Sikes Disposal Pits EPA Region 6 Texas Congressional District 09 EPA Id# Txd980513956 Harris County

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
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EPA Publication Date: October 4, 2002

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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

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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.
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EPA Publication Date: October 4, 2002

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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
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SIKES DISPOSAL PITS

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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.
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EPA Publication Date: October 4, 2002

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