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).
Contaminated soil disposal activities have begun during this reporting period at Southern Pine. Soil load out has occurred in two phases to date. During the weeks of October, 26 2009 and November 2, 2009 the first phase of soil load out was completed. A total of approximately 5000 tons of soil were removed from the site and placed in a non-hazardous landfill in Moss Point, Mississippi. The second phase of load out commenced during the week of November 16, 2009. Approximately 4700 tons of soil was transported off-site to the same landfill in Moss Point. Soil volume estimates indicate 10 to 20 thousand tons of soil remains to be disposed.
Soils continue to be excavated and stockpiled between load out activities. Portions of cells 4, 5, 6 and 7 have been excavated to a depth of two feet. Confirmation samples will be collected after cell excavations are complete to determine if soil contaminant concentrations are below action levels. Suspected source material has been discovered in cell 5 at a depth of 2 feet. A strong odor was present when excavating this material. Organic concentrations in the breathing zone, measured by a PID/FID, were consistent with background concentrations. Concentrations at ground level were elevated above background by 10 ppm. As a conservative measure, it was determined that excavation activities in this area should be conducted in upgraded PPE (level C) with air monitoring.
During the week of October 26, 2009 community relations activities began. Community Involvement Coordinator’s (CIC) Tonya James and Kyle Bryant conducted local community interviews near the site. James and Bryant also interviewed Mayor Alexander of Wiggins, Mississippi to ensure local officials were aware of site activities. Fact sheets were provided to all parties interviewed.
During the week of November 9, 2009 access was granted to the property located south of the site. Access was required to address contaminant migration off site to the south. This area will be included in the cell 6 excavation.
- Complete excavation in all cells.
- Complete soil disposal.
- Collect confirmation samples in all cells.
- Backfill 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 source excavations.
- Weather conditions continue to slow site progress.
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