American Creosote Works (Jackson Plant)

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index (All PDF): OU1 (5 pp., 183K), ESD (3 pp., 88K), Removal (4 pp., 150K), Final (43 pp., 1.4M)
• 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 60-acre American Creosote Works (Jackson Plant) site was a wood-treatment plant operated from the early 1930s until late 1981 when the operator filed for bankruptcy. The plant used creosote and pentachlorophenol to preserve wood. Workers discharged untreated process wastewater directly to the nearby South Fork of the Forked Deer River until 1973, when a levee was built around the facility to contain waste water and surface water runoff. In 1974, the plant installed a wastewater treatment system. The pits created during construction of the levee were used to store treated process water and derivative sludges which often overflowed into the main process area and the river during heavy rains and flooding. Groundwater underlying the facility, on-site soils, surface water and sediments are contaminated with volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals from the wood-treating process. Wetlands lying along both sides of the river support a large variety of wildlife. Jackson has a population of more than 60,000 people. Several public and private wells are located within a 3-mile radius including a city well field which lies less than 2 miles east of the site.

Cleanup Progress: Actual Construction Underway
EPA's emergency response action at the site began in 1983, with the
removal of 30 million gallons of wastewater and treatment of 50,000
gallons of contaminated water. More than 100,000 cubic yards of sludge from the lagoons and treatment areas were solidified, buried and capped with clay as an interim measure. In 1986, EPA treated approximately 225,000 gallons of contaminated water from storage tanks and consolidated 28,000 gallons of oil in one secured tank. During 1989 and 1990, additional removal actions were conducted by EPA. At this time, contaminated soils and sludge were transported off-site for incineration. All tank liquids were treated and disposed of appropriately, and all process equipment was dismantled and salvaged. A sump pump and a large drainage pipe to the river were installed to control flooding and the site was fenced to prevent trespassing. Between May 1999 and May 2000, additional cleanup activities were conducted at the site. Creosote and contaminated water were extracted from the site and approximately 81,000 tons of contaminated soil were excavated and treated by mixing with cement and other chemicals before being returned into the excavated area of approximately seven acres. The area was then covered with clay, top soil, and grass. The area groundwater was monitored for approximately four years after the soil cleanup. Results of the monitoring were evaluated as part of the five-year review of the site in 2004. The five year review concluded that the soil remediation conducted at the site was protective of human health for industrial use purposes. However, groundwater contaminant levels outside site boundaries were high enough to warrant a re-evaluation of the groundwater for possible cleanup in the future. The re-evaluation is in progress at this time. The site property has been sold to Jackson Energy Authority and is currently being used for equipment storage. Institutional controls are in place at the site prohibiting potable use of area groundwater and digging or excavation where treated soil is buried.