 90, and roughly 20 miles northeast of Houston, Harris County, Texas. Population: ! Approximately 10,000 people reside in Crosby and the surrounding communities. Setting: ! The distance to the nearest residence and nearest drinking water well is 1,000 feet. ! The Site comprises approximately 185 acres. ! Evidence of uncontrolled waste dumping was found throughout the Site. ! The Site is bordered by the San Jacinto River on the west, Jackson Bayou on the north, and old U.S. Highway 90 on the south. Hydrology: ! The Site is characterized by river alluvium overlying Texas Coastal Plain deposits. ! Shallow water-bearing zones occur in the alluvium. ! A second water producing zone is found in a sandy silt zone of the Coastal Plain Deposits at about a 65-foot depth. ! The Chicot and Evangeline Aquifers occur below this zone, beneath several hundred feet of clay. ! The Site lies within the 100-year flood plain of San Jacinto River. PRESENT STATUS AND ISSUES ! The preliminary Close Out Report documenting completion of construction activities was signed in January 1995. ! The second Five Year Inspection Report was issued in September 2001, the remedy is protective of human health and environment short-term. SIKES DISPOSAL PITS 1 EPA Publication Date: October 4, 2002 ------- WASTES AND VOLUMES ! A wide variety of organic and inorganic wastes were deposited indiscriminately at the Site. ! Waste volumes at the Site were approximately as follows: o 350 million gallons contaminated ground and surface water; o 496,000 tons of organic sludge and contaminated soils; and o 2000 drums of mixed waste. NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST NPL LISTING HISTORY Site HRS Score: 61.62 Proposed Date: 10/23/81 Final Date: 9/08/83 NPL Update: No. 1 SITE MAP AND DIAGRAM ------- SITE HISTORY ! In the early to late 1960's a variety of chemical wastes from the area petrochemical companies were disposed in on-site unlined sand pits. ! Site operation conducted until sometime in 1968. ! Wastes contained organic chemicals and heavy metals (such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium and lead). ! In June 1983, the EPA removed approximately 40 cubic yards of phenolic tars and sand, and land filled the wastes in an off-site hazardous waste disposal Site. The pit was then backfilled and covered with clean sand. ! In September 1986, the Record of Decision for the Site was signed that called for incineration of Site wastes. ! During March and April 1988, the EPA fenced the Site. ! In July 1989, the EPA repaired fences due to flooding, and to deny access to children who were apparently using the Site as a playground. ! Remedial Action construction bids were first solicited by the State in September 1989, but the EPA instructed the State to cancel them because they were noncompetitive (only one contractor submitted a bid of $137 million - nearly 150% of the ROD). ! The second, revised, Request for Proposal resulted in four valid bids ranging from $91 million to $99 million; IT-Davy's low bid was accepted in June 1990. ! Incineration of one billion pounds of contaminated soil was completed in June 1994. ! The incinerator facilities have been removed and the Site has been planted with local grasses. ! Operation and Maintenance began in 1996, annual ground water monitoring was conducted in 1997. ! Sixth year ground water monitoring was conducted in 2002. ENFORCEMENT HISTORY ! PRPs Identified: 11 ! Viable PRPs: 10 ! Cost recovery was successful in recovering $120,000,000. HUMAN HEALTH AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT ! Possible human health problems could be caused by contact or ingestion of Site contaminants. ! Fishing and hunting activities occur routinely around the Site. ! Surface water and ground water were contaminated. ! The Site is in the flood plain and is frequently inundated. ! A large area of a sludge overflow extended eastward from the main waste pit. SIKES DISPOSAL PITS 3 EPA Publication Date: October 4, 2002 ------- RECORD OF DECISION Signed: September 18, 1986 ! The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Sikes Disposal Pit Site called for onsite incineration of sludge and soils, and treatment of contaminated water; this was accomplished in two phases. ! In the first phase (October 1990 through January 1992), the Site was prepared for remediation, including construction of flood control structures, installation of a temporary incinerator, and construction of a water treatment facility. ! During the second phase, all wastes were incinerated eliminating the threats to human health and the source of contamination to the ground water; removal of treatment facilities and Site restoration were completed in 1994. Other Remedies Considered Reason Not Chosen 1. "No Action" Too great a threat from the Site, needs action 2. Off-Site landfill for RCRA sludge Does not protect ground water 3. On-Site landfill Does not protect ground water 4. Off-Site incineration Too costly 5. Cap & slurry wall Flooding would cause cap integrity problems COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ! Community Involvement Plan: Developed 8/83, revised 12/87. ! Open houses and workshops: 1/88, 1/89, 10/90 (TWC), 2/91, 1/92, 11/92 ! Proposed Plan Fact Sheet and Public Meeting: 8/86 ! ROD Fact Sheet: 9/86 ! EPA Milestone Fact Sheets: 1/83, 7/86, 9/86, 1/90, 4/90, ! TWC Milestone Fact Sheets: 12/89, 5/90, 9/90, 12/90, 12/93 ! Commemorative event in 1995 with TNRCC to announce completion of the cleanup. ! Citizens on the Site mailing list: 287 ! Constituency Interest: * This was a high profile Site; moderate/mixed citizen interest. * Community issues included concern with air emissions from the incineration remedy and a fear that the incinerator would become a permanent installation and accept wastes from other Sites. ! Site Repository: Crosby Public Library, 135 Hare Road, Crosby, TX 77532 EPA Publication Date: October 4, 2002 4 SIKES DISPOSAL PITS ------- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT ! Availability Notice: 4/88, re-advertised 8/17/90 and 8/31/90 ! Letters of Intent Received: 1) Environmental Relief Committee (ERC) - 4/25/88 (withdrawn) 2) Barrett-Crosby Civic League (BCCL) - 8/21/90 ! Final Application Received: BCCL - 8/26/91 ! Grant Award: 3/4/91 ! Current Status: The grant was not used; the EPA withdrew the grant - closed in 1998. CONTACTS ! Remedial Project Manager (EPA): Earl G. Hendrick, 214-665-8519, Mail Code: 6SF-AP ! State Contact: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) James Feeley, 512- 239-2461 ! Attorney (EPA): Anne Foster, 214-665-2169, Mail Code: 6RC-S ! State Coordinator (EPA): Karen Bond, 214-665-6682, Mail Code: 6SF-AP ! Region 6 Ombudsman (EPA): Arnold Ondarza, (303) 312-6777 BENEFITS ! Removal actions and fencing the Site reduced imminent threats from the Site, and discouraged access to the Site by local children. ! 496,254 tons of contaminated soil and sludge, and 350 million gallons of contaminated water were treated through the incineration remedy. SIKES DISPOSAL PITS 5 EPA Publication Date: October 4, 2002 ------- |