United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

Southern Pine Wood Preserving is a 5.5 acre site located at 1418 College Avenue, Wiggins, Mississippi.  It is located in a residential area and the property is zoned residential. The nearest residence is located within 200 feet of the site. Surface water from the site flows primarily to the south and southwest to Fourmile Creek.

Operations at Southern Pine included impregnating wood products with creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP). Operations began in 1960 and ceased in 1984. A dilapidated wooded structure is all that remains on site from the wood preserving operation.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MSDEQ) referred the site to EPA in November of 2008. EPA subsequently conducted a Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) to determine if a removal action was warranted. The assessment scope included surface and subsurface sampling, local interviews, and the identification of various environmental and physical hazards at the site.

The RSE revealed significant amounts of source material containing PCP and Polychlorinated Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) at or near the surface on a large portion of the site. Dioxins were also discovered in limited quantities and limited areas of the site. All contaminants were present at concentrations above EPA Region 4 Removal Action Levels (RALs). Based on these concentrations and other conditions at the site documented in the Action Memo, site conditions meet the requirements for initiating a time-critical removal action according to criteria listed in Section 300.415 (b)(2) of the National Contingency Plan (NCP).

Soil excavation activities are nearly completed. Contaminated soils have been excavated in cells one through eleven. The majority of the site has been excavated to depths ranging between two and four feet depending on depth of contamination with limited pockets of heavily contaminated soil reaching eight feet within the suspected pond area and suspected process areas. Groundwater was encountered within two feet in the southwest corner of the site near Fourmile Creek. It appears that contamination in this area continues vertically past the water table. Remediation of saturated soils is beyond the scope of this removal action. Composite soil samples have been collected from each cell to reveal any remaining concentrations of site contaminants above clean-up goals. Remaining contamination conditions will be documented in the final report.

Disposal activities are approaching completion as well. The majority of site soils have been shipped to the designated nonhazardous landfill in Moss Point, MS. To date approximately 24,000 tons of contaminated soil has been removed from the site.

Backfilling activities are ongoing. Approximately, half of the excavation has been backfilled. Local fill, which was sampled to determine cleanliness, will be graded such that the original site drainage pathway (south and west from College Avenue) towards Fourmile Creek is restored. A minimum of two feet of fill will be placed in cells with confirmation sample results above clean-up numbers. 10,500 cubic yards of clean fill has been brought on site to date.

An air sampling event was conducted on 01/13/10 due to a strong and persistent odor present on site during excavation of the most highly contaminated soils. SKC pumps were used to collect three air samples. One sample was collected in the excavator cab, one in the middle of the site (upwind of the stockpile) and one at the western site boundary closest to the nearest residence. Sample results indicated no contaminant concentrations at any levels of concern. A PID/FID will continue to be used to assess “real time” conditions on site if warranted by odor.

The Site Community Relations Plan was completed earlier this month by CIC Tonya James and is located in the Wiggins Public Library. Community involvement continues to be minimal, but positive.

Robert Huckaby and Phillip Weathersby of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MSDEQ) visit the site approximately once every other week to monitor site progress. Any questions or concerns regarding the site have been addressed. MSDEQ feedback has been positive regarding site progress.

-  Complete soil disposal
-  Complete backfill of cells with clean fill dirt
-  Conduct site restoration activities

- Complete excavations in cell 5, 6 and 7.
- Take confirmation samples in excavated cells.
- Continue contaminated soil load out.

-  Maintain air monitoring of breathing zone during contaminated soil excavation.
-  Weather conditions continue to slow site progress.