Regulatory Framework
The former Tronox/Kerr-McGee Wood Treating Facility (the Site) in Bossier City was contaminated by decades of creosote-based wood treating operations.
A 1998 investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) concluded that due to creosote-related contamination, the Site was eligible for listing on the National Priorities List. The following year, LDEQ assumed lead responsibility for the Site.
Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust LLC, trustee of the Multistate Environmental Response Trust (Multistate Trust) is performing investigations and cleanup under the State of Louisiana’s Risk Evaluation/Correction Action Program (RECAP). RECAP sets the remediation standards and processes for investigations and other environmental actions at the Site.
Investigation & Cleanup Under RECAP
Kerr-McGee and Tronox performed initial investigations to assess the Site. Since 2011, the Multistate Trust and LDEQ have been working to better understand Site-related contamination and gather data.
The Multistate Trust has identified five areas of investigation (AOIs) with contaminant concentrations that exceed RECAP standards:
On-Site surface soils at the Main (East) Property
On-Site surface soils at the West Property
Off-Site surface soils in nearby residential areas and ditches
Subsurface soils
Groundwater
Our Beneficiaries & Regulatory Agencies
The Multistate Trust’s governmental beneficiaries are the United States and 21 state governments, including the the State of Louisiana, represented by LDEQ.
LDEQ is the lead regulatory agency for the Site, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the Site’s non-lead agency. As lead agency, LDEQ approves Site-specific budgets, cleanup plans and activities, and contractors.
As beneficiaries, LDEQ and the United States must approve the sale, transfer, or disposition of all or any portion of the Site.
Overview of Work Performed
Milestones Achieved to Date
Since assuming responsibility for the Site in Bossier City in 2011 as part of the Tronox bankruptcy settlement, the Multistate Trust has completed the following environmental actions and investigations:
Current Activities & Work
LDEQ and the Multistate Trust are prioritizing excavating off-Site contaminated soils on residential properties and nearby areas. Soil excavation at Scott-Dickerson Homes and adjacent properties began in February 2022 and was completed in early 2023. In December 2023, the Multistate Trust finished work to replace the parking lot at Scott-Dickerson Homes after removing contaminated soil underneath the pavement. Find more information here.
In 2024, the Multistate Trust has been working on a new phase of soil excavation, removing contamination from a small area on Carver Street and under a section of Scott Street east of Dickerson Street. The Carver Street work was completed in April, and the Scott Street work was completed in August. In addition, following discovery of buried wood during the parking lot replacement, the Multistate Trust began an investigation to address potential concerns about indoor air quality. This investigation is complete and the report is pending. The testing results showed no chemicals were found below buildings or in sewers at levels that would lead to indoor air above EPA health-based levels.
The Multistate Trust monitors groundwater regularly. Groundwater sampling is performed twice per year at approximately 20 monitoring wells installed on-Site and off-Site.
Expected Future Work
The Multistate Trust is working to sample soil at additional residential properties around the Site. If you are interested in sampling at your property, please contact the Multistate Trust to learn if your property is eligible.
Options for any future potential cleanup of on-Site contamination will be evaluated based on funds remaining after the removal of contaminated soils from off-Site residential areas. Once off-Site soil removal is finished, the Multistate Trust will evaluate cleanup options for remaining contamination:
On-Site surface soil between ground surface and 5 feet below ground surface;
On-Site and off-Site soil deeper than 5 feet below ground surface; and
On-Site and off-Site groundwater.
Cleanup options will be proposed by the Multistate Trust for LDEQ review, input, and approval.