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American Creosote Works, Inc.
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Trailer on American Creosote Works site.
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: MSD004006995Location: Louisville, Winston County, Mississippi
Lat/Long: 33.111110, -089.058330
Congressional District: 03
NPL Status: Proposed: 6/14/2001; Final: 9/13/2001
Affected Media: Ground water, Sediment, Soil
Cleanup Status: Physical cleanup activities have not started
Human Exposure Under Control: Yes
Groundwater Migration Under Control: Yes
Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use: No
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Not in use – potential for commercial and industrial use
Site Manager: Michael Arnett (arnett.michael@epa.gov)
Current Site Status
The American Creosote Works, Inc. (ACW) site includes the area where a wood treating facility operated from 1912 until 1997. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2001 because of contaminated ground water, sediment and soil resulting from facility operations. EPA, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have investigated site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site in order to protect people and the environment from contamination. Site contamination does not currently threaten people living and working near the site. A water line connects residents and businesses to the public water system. By conducting cleanup activities, EPA, MDEQ and USACE continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination.
Site Location and Background
The 120-acre site is located off Highway 15 at the intersection of South Railroad Avenue and Baremore Street in Louisville, Mississippi. The site includes the area where a wood treating facility that pressure-treated wood products with creosote oil and coal tar solutions operated from 1912 until 1997. Until the early 1980s, the facility discharged waste into three ponds on site. Railroad Lake covers approximately 7 acres on the northern part of the site. Site surroundings include industrial, commercial and residential land uses. Railroad Lake borders the site to the north. South Railroad Avenue borders the site to the east. Hughes Creek and a residential neighborhood, which includes low-income residents, border the site to the west.
EPA listed the site on the NPL in 2001. The site is vacant and overgrown with scattered-to-dense vegetated areas. The State of Mississippi owns most of the site property.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations found contamination in ground water, sediment and soil that could potentially harm people in the area. Contamination resulted from waste handling practices at the site. Contaminants of concern include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Ground water contamination is contained on site.
Investigation and Cleanup Responsibility / Oversight
EPA leads site investigation and cleanup activities in cooperation with MDEQ and USACE.
Site Cleanup Plan
In 2007, EPA issued a cleanup plan (a Record of Decision, or ROD) for the site to address remaining soil and ground water contamination. The plan included the following activities:
- Demolishing existing structures and pavement.
- Digging up contaminated soil, sediment and debris.
- Sampling soil in the dug-up areas.
- Consolidating dug-up material in the on-site disposal area.
- Building a below-ground wall around the disposal area to contain contaminated ground water.
- Building a cap over the disposal area.
- Filling in dug-up areas with clean soil.
- Placing a 6-inch layer of topsoil over the filled areas.
- Grading, compacting, seeding and mulching soil at the site.
- Implementing a monitoring plan for the site.
- Placing institutional controls on the site property to limit land use and restrict ground water use.
Cleanup Progress
From 1984 until1985, EPA conducted short-term cleanup activities for the two waste pond areas on site. EPA removed and solidified approximately 70,000 cubic yards of waste and contaminated soil and placed it in an unlined storage area on site. EPA then covered the unlined storage area with 2-to-3 feet of clay. EPA built the clay cap so surface water flows around the storage cell, placed topsoil on the cap and seeded the area with grass.
In 1999 and 2000, EPA conducted additional cleanup activities to address waste and tanks abandoned on site. EPA decommissioned 20 tanks, treated 176,000 gallons of wastewater, recycled 192 tons of metal, disposed of 200 tons of hazardous debris and 60 tons of nonhazardous debris, transported nine lab packs off site for disposal, and stockpiled 4,000 cubic yards of solidified waste for on-site disposal. EPA constructed a temporary storage area for the waste.
In 2006 and 2007, EPA began additional cleanup activities to address contamination in Hughes Creek just north of Baremore Street. EPA installed a retaining wall next to the creek.
Enforcement Activities
EPA has been unable to identify any viable potentially responsible parties for the site. EPA will use federal funds for site cleanup activities. The State of Mississippi will also fund 10 percent of site cleanup costs.
The ROD online provides 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 notices and information meetings.
In 2006, EPA led a reuse planning process that involved community residents in considering future uses of the site. As part of its cleanup efforts, EPA plans to try and hire local workers and purchase local goods and services to the extent possible.
Future Work
Once cleanup activities begin, EPA plans to host a community involvement site cleanup “kick-off” event to discuss the cleanup with the community.
EPA anticipates that the site will be available for commercial and industrial redevelopment following completion of the cleanup.
EPA plans to place institutional controls on the site property to limit land use activities on site to commercial and industrial land uses and to prohibit access to ground water.
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 Repository
Winston County Library
301 West Park Street
Louisville, MS 39339