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Two Louisiana Properties Added to National Superfund List

Release Date: 5/11/1999
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) announced that an abandoned industrial site in Alexandria and one in Slaughter have been added to the Federal Superfund program's National Priorities List.

     "Adding these properties to the Superfund list allows EPA and LDEQ to speed their cleanup and meet the agencies' commitment to protecting public health and our environment. Our goal is to safely clean these sites and assist communities in restoring them to productive uses. Recycling these abandoned properties helps communities curb urban sprawl while boosting economic development," EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said.

     "Since 1997, all proceeds of Louisiana's hazardous waste tax have been dedicated to cleaning up potentially dangerous sites," noted LDEQ Secretary J. Dale Givens. "In remediating larger sites such as these, however, Louisiana and most other states depend on our partnership with EPA for additional funding. This federal-state partnershiop was made possible when Congress created the federal Superfund program in 1980."

     At LDEQ's request, both sites were proposed for listing on the federal Superfund list in January 1999. No negative comments regarding the listing were received during the 60-day public comment period.

     About 140 people live within a mile of the former Central Wood Preserving site near Slaughter. Sample analysis will show if rain runoff from the site has contaminated a small creek and wetlands on the eastern edge of the property. Wetlands play a vital role in protecting water quality and nurturing diverse animal and plant life.

     Preliminary soil samples taken in and around the 12-acre property contain arsenic, chromium, copper and organic compounds found in coal-tar products. Analyzing these and recently collected samples will help determine the extent and level of contamination and guide EPA and LDEQ in developing a safe and efficient cleanup plan. This plan should be ready for public review and comments by the beginning of next year.

     More than 9,000 people live within a  mile of the former Ruston Foundry located in Alexandria. Heavy metals have been found in samples taken from slag piles and soil both on and adjacent to the 5-acre property. Samples were taken recently to determine the extent of contamination in nearby residential property. EPA and LDEQ will develop a cleanup plan for the site and surrounding areas after reviewing analysis of the samples. The agencies will meet with area officials and residents in the coming weeks as these plans are finalized.

     More information about these sites can be found on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/6sf-la.htm.