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Additional Sampling Results Released on NPL Site in Louisiana
Release Date: 12/02/2005
Contact Information:
Contact: Eryn Witcher, 202-564-4355/ [email protected]
Combustion, Inc., Livingston Parish, LA
(12/2/05) On Oct. 13, 2005, EPA collected ground water samples from two monitoring wells at this former oil reclamation facility. The remedy for this site, selected in May 2004, includes phytoremediation and monitored natural attenuation to address organic contamination in the shallow ground water. The Responsible Parties for the site are currently developing the engineering design for the remedy.
No organic chemicals were detected in the October 2005 ground water samples collected from the Combustion, Inc., site. Therefore, EPA does not believe that the site was affected by the hurricane.
Central Wood Preserving, East Felicia Parish, LA
On Oct. 7 and 8, 2005, EPA collected surface soil samples from 65 locations onsite to evaluate the possibility of using this former wood treating facility as a possible temporary relocation site in response to Hurricane Katrina. On Oct. 12, ground water samples were collected from two monitoring wells at the site. The remedy for this site, completed in August 2004, included onsite thermal treatment of creosote waste; offsite disposal of the treated residual arsenic contaminated soil and sediment, and building and demolition debris; and ground water monitoring.
The results of the shallow soil samples indicate that arsenic concentrations on the northern half of the site remain well below residential cleanup levels. The sample results from the southern half of the site exceeded the action level for arsenic established for the site. These results are inconsistent with the previous sampling conducted in the Remedial Investigation (RI), which indicated that the arsenic levels on the southern half of the site would meet the residential cleanup goal following removal of select hot spots. A potential reason for this inconsistency is the difference in sample interval used in the October 2005 sampling and the sampling conducted during the RI. In the RI, samples were collected at an interval of 0" – 18" compared to a 0" – 3" interval used in the recent sampling. Based on the results of this sampling, use of the southern half of the site for residential use should be restricted.
No contaminants of concern (arsenic or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) were detected in either ground water sample collected from the site.
EPA does not believe that the Central Wood Preserving site was affected by the hurricane. EPA will continue to monitor the ground water according to the routine operation and maintenance plan for the site.
Dutchtown Treatment Plant, Ascension Parish, LA
On Oct. 13, 2005, EPA collected ground water samples from two shallow (<12 feet below ground surface) monitoring wells at this former oil refinery and reclamation facility. The contaminants of concern for the site were benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. The remedy for this site, completed in January 1998, included offsite incineration of waste oils, soil washing and onsite disposal of contaminated soil, onsite treatment of storm water, and monitored natural attenuation of shallow ground water contamination. The site was deleted from the National Priorities List in November 1999.
EPA compared the analytical results from the October 2005 samples to data collected in June 2004 as part of the routine monitoring activities for the site. In June 2004, benzene was detected above the federal drinking water standard of 5 ug/l. EPA found that benzene concentrations did not change significantly in the October 2005 samples when compared to data collected in June 2004. Ethylbenzene was detected in concentrations higher than found in June 2004. The concentration detected was higher than the drinking water standard in one well, and remained below the standard in the other well.
The shallow ground water zone, the only zone where contamination was found in the remedial investigation for the site, is not used as a domestic water supply. There are no water supply wells in the immediate vicinity of the site. Based on the comparison of the October 2005 ground water data to the June 2004 data, EPA does not believe that ground water at the site was affected by the hurricanes. EPA will continue to monitor the ground water according to the routine operation and maintenance plan for the site.
Petro-Processors of Louisiana, Inc., East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
On Oct. 12, 2005, EPA collected ground water samples from two monitoring wells at this former petrochemical waste disposal facility. The remedy for this site includes capping waste material onsite and removal of non-aqueous phase liquids. The removal of the non-aqueous phase liquids is currently being done by the Responsible Parties for the site. The nearest water supply well is approximately 3,000 feet northeast of the site boundary, and the groundwater is moving southwest (or away from the water supply well).
Organic chemicals were not detected in the samples taken from the site in October 2005. Therefore, EPA does not believe that the site was affected by the hurricane.
EPA will continue to monitor the ground water as part of its oversight of the Responsible Parties implementation of the ground water remedy for the site.
Sampling results at additional NPL sites in the impacted area will continue to be posted as they become available.
Specific test results are available at: https://www.epa.gov/enviro/katrina/emkatrina.html . Information about assessment of all NPL sites affected by the hurricanes is available at: https://www.epa.gov/katrina/superfund.html
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