Ouachita-Nevada Wood Treaters
Reader, Arkansas

Site Description

The Ouachita-Nevada Wood Treater site is a former wood-treating facility located on approximately 5 acres of land in Reader, Arkansas. In 1956, the facility began treating wood using pentachlorophenol (PCP). The facility then began using a chromium/copper solution to treat wood products in 1972. Finally, the facility used a mixture of diesel fuel and motor oil, to treat the wood. In 1985, the owner filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy, and subsequently filed for Chapter Seven bankruptcy after failing to reorganize debts. Arsenic, chromium, copper, PCP, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination was identified in soil and ground water.

Current Site Status and Cleanup Actions to Date

• Between February 1999 and February 2000, EPA conducted a series of removal assessments at the site. The removal assessments determined the nature and extent of surface soil contamination above the preliminary action levels for arsenic and PCP. Samples of waste remaining in on-site tanks and drums were also collected for disposal evaluation.
• From September 1999 through June 2000, EPA conducted emergency cleanup activities at the site.
• Between April 2002 and March 2003, EPA studied the extent of contamination in the ground water and deeper soil.
• In September 2005, EPA selected the final cleanup.
• In June 2006, EPA completed the design of the selected cleanup method. The cleanup will include recovery and off-site disposal of light non-aqueous phase liquids, in-situ enhanced bioremediation (PDF) (2 pp, 1.4 MB), installation of a slurry wall to prevent off-site migration, monitored natural attenuation (PDF) (2 pp, 91 K), and institutional controls.
• Construction of the remedy was completed in September 2006.

Current Funding Status

• In July 2006, EPA provided funding in the amount of $1,429,553 for implementation of the cleanup.

For more information on the projects at this site, please read the Ouachita-Nevada Wood Treaters Fact Sheet (PDF) (4 pp, 69 K) on the Region 6 Superfund Web site.