The Copiah County Manufacturing Site is a former wood treating facility that utilized both pentachlorophenol (PCP) and copper chromium arsenate (CCA) preservatives during its operation from 1968 to 1995.
CCM began wood treatment operations in 1968; operations primarily utilized just 6 acres of the 23 acre property. Treatment with pentachlorophenol was discontinued in 1980 and all wood treating operations ceased in 1995. CCM continued to operate a lumber retail outlet at the Site until it was closed in 2001 and it has remained closed since that time. Structures remaining at the Site include the former treatment building, drying kiln, three former wood storage buildings, an office, and a large storage shed. There is also a 0.8-acre surface impoundment on the property that was closed in 1983.
In March of 2011 MDEQ referred the Site to EPA Region 4 Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB) to conduct a Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) at the property. The request was based on the presence of several leaking drums and other containers as well as the known contamination of CCA and PCP at the Site. During an RSE, EPA discovered leaking drums, impacted soil, and PCP above ground storage tank (AST) that was overturned with contents spilling onto the ground. EPA initiated and Emergency Response to stabilize the drums and tank, remove the impacted soil and search the Site for any additional hazardous materials that may be present.
EPA conducted three additional assessment and sampling activities at the Site between 2011 and 2012. Results were compared to the EPA Removal Management Levels (RMLs) calculated for Total Risk (TR) of 1E-04 and Hazard Quotient (HQ) of 3. RMLs for inorganic arsenic in soils are 39mg/kg for residences and 160mg/kg on industrial properties. RMLs for pentachlorophenol in soils are 89mg/kg for residences and 270mg/kg on industrial properties. The removal site evaluation has identified elevated concentrations of inorganic arsenic and pentachlorophenol at the Site above residential and industrial RMLs, as well as the presence of other hazardous wastes. EPA is conducting a time-critical removal action to remove and/or prevent migration of hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants from the Site.
