OSWER/OSRTI 

Washington, DC 20460 

NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) 

***Final Site*** September 2012 

CEDAR CHEMICAL CORPORATION West Helena, Arkansas 

Phillips County 

 Site Location: 

The Cedar Chemical site is an abandoned chemical manufacturing facility located in Phillips County, Arkansas south 

of West Helena, Arkansas. The site consists of 48 acres along State Highway 242, 1 mile southwest of the intersection 

of U.S. Highway 49 and Highway 242. The site is in the Helena-West Helena Industrial Park and consists of six 

former production units, support facilities and an office on the north side of Industrial Park Road. A biological 

treatment system is located south of Industrial Park Road, Arkansas Highway 242 to the northwest, a Union Pacific 

railway to the northeast, and other industrial park properties to the southeast and southwest bound the site. 

 Site History: 

The facility was initially operated by Helena Chemical in 1970. The facility was purchased by Eagle River Chemical 

and operated for approximately 18 months. From 1971 to 2002 the facility manufactured or processed a variety of 

agricultural and organic chemicals under various owners and operators. The last owner of record was Cedar Chemical 

Corporation. On March 8, 2002, Cedar Chemical Corporation filed for bankruptcy. Manufacturing and plant 

operations were shut down shortly thereafter. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) assumed 

control of the facility on October 12, 2002, and currently acts as the caretaker of the facility. 

 Site Contamination/Contaminants: 

During its operational life, Cedar Chemical manufactured various agricultural chemicals, including insecticides, 

herbicides, polymers and organic intermediates. Chemicals of concern are dieldrin, 1,2-dichoroethane, aldrin, dinoseb, 

chloroform, methylene chloride, toxaphene, methoxychlor, heptachlor and pentachlorophenol. Chemical processing at 

the production units included alkylation, amidation, carbamoylation, chlorination, distillation, esterification, acid and 

base hydrolysis and polymerization. 

 Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment: 

Environmental issues associated with the facility include abandoned chemicals, buried drums, ground water 

contamination, surface and subsurface soil contamination and an abandoned storm water treatment system. 

 Response Activities (to date): 

In January 2003, the EPA Region 6 conducted a Superfund removal action and removed chemicals left in tanks and 

containers. On March 22, 2007, ADEQ, pursuant to the authority of the Arkansas Remedial Action Trust Fund Act 

(RATFA), issued a Consent Administrative Order (CAO) LIS 07-027 to Tyco Safety Products-Ansul Incorporated, 

formerly known as Wormald US, Inc. (Ansul), Helena Chemical Company (Helena Chemical), and ExxonMobil 

Chemical Co., a division of ExxonMobil Corporation (ExxonMobil) regarding Cedar Chemical. The CAO directed 

that environmental concerns be addressed at the facility. Currently, the facility is leased to Quapaw Products LLC 

which is revitalizing two of the chemical production units. 

 Need for NPL Listing: 

The Governor of Arkansas has requested Cedar Chemical Corporation be placed on the NPL using Arkansas's one 

state NPL site selection under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

(CERCLA). This nomination has the support of the ADEQ, local citizens, stakeholders and elected officials. There is 

no other viable cleanup alternative. 

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may 

change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination.] 

For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to 

these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on 

the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.