The Hinds County Wood Preserving Company, Inc. (HCWP) began operations in the early 1960s and ceased operations around 1978. HCWP treated lumber with creosote in two pressure vessels. Remaining on-site as of 11/06/2006 were both pressure vessels (Tanks 2 and 6), three above-ground storage tanks (AST) (Tanks 1, 3, and 5), the facility boiler (Tank 4), and various pieces of equipment and treated lumber. The removal assessment determined 1) that each of the three ASTs contains some amount of material with a collective total of approximately 14,000 gallons, 2) each of the pressure vessels contains some amount of residual creosoting material and one was actively leaking, 3) seven drums of waste oil-water mixture were left on-site, 4) the boiler unit insulation contained asbestos while the pressure vessel’s insulation did not, and 5) equipment contaminated with creosote remained on-site.
The site is drained by several ditches that converge at the northeast, adjacent to Learned Oakley Road, and flow via culverts into Bitter Creek on the east side of the road. The nearest residence is located 120 yards and uphill from the site. The resident maintains a groundwater well on the property, but the house has been connected to a municipal water supply.
Removal of brush and trees is complete. Treated lumber, Tires, and Uncontaminated metal has been segregated. Contaminated metal has been segregated onto plastic sheeting and is covered by another layer of plastic sheeting to prevent runoff. Debris is being cleared for work areas and disposed of in a roll-off box that remains onsite for uncontaminated trash.
Subcontractor Specialized Abatement Inc. was onsite removing the asbestos-containing materials from the boiler unit. The materials were removed and disposed of by 11/29/2006.
Tank 1 was cleaned and destroyed during this reporting period. To decontaminate the tank, a collection area was dug and lined with plastic sheeting. The tank was then tipped over so that the opening flowed into the collection area. Approximated 2.5 feet of creosote sludge was removed from the base of the tank and solidified with contaminated soil; the mixture was then stockpiled on plastic sheeting and covered with another plastic sheet. The inside of Tank 1 was then pressure washed and the washwater was pumped to a frac tank. The tank was then destroyed and will be cut down for recycling.
Decontamination of Tank 2 (pressure vessel) began by digging a collection area and lining it with plastic sheeting at the entrance; the tank’s grade will allow washwater to flow towards the entrance. A 4’x5’ opening was cut at the opposite end of Tank 2 to allow greater ventilation and light; the additional opening also makes activities inside the tank significantly safer.
Waste Characterization results for tanks 1,3,5 and 6 were received. None of the values measured exceeded TCLP regulatory levels.
Sample results were received for soils measured at the loading areas for each vessel and the drip zones. The results confirm that contamination at 6" in these zones exceed Region IX PRG levels and MSDEQ Tier 1 levels for Benzo(a)anthracene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Chrysene, Carbazole, Dibenz(a,h)anthracene, and Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene. The zone at and around the loading area for Tank 2 (vessel) is also contaminated up to 12".
- Clearing of vegetation and trees to gain access to contaminated areas. (COMPLETE)
- Removal and bulking of contaminated wastes and/or hazardous substances from tanks and drums. (ONGOING)
- Demolition and removal of tanks and removal contaminated materials such as abandoned equipment. (ONGOING)
- Excavate, stockpile and re-locate the contaminated surface soil. (ONGOING)
- Collect and analyze confirmation samples from the excavated areas.
- Restore and backfill excavated areas with clean fill.
- Conduct additional sampling for waste profiling. (ONGOING)
- Additional sampling to confirm extent and boundary of migrated contaminants.
- Complete decontamination of Tank 2 and begin demolition
- Begin demolition of Tank 4 (boiler)
- Determine best method to remove material from Tank 6 (vessel)
There are approximately 250 linear yards of drip-zones where the creosote-soaked poles were carried out from the pressure vessels on small rail roads. The dried creosote is the consistency of asphalt and has not been observed to melt in the heat. It has not been undetermined whether this hard/dried material qualifies as surface contamination, and whether it will have to be removed.
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