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).
Excavation activities continue at Southern Pine. During this reporting period excavation of cell 1 and cell 2 has been completed. Cell 1 produced approximately 1,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil while cell 2, which has a much larger footprint, produced approximately 2,000 cubic yards. Both of these cells are located in the suspected former laydown yard area. Confirmation samples were collected from each cell to evaluate any residual contamination. Preliminary sample results for cell 1 indicate no exceedances of any site clean-up values. Cell 2 results are pending.
Excavation of Cell 3 has commenced. Cell 3 includes the suspected former process area. Soils appear to be more visibly contaminated in this area as expected. Excavation will extend below 2 feet in this cell due to obvious source material at depth. A noticeable odor is present in this cell. START is conducting air monitoring in the breathing zone with a PID/FID in this area. No levels of concern have been observed to date.
During the next reporting period excavation activities will continue. In addition, contaminated soil load out and disposal will commence.
- Continue excavation by cell.
- Load soil into trucks for disposal.
- Begin backfilling with clean fill.
- Clear area on adjacent property to the south for excavation.
- Maintain air monitoring of breathing zone during source excavations.
- Weather conditions may slow site progress.
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