Contaminants and Health Issues for Gulfco Marine Maintenance Superfund

Benefits
Contaminants and health issues:
Remediation of the contaminated material will reduce human health and ecological risks associated with the contaminants at the site. Further, revitalization of the area will encourage reuse or redevelopment plans.

Wastes and Volumes
A barge cleaning, sand blasting, and repair facility operated at the site from 1971 to 1998. As part of this operation, residual product recovered from the barges was stored in tanks and sold.

Wash waters from barge cleaning were stored in three surface waste impoundments in the north area until closed in 1982.

Following closure of the impoundments, the wastewater was stored in a floating barge or storage tanks at the site.

Surface storage tanks located in the concrete berm area contain volatile organic compounds including benzene, chloroform, dichloroethane, and trichloroethylene.

Site contaminants include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and metals. The nature and extent of contamination at the site will be determined during the remedial investigation.

Health Considerations
There is a potential health risk from direct contact with contaminated soils on-site or from the chemicals stored in the tanks.

The contaminants also pose environmental risks to the adjacent wetlands via surface runoff or contaminated ground water migration into the wetlands.

see also:

EPA Press Release EPA responds to Gulfco Contamination, and two other Texas sites.
EPA adds Gulfco contamination site to Superfund Priorities List.

Gulfco Superfund Update, 1-11-07 EPA Status Update on Gulfco Marine Maintenance Superfund Site
Updated information from the EPA on the Status of Gulfco Superfund

Gulfco in Freeport, TX EPA Investigates Gulfco Marine Contamination Site in Freeport, TX
Multiple contaminants found at Gulfco Contamination site, Freeport, TX