AMERICAN CREOSOTE EPA REGION 6 WORKS INC. _ CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT05 (WINN PARISH) Contacts: LOUISIANA Michael A. Hebert 214-665-8315 f i-" \ *T EPA ID# LAD000239814 Updated: December 2010 Site ID: 0600317 Background The American Creosote Works (ACW) Superfund Site is located in Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana. The ACW Site is about 34 acres in size, and it is bordered by Front Street on the west and Watts and Grove Streets on the south. The Site is bounded on the north and east by Creosote Branch creek. Wood treatment operations at the ACW Site began in 1901, when the Site was operated by the Bodcaw Lumber Company. In 1938, the ACW Site was purchased by American Creosote Works of Louisiana, Inc. (later to become American Creosote Works, Inc.), which operated the facility until 1977. Wood treatment operations at the Site utilized both creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP). Petroleum products were also used as a carrier fluid for the creosote and PCP. By 1979, it appears that wood treating operations at the ACW Site had ceased. The site owner, Dickerson Lumber Company, declared bankruptcy during this time period, and the City of Winnfieid seized the property for failure to pay taxes. The Site was eventually purchased by Stallworth Timber Company, and by 1981, wood treating operations resumed at the Site on a smaller scale. Remediation of American Creosote Works Winnfield. Louisiana ¦M:. CH2WHILL Houston. Texas CM2MHIL L The LDEQ conducted several inspections at the Site between 1982 and 1986. These inspections noted spillage of creosote, abandoned pits and containers, and obvious offsite contamination. LDEQ issued a letter of warning to Stallworth Timber Company in January 1983. In December 1984, LDEQ inspectors noted no improvements at the Site, and issued a Compliance Order. Stallworth Timber Company failed to comply with the terms of the Compliance Order, and in June 1985, LDEQ inspectors found the Site abandoned. The LDEQ referred the ACW Site to EPA in March 1987. The EPA conducted several investigations at the Site and in May 1988 issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) to construct a fence and post warning signs around the most contaminated portions of the Site. Stallworth Timber Company completed this task in July 1988. During this action, an EPA contractor noted two storage tanks at the Site that were American Creosote Works Inc. 1 EPA Publication Date: December 7, 2010 9169293 005273 ------- in imminent danger of rupturing, EPA notified Stailworth Timber Company of this threat, but the company declined taking action. The EPA conducted an emergency removal action at the ACW Site in June 1988. This involved draining the tank, constructing a berm around the process area to contain and stabilize heavily contaminated soils, and installing an overflow filtration system. In February 1989, Stailworth Timber Company again declined to take action in response to the UAO. The EPA conducted another emergency removal action at the ACW Site to address the immediate, short-term risks posed by the Site. All wood treating liquids at the Site were consolidated into a single tank. Liquid and surface sludges at the Site were solidified, and the stabilized material was consolidated into an existing impoundment. Existing buildings and process equipment were dismantled and decontaminated. A drainage ditch was constructed and contaminated water was treated and discharged to Creosote Branch creek. In December 1991, Stailworth Timber Company notified the EPA that the property had been sold to Reinhardt Investments (located in the Netherlands Antilles). The EPA received no response to its inquiries to Reinhardt Investments. The Site is currently comprised of two land parcels. The south parcel, which is owned and controlled by Winn Parish, is inactive.. The north parcel is also owned by Winn Parish, but the property is under the control of the EPA through an access agreement. The north parcel is separated from the south parcel and completely enclosed by a security fence. A fluids recovery system, numerous monitor wells, a fluids injection system, and the Process Liquids Treatment Facility (PLTS) are located on the north parcel. Two waste burial areas are also located on the north parcel. The contaminants of concern are carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (CPAH's), Pentachlorophenol (PCP), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and dioxins. The City of Winnfield has a population of approximately 7,000 residents. Land use in the ACW Site area includes agricultural, residential, and recreational uses. Agricultural uses are localized and occur in areas between forested land and residential development. Forests in the area are used primarily for timber production. Forest lands also support recreational uses including hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. The Site is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, with the closest residence being located 200 feet from the Site. Most of the residents use the Winnfield Water System as their source of potable water. The ROD for the ACW Site was signed on April 28, 1993.The Site was also addressed through two emergency response actions. The remedy described in the 1993 ROD for the ACW Site included the following elements: - Liquid contaminants were to be pumped from the subsurface, separated, treated, and destroyed . - Contaminated tars and sludges would be incinerated onsite. The resulting incinerator ash would be returned to the excavated areas and used to backfill the excavations. The backfilled excavations would be graded, capped with soil, and revegetated. - Contaminated soils and sludges would be addressed through in-situ biological treatment. - Capping of contaminated surface soils, decontamination and onsite landfiiling of process equipment and scrap, and grading and capping to complement the above remedial actions. - Ecological monitoring for an estimated period of 5 to 10 years. - Ground water monitoring to occur for 5 to 10 years. Current Status • The long-term phase of the Rem and the pumping and treatment < 600,000 gallons of iiquids (conta are collected and treated per mo transported off site to a permittee as part of the in-situ biological tre American Creosote Works Inc. 005274 ------- permitted outfall. • EPA continues to monitor the performance of the remedy to assess its effectiveness in achieving the established remedial objectives. • A Third Five Year Review of the remedial action was completed on May 19, 2010. The remedy was found to be protective of human health and the environment. • EPA has initiated a ground water tracer survey in order to determine specific ground water flow paths. This will aid in maximizing the removal capacity of the ground water recovery system. Benefits The $17 million remedial action boosted local employment during the cleanup by utilizing local labor. The prime contractor also utilized several area vendors. Local vendors were identified during the bid specification stage utilizing the Chamber of Commerce to identify area expertise. The completion of the in-situ bioremediation system has effectively eliminated discharges to Creosote Branch Creek, allowing the stream to recover to natural conditions. EPA is working with the City of Winnfield to transition the site to industrial use. Currently about a third of the site is being reused by a local construction firm. National Priorities Listing (NPL) History NPL LISTING HISTORY Site HRS Score: 50.70 Proposed Date: 2/07/92 Final Date: 10/14/92 NPL Update: No. 12 Site Description Location: - Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana - Site covers approximately 34 acres at 1006 Front Street - Primarily residential area Population: - Wnnfield, LA (Population 7,000) - An estimated 5,700 people live within a mile of the site. Setting: - Residential on 3 sides, industrial on 1 side Photos: - Second Five-Year Review Hydrology: - Alluvial deposits - Two aquifers within upper 60 feet American Creosote Works Inc. EPA Publication Date: December 7, 2010 005275 ------- Wastes and Volumes 1. Principal Pollutants: Pentachlorophenol in concentrations up to 6,000 parts per million Carcinogenic Hydrocarbons (CPAH's) in concentrations up to 506,000 parts per billion 2. Volume: 25,000 cubic yards of "TAR" mat deposits 275,000 cubic yards contaminated soils 1 million gallons subsurface creosote product 24 million gallons contaminated ground water Contacts Remedial Project Manager: State Contact: Community Involvement: Attorney: EPA Region 6 Public Liaison: State Coordinator: Prime Contractor: Michael A. Hebert John Halk Michael A. Hebert Jacob Piehl Donn R. Walters Kathy Gibson CH2MHHI 214.665.8315 LDEQ 214.665.8315 214.665.2138 214-665-6483 214.665.7196 Mail Code: 6SF-RL 225-219-3197 Mail Code: 6SF-RL Mail Code: 6RC-S Mail Code: 6SF-TS Mail Code: 6SF-VC American Creosote Works Inc. 005276 4 EPA Publication Date: December 7, 2010 ------- |