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Stauffer Chemical Co. (Cold Creek Plant)
National Information
Site Photo Goes Here.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
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: ALD095688875Location: Bucks, Mobile County, AL
Lat/Long: 30.975000, -088.021380
Congressional District: 01
NPL Status: Proposed: 09/08/1983; Final: 09/21/1984
Affected Media: Ground water, Sediment, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction Underway - physical cleanup activities at site have started
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Continued use - industrial
Site Manager: Michael Arnett (arnett.mike@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Stauffer Chemical (Cold Creek Plant) site is located in Mobile County near Bucks, Alabama, approximately 25 miles north of the City of Mobile. Adjacent to the site is the Stauffer Chemical (LeMoyne Plant) Superfund site. The land surrounding both Superfund sites is predominantly industrial, involving chemical processing and electrical power generation.
The Cold Creek Plant began operations in 1966, manufacturing a variety of agricultural chemicals. Wastewaters from the Stauffer processes were held in clay-lined lagoons and discharged to the nearby 650-acre Cold Creek Swamp until approximately 1975. The plant is currently owned by Zeneca, Inc. and continues to operate.Threats and Contaminants
Manufacturing processes at both Superfund sites involved numerous contaminants including carbon disulfide, sulfuric acid, carbon tetrachloride, caustic/chlorine, Crystex (a sulfur compound), thiocarbamates and various metals including mercury.
Across both sites, several ponds containing contaminated soils and/or sludges were identified.
Thiocarbamates were detected in the ground water at the Cold Creek site. Carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulfide and thiocarbamates were found in wells in nearby off-site property (Courtaulds property).
Site Cleanup Plan
The cleanup plan for the Stauffer Chemical (Cold Creek Plant) site covers three operable units (OUs): OU-1: (ground water contamination); OU-2 (various contamination sources found at the site); and OU-3 (surface water and sediment contamination found in the Cold Creek Swamp). OU-1 and OU-3 are common OUs at both Stauffer Chemical Company (SCC) Superfund sites.
The Record of Decision (ROD) for OU-1 was issued in 1989. Major components of the cleanup approach included:- Continued use of existing ground water intercept and treatment system.
- Installation of additional ground water extraction wells.
- Modifications to ground water treatment system to be determined.
- Monitoring of effluent, ground water concentrations and pumping rates.
In 1995, the potentially responsible party (PRP) completed the design for the modification of a ground water treatment system.
The Record of Decision for OU-2 was issued in 1995. Major components of the cleanup approach included:- No further action for the Cold Creek LeCreek Wastewater Treatment Pond.
- Maintain the cap for the Cold Creek North Landfill and Cold Creek South Landfill, with continued ground water monitoring.
- Bioremediation of contaminated soil, backfilling and capping of the Old Neutralization Pond.
In 1999, the cleanup approach for OU-2 was expanded, through an Explanation of Significant Differences, by adding excavation and off-site disposal for the more highly contaminated soils in the Old Neutralization Pond. The OU-3 ROD was issued on 1993. The ROD calls for, among other things, the excavation of contaminated soil from the Transition Zone area of the Cold Creek Swamp and disposal of the soil in the Upper Arm Swamp Zone. The Upper Arm would be capped.
In August 2008, EPA issued a Proposed Plan to amend the OU-3 ROD to replace the cleanup plan selected in the 1993 ROD. The amended ROD will now incorporate installation of an innovative on-site(in-situ) capping technology within the Upper Arm Swamp Zone and require an enhanced monitoring program for the Transition Zone. This new capping technology was developed in 1996 and therefore was not available for consideration in 1993.
Further, implementing the new capping technology will result in less wetland loss and wildlife habitat destruction, while providing a comparable level of protectiveness to that of the capping technology chosen in 1993. Implementing the new technology will also result in a significant cost savings. It is estimated that today it would cost $34,930,000 to implement the 1993 ROD. It is projected that the proposed amended ROD will cost $6,200,000 to implement.
Clean-up Progress
All components of the ground water extraction system are currently in place. The first Five-Year Review (FYR) for the ground water (OU-1) remedy review, conducted in 1999, confirmed that the remedy continues to be protective of human health and the environment. The second FYR, conducted in 2005, similarly found the remedy to be protective.
The PRP developed the Remedial Design for various contamination sources found at the site (OU-2) and is conducting the Remedial Action.
Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by PRPs with oversight by EPA.
Enforcement Activities
In November 1984, EPA Region 4 sent a general notice letter to SCC notifying the company of potential liability for the contamination at the SCC sites.
SCC contracted to conduct the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) under a consent agreement with the EPA. In 1990, a Consent Order was executed under which PRPs agreed to perform the remedial design/remedial action for OU-1.Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Stauffer Chemical (Cold Creek Plant) site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices and information meetings on cleanup progress and activities.
Innovative Cleanup Technology Proposed at Stauffer Chemical (Alabama) In response to local community concern regarding wetland loss and wildlife habitat destruction from cleanup at the Stauffer sites, EPA Region 4 issued a Proposed Plan in August 2008 to amend the Record of Decision (ROD) for Operable Unit 3 (OU-3) at the Stauffer Chemical Cold Creek and Stauffer Chemical LeMoyne sites in Alabama. OU-3 addresses mercury contamination in the Cold Creek Swamp located adjacent to the two plants. The proposed plan would replace the original cleanup approach for OU-3 and incorporate a new and innovative in-situ capping technology that would lead to less wetland loss and wildlife habitat destruction. The amended ROD is planned for early 2009.Future Work
The ground water extraction system for OU-1 is continuing to operate.
The final phase of the Remedial Action for OU-2 is planned to be completed by the end of 2008.
A Proposed Plan to amend the OU-3 ROD was issued in August 2008. As EPA moves forward to finalize the amended ROD, the Agency is currently in consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding their comments submitted during the comment period. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has concurred with the Plan.
The next Five-Year Review will be conducted during 2010.Site Administrative Documents
Site Repository
For more information or to view any site related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.
Satsuma Public Library5466 Old Highway 43
Satsuma, AL 36572
Administrative Record Index
- OU-1 (PDF) (8 pp, 462K, About PDF)
- OU-2 (PDF) (14 pp, 519K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.