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Palmetto Wood Preserving
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Monitoring wells and storage building at the Palmetto Wood Preserving site.
- 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: SCD003362217Location: Columbia, Lexington County, SC
Lat/Long: 33.920830, -081.060280
Congressional District: 02
NPL Status: Proposed: 09/08/83; Final: 09/21/84
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction Complete - Physical cleanup activities have been completed.
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Potential for Commercial/Light Industrial
Site Manager: Giezelle Bennett (bennett.giezelle@epa.gov)
Site Background
The 5-acre Palmetto Wood Preserving, located in Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina, is a decommissioned wood preserving facility that operated from 1963 to 1985. In 1963, Palmetto Wood Preserving used a fluoride-chromate-arsenate-phenol process and an acid-copper-chromate process as part of standard wood treatment operations. In 1980, Eastern Forest Products took over the facility and switched to a chromated copper arsenate process. All equipment was moved from the site in 1985 when the facility was closed.
The site is located in a rural area with a surrounding population of approximately 2,000 people. The shallow aquifer, which is the principal source of ground water for the population, has been contaminated by site-related activities.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations have detected soil and ground water contamination at the site and in the surrounding areas. Contamination is a result of wood treatment solutions that dripped from drying timbers to the soil, where they were then able to percolate to the ground water.
Site Cleanup Plan
The Record of Decision (ROD) for the site was issued in 1987. Major cleanup elements for the site included:
- Extraction, filtration, ion exchange treatment, and discharge of treated ground water to a stream located southwest of the site or to a wastewater private treatment facility.
- Extraction and flushing of soil with an acidic water solution. Treated soil is to be returned to the original excavation trench where natural aeration will be enhanced by tilling and compaction.
A ROD Amendment was signed in August 2008 changing the ground water remedy from extraction and treatment to a nutrient injection into the ground water in order to enhance the natural breakdown of remaining contaminants.
Cleanup Progress
In 1985, the EPA provided a temporary alternative drinking water supply to a residence until a permanent water supply could be provided to the property. In 1990, a municipal water line to the residence was installed.
Under an expedited remedial action begun in September 1988, approximately 12,700 cubic yards of contaminated soil were excavated, treated, solidified, placed on site, and covered to eliminate off-site contaminant migration. The soil cleanup was completed in 1989.
In 1990, a sewer line was constructed connecting the site to the City of Cayce's wastewater treatment plant.
Construction of the ground water extraction and treatment system was completed in 1997 and operated until 2004. The system was turned off once chromium levels had reached a steady state. The ground water pump and treat system was dismantled in October 2009.
Implementation of the injection treatment called for in the ROD Amendment was completed in March 2009. Three post injection sampling events have occurred and the results are promising.
Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by EPA.
Enforcement Activities
In May 1983, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control issued a Consent Order compelling the Palmetto Wood Preserving to assess the site contamination.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Palmetto Wood Preserving 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, interviews, and public meetings on cleanup activities and updates.
Future Work
This site is subject to Five-Year Reviews (FYRs). The fourth FYR for this site is anticipated to be completed in September 2012.
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.
Lexington County Government Offices
212 South Lake Drive
Lexington, SC 29072
Administrative Record Index
- OU-1 (PDF) (8 pp, 246K, About PDF)
- ROD Amendment (PDF) (2 pp, 112K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.