Star Lake Canal Superfund Site Port Neches, Jefferson County, Texas EPA Region 6 EPA ID: TX0001414341 Site ID: 0605043 U.S. Congressional District 14 Contact: Gary Miller (214) 665-8318 Last Updated: July 2015 Current Status EPA is currently preparing an agreement to implement the remedy selected in the Record of Decision (ROD). The selected remedy for the seven areas of the Site include excavation and disposal of soil/sediment, containment with soil, clay, and/or armor caps, and monitored natural recovery. The EPA issued the ROD for the Site in September 2013. Prior to issuing the ROD, EPA completed a Proposed Plan to propose a preferred remedy for site cleanup. The Proposed Plan summarizes the alternatives evaluated for the Site, highlighting the key factors that led to identifying the preferred alternative. A 30-day public comment period was held June 20 to July 21, 2013, to receive comments from the public on the preferred cleanup remedy. EPA also held a public meeting on July 11, 2013, to present the preferred remedy and to receive comments from the community. Background The Star Lake Canal Superfund Site (Site) is located in Port Neches, Texas, an industrial city adjacent to the Neches River in East Texas in the center of the Beaumont-Orange-Port Arthur Golden Triangle (see the "Site Aerial Photograph" below). The Site is currently defined as the lengths of two industrial canals, the Star Lake Canal and the Jefferson Canal, from their origins to the Neches River. The Star Lake Canal joins the Jefferson Canal in an area between State Highway 366 and Sara Jane Road (a.k.a. Atlantic Highway). STAR LAKE CANAL 1 EPA Publication Date: 7/10/2015 ------- The Jefferson Canal was constructed in the late 1940's as an industrial wastewater and stormwater outfall. The Star Lake Canal was constructed after 1948 for the same purpose. Both canals are currently being utilized for industrial and stormwater purposes by chemical and other manufacturing facilities. The Site consists of surface water and sediments in the Star Lake Canal, Jefferson Canal, and the Molasses Bayou and Wetland. These wetlands are habitats used by State-designated threatened species. From the confluence of the Molasses Bayou, Star Lake Canal, and Neches River, surface water flows down the Neches River approximately 3 >2 miles to Sabine Lake. Sabine Lake is used as a fishery and produced more than 1 million pounds offish and shellfish in 1996. The land use surrounding the Site is industrial, residential, and recreational. The population within one-mile of the Site is 5,604 persons. The population of the City of Port Neches is approximately 14,452. Other communities in the area include Groves, Nederland, and Port Arthur. The EPA entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation and Chevron Environmental Management Corporation (the PRPs) to perform and finance the Remedial investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for the Site. The AOC was signed on December 22, 2005. The purpose of the RI/FS is to determine the nature and extent of contamination and to gather sufficient information about the Site to support an informed risk management decision regarding which remedy is the most appropriate for the Site. The Tier I Ri report has been approved by the EPA, the Tier 2 Ri Report was completed in August 2011, and the Final FS Report was delivered on June 5, 2012. Benefits Cleanup of the Site will ensure the protection of the environment (see Health Considerations below). National Priorities Listing (NPL) History Proposal Date: July 22, 1999 Final Listing Date: July 27, 2000 r STAR LAKE CANAL 2 EPA Publication Date: 7/10/2015 ------- Site Map Wastes and Volumes The Jefferson and Star Lake Canals received industrial wastewater and stormwater discharges from chemical and other manufacturing facilities for a number of years. This Site was added to the National Priorities List based on evidence that hazardous substances, including chromium, copper, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls have migrated or could potentially migrate to Molasses Bayou, Star Lake Canal, Neches River, Sabine Lake, and their associated wetlands. Pentachlorophenol and toxaphene have been found in the sediments of the Jefferson Canal. The areas of contaminated materials currently at the Site are presented in the Rl Reports. STAR LAKE CANAL 3 EPA Publication Date: 7/10/2015 ------- Health Considerations Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments are an integral part of the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS). A Human Health Risk Assessment estimates the current and possible future risks if no action were taken to clean up a site. The risk assessment determined that there is no unacceptable risk to human health at the Site. An Ecological Risk Assessment is defined as a process that evaluates the likelihood that adverse ecological effects are occurring or may occur as a result of exposure to Site contaminants. Adverse responses can range from non-lethal chronic effects in individual organisms to a loss of ecosystem function. The risk assessment has determined that there is a high probability of ecological toxicity to small animals and insects, and to animals higher in the food chain. A remedial action selected in the Record of Decision (ROD) will to address this ecological risk. Record of Decision The final remedy (cleanup alternative) for a site is published in a ROD. The EPA issued the ROD for the Site in September 2013 in consultation with TCEQ and following consideration of the public comments. The selected remedy for the seven areas of the Site included excavation and disposal of soil and/or sediment, containment with soil, clay, and/or armor caps, and monitored natural recovery. A Remedial Design phase, including additional field work, will be completed before Site construction of the remedy can begin. Community Involvement Proposed Plan: June 2013 Public Comment Period:June 20, 2013 to July 21, 2013 Public Meeting: July 11, 2013 Community involvement is the name the EPA uses to identify its process for engaging in dialogue and collaboration with communities affected by Superfund sites. The mission of the Superfund Community Involvement Program is to advocate and strengthen early and meaningful community participation during the EPA's remedial activities at a Site. The EPA's community involvement program is founded on the belief that people have a right to know what the EPA is doing in their community and to have a say in it. Its purpose is to give people the opportunity to become involved in the EPA's activities and to help shape the decisions that are made at a site. Fact sheets will be prepared as necessary during the planning and implementation of the RI/FS. These fact sheets will be filed at the Site's repository and distributed to people on the mailing list. Anyone who desires to be placed on the mailing list to receive current information about the Site is encouraged to call 1-800-533-3508. This Site Status Summary can be found on the internet at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/6sf-tx.htm The purpose of the Site Repository is to provide the public a location near their community to review and copy background and current information about the Site. The Site's repository is located at: Effie & Wilton Hebert Public Library 2025 Merriman Port Neches, TX 77651 (409) 722-4554 http://www.ptn.lib.tx.us STAR LAKE CANAL 4 EPA Publication Date: 7/10/2015 ------- Site Contacts EPA Remediation Project Manager: State Project Manager: EPA Community Involvement: Superfund Regional Public Liaison: EPA Site Attorney: EPA Toil-Free Telephone Number: Gary Miller Phillip Winsor Bill Little Donn R. Walters Edwin Quinones (214) 665-8318 (512) 239-1054 (214) 665-8131 (214) 665-6483 (214) 665-8035 (800) 533-3508 STAR LAKE CANAL 5 EPA Publication Date: 7/10/2015 ------- |