On March 29, 2005, OSC Smith was contacted by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KYDEP) Superfund program regarding an abandoned creosote wood-treating facility in Mayfield, Graves County, KY. The facility ceased operating and the owner abandoned the property in 2004. OSC Smith mobilized to the Site on March 30 to conduct a Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) purusant to Section 400.310 of the National Oil & Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). A recent inspection of the premises by KYDEP in January 2005 disclosed evidence of creosote spillage from piping adjacent to the above-ground product storage tanks. The facility is readily accessible and recent evidence of trespassing collected by the KYDEP Paducah Regional Office has prompted concerns regarding potential exposure to contaminants.
The OSC concluded the RSE on March 30, and after contacting the current owner who cited a financial inability to address threats currently posed by the Site, the OSC initiated a fund-lead removal action under his delegated CERCLA emergency authority. The OSC mobilized the Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team (START) contractor (Tetra Tech, Inc.) for purposes of determining the nature and extent of contamination and to document the removal action. In addition, the OSC issued a verbal Task Order to the Region 4 Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor (CMC, Inc.) to address the threats posed by the potential overflow and release of hazardous substances to the environment from the tank farm.
