Louisiana Superfund Site: American Creosote Works, Inc. (Winnfield Plant)
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Are you in need of a Toxic Tort Lawyer in The Pelican State? The EPA has designated American Creosote Works, Inc. (Winnfield Plant) in Louisiana as a Superfund site due to its levels of toxic pollution and danger to the natural world. You can read the report for the site below.
Some Superfund sites are on the National Priority Site Lists. The National Priorities List ("NPL") is the list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the federal Superfund program. Environmental Protection Agency regulations outline a formal process for assessing hazardous waste sites and placing them on the NPL. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.
Sites are listed on the NPL upon completion of Hazard Ranking System (HRS) screening, public solicitation of comments about the proposed site, and after all comments have been addressed. EPA may delete a final NPL site if it determines that no further response is required to protect human health or the environment. Sites where a remediation was completed through the Superfund program are typically deleted from the NPL.
Living near Superfund Sites in Louisiana may place you and the people you love more vulnerable to getting sick from proximity to the site and experiencing a loss of value for your property, but action is being taken to fight back: The EPA says,
[We have] set up a "Post Construction Completion" (or PCC) strategy to ensure that Superfund response actions provide for the long-term protection of human health and the environment. EPA's Post Construction Completion activities also involve optimizing remedies to increase effectiveness and/or reduce cost without sacrificing long-term protection of human health and the environment.Regardless, most of the Superfund sites are still very dangerous to the well-being of local residents.
By choosing Weitz & Luxenberg, you will get the legal ability of skilled Toxic Tort lawyers who will help fight back against polluters and secure you and your family the financial compensation and remediation to which you are entitled.
Below you can read the EPA report for the American Creosote Works, Inc. (Winnfield Plant) Superfund site. If you, a loved one, or someone in your community has suffered due to exposure to a Superfund site American Creosote Works, Inc. (Winnfield Plant), or if your property has lost value because of pollution, you are better off with a toxic tort attorney who knows the people of the State of Louisiana . You can begin the process of filing a claim by filling out this simple form. There is no obligation, and your case will be evaluated within one business day. To refer a friend, neighbor, or loved one, follow this link to let them know about the environmental toxic tort lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg.
American Creosote Works, Inc. (Winnfield Plant)
This site is not a Federal Facility.
1May 4, 2005
American Creosote
Works, Inc.
(Winnfield Plant)
Louisiana
Epa Id# Lad000239814
Site ID: 0600317
Epa Region 6
Congressional District 05
Winn Parish
Winnfield
Updated: April 2005
Site Description
Location:
Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana
Site covers approximately 34 acres at 1006 Front Street
Primarily residential area
Population:
Winnfield, LA (Population 7,000)
An estimated 5,700 people live within a mile of the site.
Setting:
Residential on 3 sides, industrial on 1 side
Hydrology:
Alluvial deposits
Two aquifers within upper 60 feet
Present Status and Issues
The long-term phase of the Remedial Action for in-situ biological treatment of contaminated soil
and the pumping and treatment of liquid contaminants is ongoing. Currently, on average, over
400,000 gallons of liquids (contaminated ground water and non-aqueous phase liquids or NAPLs)
are collected and treated per month, including over 1,500 gallons of NAPL. The collected NAPL
is transported off site to a permitted facility for incineration. Treated ground water is either
reinjected as part of the in-situ biological treatment process or discharged to Creosote Branch
Creek via permitted outfall.
EPA continues to monitor the performance of the remedy to assess its effectiveness in achieving
the established remedial objectives.
EPA is addressing deficiencies identified during the 2000 Five-Year Review of the Remedial
Action, including the presence of NAPL outside of influence of remedial systems and the
clogging of extraction trench sumps. EPA is also evaluating options for improving the
performance efficiency of the operating remedial systems. This work should be completed in the
next year.
A second Five Year Review of the remedial action is scheduled to be completed by Spetember
2005.
EPA Publication Date: May 4, 20052
American Creosote
Works, Inc.
(Winnfield Plant)
Wastes and Volumes
1.Principal Pollutants:
Pentachlorophenol in concentrations up to 6,000 parts per million
Carcinogenic Hydrocarbons (CPAH's) in concentrations up to 506,000 parts per billion
2.Volume:
25,000 cubic yards of "TAR" mat deposits
275,000 cubic yards contaminated soils
1 million gallons subsurface creosote product
24 million gallons contaminated ground water
Site Assessment and Ranking
Npl Listing History
Site HRS Score: 50.70
Proposed Date: 2/07/92
Final Date: 10/14/92
NPL Update: No. 12
Site Map and Diagram
American Creosote
Works, Inc.
3EPA Publication Date: May 4, 2005(Winnfield Plant)
Site History
Site operated as a wood treater from the turn of the century through the 1980s.
Site has had numerous owners, the first of which was the Bodeau Lumber Co., which began
operations in 1901. Louisiana Creosoting Co. acquired 22 acres of the property
in 1922 and then resold the parcel of land to American Creosote Works of Louisiana, Inc. in
1938.
In 1950, the entire property, along with 12 additional acres, was sold to American Creosote,
which was bought out by Dickson Lumber Co. in 1977. The property was seized by the City for
taxes after Dickson declared bankruptcy. Wood treatment operations were taken over by
Stallworth Timber in 1980 which then abandoned the site in 1985.
