Palmetto Wood Preserving

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index: OU1 (PDF, 8 pp., 246K)
• Administrative Record Index for the Amendment to the ROD: OU1 (PDF, 2 pp., 112K)
• Additional Site Documents including Five Year Reviews, Records of Decisions (ROD) and Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD).
• For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office (http://www.epa.gov/region4/foiapgs/submit.htm).

Site Background:
The 5 acre Palmetto Wood Preserving (PWP) is a decommissioned wood preserving facility operated between 1963 and 1985. In 1963, PWP used two processes for its operation: fluoride-chromate-arsenate-phenol and an acid-copper-chromate process. In 1980, Eastern forest Products took over the facility and switched to a chromated copper arsenate (CCA) process. Operations consisted of treating wood with a CCA solution under high pressure and allowing the wood to dry under normal conditions. The plant consisted of a pressure vessel, a narrow-gauge rail line, solution storage tanks, a drip shed, and storage and office buildings. All equipment was moved from the site in 1985. The rural area that surrounds the site has a population of approximately 2,000. The shallow aquifer, which supplies drinking water to 2,000 is contaminated. There are no current viable PRPs.

Cleanup Progress: Construction Completed

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 groundwater extraction system and the groundwater treatment system was completed in 1997.  A five year review of the remedy was conducted in 2002.  The review concluded that the remedy was functioning properly, was operated and maintained adequately, and remained protective of human health and the environment.  The gw pump and treat system was shut down in 2004 due to chromium levels reaching steady state.  An in-situ pilot study was completed in 2007 and had favorable results on the remediation of the plume remnant.  A third five-year review was completed in September 2007.   A ROD amendment was signed in August 2008 changing the groundwater remedy from pump and treat to in-situ anaerobic bioremediation.  Implementation of the in-situ treatment was completed in March 2009.  The first post injection sampling was conducted in May 2009 and results are pending.  Plans are underway to decommission the groundwater pump and treat system.