Escambia Wood Treating Pensacola, Florida Site Description The Escambia Wood Treating Company site is located on a 26-acre parcel of land in the City of Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida. The site was first developed in 1942 as a manufacturing facility of wood products treated with creosote. From 1944 to approximately 1970, coal-tar creosote was used as the primary wood preservative. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) dissolved in No. 6 diesel fuel was used at the facility as a preservative from 1963 until 1970. Beginning in 1970, PCP was the sole preservative in use until the facility was abandoned in 1991. Creosote, PCP, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxin are the main contaminants found in soil on or immediately adjacent to the facility property, and site-attributable polyaromatic hydrocarbons and dioxin have been identified on surrounding residential tracts. Impacts from soil contamination have affected some 96 acres. Current Site Status and Cleanup Actions to Date • The Escambia Treating Company filed for bankruptcy in 1991 and in so doing, defaulted on its environmental liabilities. The case was referred to the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue settlement with the owner, and a final settlement was reached in 2002. The site was placed on the National Priorities List in 1994. • EPA performed a removal action during 1991-1992 that involved disposing of abandoned chemicals, demolishing facility structures, excavating and stockpiling approximately 225,000 cubic yards of heavily contaminated soil, and fencing the former facility property. • From 1997 to 2003 EPA permanently relocated 358 households, demolished existing structures and conducted site maintenance. These actions were consistent with the 1997 interim Record of Decision (ROD) and were completed at a cost of approximately $24 million dollars. • EPA issued the final ROD in 2006 to address the contaminated soils at the site. The selected remedy includes containment in a lined/capped system; treatment of source material with solidification/stabilization; and ongoing operation, maintenance and monitoring. • The remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) to address the ground water contamination is ongoing. A final ROD is planned for 2008. Current Site Status and Cleanup Actions to Date • In FY 2007, EPA obligated approximately $2.0 million to start construction of the remedy to address contaminated soils. For more information about this site, please read the Escambia Wood Treating Fact Sheet on the Region 4 Superfund Web Site. Key Accomplishments • Disposal of abandoned chemicals, demolition of facility structures, excavation and stockpiling of approximately 225,000 cubic yards of heavily contaminated soil, and fencing of the facility property have all been accomplished. • More than 350 households have been permanently relocated. • The remedial action to address contaminated soils has begun. ------- |