On March 29, 2005, EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)Art 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 site is located at 311 E. Hunt Road in Mayfield and was formerly operated as Easterday Tie and Timber from 1977 until 2002. At that time, Kentucky Tie & Timber (KY TT) purchased the property and continued wood-treating operations. KY TT ceased operating and abandoned the property in 2004. 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.
Upon receipt of email correspondence from KYDEP formally referring the matter to EPA, OSC Smith mobilized to the Site on March 30, 2005 to conduct a Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) purusant to Section 400.310 of the National Oil & Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The OSC concluded the RSE on March 30, 2005, and determined that the conditions onsite meet criteria for a time-critical removal action listed under Section 300.415 of the NCP. 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.
An estinated 211,160 pounds of creosote product have been shipped to RailWorks Corp, Memphis, TN for recycling. All piping has been dismantled and staged for disposal. Process and storage tanks have been dismantled, cleaned and 82,380 lbs shipped for scrap recycle. Materials that could not be adequately cleaned remain on-site waiting for future disposal.
EPAs ERRS contractor continues to remove sludges and wastewaters from remaining sumps and containnment areas. Once material is removed, sump/containment areas will be removed for future disposal.
Initial disposal bids have been received and under review. Additional waste generation above initial estimates may require additional project funding.
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