Sources of contamination at the site include: five unlined pits used for the disposal of wastes
generated by the wood-treating process, storage areas containing creosote, treated and untreated
wood, and the plant at which the wood-treating operations took place. Contamination also was
caused by on-site drainage ditches which received surface water run-off from the facility.
April - May 1988, EPA Emergency Response Branch conducted emergency removal to prevent
oils and sludges from seeping out of storage tanks and flowing to a nearby creek; contaminants
were pumped from pits, treated and contained on site.
June - September 1988, the Potentially Responsible Party (PRP), under an EPA Administrative
Order, fenced the site.
Remedial Action commenced in June 1994 with award of contract.
In December 1994, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resident office was established in Winnfield
Remedial Design completed in May 1996
On-site mobilization of incinerator was completed in late 1996. Trial burn was conducted in
December 1996.
Incineration was completed in February 1998. Total volume of contaminated soil/sludge
incinerated was 56,500 tons. Approximately 7000 cubic yards of soil with low levels of
contamination were consolidated into the former process area and capped, rather than incinerated.
Water treatment plant for the in-situ bioremediation system was completed in February 1997.
Pre-final inspection was conducted in May 1999. Preliminary Closeout Report was issued on
June 4, 1999.
EPA’s contractor, CH2MHill, became the new operator of the site remedial systems on October
1, 1999.
An Interim Remedial Action Report was completed on February 16, 2000, signifying the start of
the long-term component of the Remedial Action (in-situ bioremediation).
First Five-Year Review of the Remedial Action was completed on September 19, 2000. EPA
concluded that the ongoing remedy is protective of human health and the environment. Several
deficiencies or action items were identified during the review. The deficiencies are currently
being addressed to ensure the future protectiveness of the remedy.
In April 2003, field sampling was conducted to address the deficiencies of the First Five-Year
Reivew, including additional site characterization and an evaluation of the performance of the
remedy.
Human Health And Ecological Risk Assessment
Direct contact with surface and subsurface soils and potential for drinking water contamination.
Site wastes in adjacent bayou and potentially impacting biota.
EPA Publication Date: May 4, 20054
American Creosote
Works, Inc.
(Winnfield Plant)
Record of Decision
Signed: April 28, 1993
Selected Remedy:
On site incineration of 25,000 cubic yards tar mat.
In situ biotreatment of 275,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils.
Pump and treat liquid contaminants.
Other Remedies Considered Reason Not Chosen
1. Total Incineration Not cost effective
2. Cap No treatment (statutory preference)
3. Solidification Failed in treatability studies
Community Involvement
Open houses and workshops: 2/92, 4/92, 7/92, 5/93, 9/93, 4/94, 7/94, 5/96, 8/96
Original Proposed Plan Fact Sheet; Public Meetings: 7/29/92; 8/3/92 & 9/8/92, 3/00
Final Proposed Plan Fact Sheet: 03/01/93
Original ROD Fact Sheet: 5/14/93
Milestone Fact Sheets: Remedial Design 10/19/93
Citizens on site mailing list: 232
Site Repository: Winn Parish Public Library, Winnfield.
Technical Assistance Grant
Availability Notice: 10/92
Letters of Intent Received: (1) 10/92 - Winnfield AC TAG, Inc. (2)2/93 - Greater Winn Parish
Development Corporation
Application Received: 5/4/95 Concerned Environmentalists of Winn
Grant Award: 12/15/96
Budget Period: 12/15/95-12/14/98
Grantee: Concerned Citizens of Winn
John Scott
Winnfield, LA
Technical Advisor selected 2/1/97, E&E Engineering Co., Baton Rouge, LA.
Current Status: 6/25/99 TAG closed out.
American Creosote
Works, Inc.
5EPA Publication Date: May 4, 2005(Winnfield Plant)
Remedial Project Manager: Michael A. Hebert, 214.665.8315 Mail Code: 6SF-LP
State Contact: Rich Johnson, LDEQ, 504.765.0487
Community Involvement: Michael A. Hebert, 214.665.8315 Mail Code: 6SF-LP
Attorney: James Bove, 214.665.2794, Mail Code: 6RC-S
EPA Region 6 Ombudsman: Arnold Ondarza, 800.533.3508
State Coordinator: Kathy Gibson, 214.665.7196, Mail Code: 6SF-LT
Prime Contractor: CH2MHill
Benefits
The $17 million remedial action boosted local employment during the cleanup by utilizing local
labor. Several area vendors were also utilized by the prime contractor. Local vendors were
identified during the bid specification stage utilizing the Chamber of Commerce to identify area
expertise.
The completion of the in-situ bioremediation system has effectively eliminated discharges to
Creosote Branch Creek, allowing the stream to recover to natural conditions.
EPA is working with the City of Winnfield to transition the site to industrial use. Over half of the
property is available for reuse.
source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Act Now! It is essential that you inquire about your pollutant lawsuit as soon as possible. Louisiana law may limit your time to bring a legal claim to protect your rights. Your legal review is free and there is no commitment. You case will be evaluated immediately, so get started on your claim today!
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