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EPA Proposes Marion, La. Site to Superfund List

Release Date: 10/29/1999
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

      The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to add the Marion Pressure Treating site in Marion, Union Parish, La., to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

      Marion Pressure Treating treated wood products -- including poles, bridge pilings and fence posts -- using a process that generated creosote contaminated wastewater. The facility disposed of the wastewater on site in an unlined surface impoundment from 1964 to 1983.

      "Adding this site to the Superfund list allows EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to speed their cleanup and meet the agencies' commitment to protecting public health and our environment," said EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke.

      "Since 1997, all proceeds of Louisiana's hazardous waste tax have been dedicated to cleaning up potentially dangerous sites," noted Dale Givens, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. "In remediating sites such as this one, Louisiana depends on our partnership with EPA for funding. This federal-state partnership was made possible when Congress created the federal Superfund program in 1980."    

      The 10-acre facility is located along State Highway 551, approximately 0.5 mile north of the junction of State Highways 551 and 33 in the town of Marion, Union Parish, Louisiana. Big Creek, a small surface water body, lies approximately 500 feet east-southeast of the facility.  Big Creek empties into Bayou de Loutre approximately 7.5 miles south of the facility. Sediment samples indicate that Big Creek and bordering wetlands have been impacted by contamination from the facility.

      EPA and LDEQ investigations revealed the presence of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and black, creosote-stained soil in many locations throughout the site. In November 1996, EPA removed and disposed offsite four loads of creosote sludge from tanks at the facility, excavated creosote-stained soil and debris and consolidated and capped the excavated material in the former process area.

      Erosion threatens to undermine the integrity of the cap and surrounding fence.  The liner covering the contaminated soil in the consolidation area is exposed at several locations, and erosion could result in the further spread of contamination. Based on the limited investigation to  date, the site does not appear to pose a threat to local residents through the water supply, air migration, or direct contact with contaminated soil.

      The EPA Superfund Program works closely with state agencies to clean and restore uncontrolled contaminated properties. The federal Superfund program cleans sites when the work required is beyond the resources of state and local agencies.

      EPA will seek public comments for 60 days on adding this site to the NPL. Those comments will be addressed when the Agency makes the final decision about adding the site to the NPL. During this period, the Agency will continue to develop cleanup plans so that actual work may begin as quickly after NPL listing as possible.

      Send comments by Dec. 21, 1999, to Docket Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CERCLA Docket Office, Mail Code 5201 G, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.

      Additional information about this site is available on the EPA web site at https://www.epa.gov/oerrpage/superfund/sites/npl/nar1578.htm.