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Sonford Products
National Information
Office space belonging to the septic system installation and service business that currently leases a portion of the Sonford property.
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: MSD086556388Location: Flowood, Rankin County, MS
Lat/Long: 32.302, -90.143
Congressional District: 03
NPL Status: Proposed: 09/27/2006; Final: 03/07/2007
Affected Media: Soil, Surface Water, Ground Water
Cleanup Status: Early Action Initiated/Completed, Study Underway. Initial removal of high-priority contaminants completed
Human Exposure Under Control: Yes
Groundwater Migration Under Control: Unknown
Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use: No
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Anticipated light industrial use
Site Manager: Keriema Newman (newman.keriema@epa.gov)
Current Site Status
The Sonford Products site includes an area where two separate chemical processing plants operated from 1972 until 1985. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2007 because of contaminated soil, sediment, surface water and ground water resulting from plant operations. EPA and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have investigated site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site in order to protect people and the environment from contamination. A water line connects residences and businesses on site to the public water supply. By cleaning up the site and monitoring ground water, EPA and MDEQ continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination.
Site Location and Background
The 6-acre site is located on Flowood Drive in Flowood, Rankin County, Mississippi. The site includes the Sonford Products parcel, an undeveloped parcel referred to as the Wixson parcel and the Payne Drive neighborhood. Dense woods cover the Wixson parcel. The Payne Drive neighborhood includes 22 permanent and mobile homes. The homes include low-income and minority residents.
A Gulf South Pipeline right-of-way borders the site to the west. Forested areas border the site to the north and south. Flowood Drive borders the site to the east. Residential areas are located west, south and northeast of the site. The Flowood Superfund site is located approximately one mile south of the site. The site's broader surroundings include forested areas, wetlands, and industrial and commercial land uses.
From 1972 to 1985, Sonford International and Sonford Products operated two separate chemical manufacturing plants at the site. In 1985, a 2,000-gallon spill occurred at the site and chemical manufacturing operations ended. In 2007, EPA listed the site on the NPL. Currently, a concrete septic tank manufacturing facility operates on the Sonford Products parcel. The facility’s operations use and store septic tanks and heavy machinery. A fence surrounds the Sonford Products parcel and the Wixson parcel.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations found contamination in soil, sediment, surface water and ground water that could potentially harm people in the area. Contamination resulted from operations at the site. Contaminants of concern include pentachlorophenol (PCP), dioxin, pesticides and metals.
Contamination affected soil in the Payne Drive neighborhood. EPA completed the remedial design for soil cleanup activities in the Payne Drive neighborhood and plans to begin cleanup activities in 2012. EPA contacted residences that may require cleanup activities.
Ground water contamination remains at the site. However, ground water contamination does not pose a threat to people because a water line connects residences and businesses on site to the public water supply.
EPA does not consider surface water or sediment contamination a threat because people do not use the on-site stream for fishing or swimming.
Investigation and Cleanup Responsibility / Oversight
EPA leads site investigation and cleanup activities in cooperation with MDEQ.
Site Cleanup Plan
Site investigations and cleanup activities focus on two areas, which EPA refers to as operable units, or OUs. These areas include OU-1: contaminated subsurface soil and ground water; and OU-2: contaminated surface soil, sediment and surface water.
In 2009, EPA issued a cleanup plan (a Record of Decision, or ROD) for OU-1. The plan included the following activities:
- Removing non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), the contamination source.
- Treating contaminated soil and ground water using chemical oxidation and living organisms to break down contamination.
- Injecting chemicals into the subsurface soil to treat contamination.
- Using monitored natural attenuation to address contaminated ground water.
In 2010, EPA issued a cleanup plan (a ROD) for OU-2. The plan included the following activities:
- Digging up and consolidating contaminated soil on site and off site.
- Using a liner system to cover contaminated soil and sediment on site and to prevent leaching of contamination into subsurface soil.
- Using monitored natural attenuation to address contaminated surface water.
Cleanup Progress
In 1985, the Mississippi Department of Natural Resources (MDNR, now MDEQ) conducted cleanup activities following the spill at the site. Then, EPA took over cleanup activities. EPA dug up and removed approximately 2,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil and disposed of it at an off-site facility. EPA also treated and disposed of 10,000 gallons of contaminated oil and treating solution and 100,000 gallons of wastewater.
From 2006 to 2009, EPA conducted a remedial investigation/feasibility study(RI/FS) for the site.
In 2008, EPA conducted additional cleanup activities to address contaminated soil.
As part of the remedial design for OU-1, EPA constructed a monitoring well network to monitor ground water contamination. EPA also conducted investigations to determine the extent of the NAPL contamination.
EPA began cleanup activities for OU-1 and completed the remedial design for OU-2 in 2011.
Enforcement Activities
MDEQ tried to negotiate legal agreements with Sonford Products to clean up air pollution and wastewater at the site in 1983 and 1985. EPA also tried to negotiate with Sonford Products to clean up the spill at the site in 1985.
EPA was not able to identify a potentially responsible party (PRP) to conduct cleanup activities. EPA is using federal funds for site cleanup activities.
The ROD online provide additional information on specific legal agreements for the site.
Community Involvement
EPA has worked with the community and its state partner to develop a long-term cleanup plan for the site, reflecting the Agency’s commitment to safe, healthy communities and environmental protection. Community engagement and public outreach are core components of EPA program activities.
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities to solicit community input and to make sure the public remains informed about site activities throughout the cleanup process. Outreach efforts have included fact sheets, public meetings and informational sessions.
EPA also conducted extensive community relations activities to inform and involve the community, including mailing information fact sheets regarding the RI/FS, an RI/FS kickoff meeting, an availability session summarizing the findings from the public health assessment, a public meeting to discuss proposed OU-1 cleanup activities and a public meeting to introduce the proposed plan for OU-2. EPA’s site manager and community involvement coordinators have met with residents in the community throughout all site activities.
Future Work
Ground water monitoring is ongoing.
EPA is analyzing the results of site studies and investigations. Based on the results of the analysis, EPA will begin a pilot study at the site.
Additional Information
EPA keeps additional site documents and information in a site information repository at the location below. EPA also posts site documents, when available, on EPA’s CERCLIS Site Profile page. For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.
Site Administrative Document
- Record of Decision, OU 1, 2009 (PDF) (201 pgs, 20.61MB, About PDF)
Site Repository
G. Chastaine Flynt Library
103 Winners Circle
Flowood, MS 39232