## AMENDED FINAL CLOSE OUT REPORT PALMERBARGE LINE SUPERFUND SITE PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS EPA ID# TXD068104561

.REGION 6

## CONCURRENCE PAGE AMENDED FINAL CLOSE OUT REPORT PALMER BARGE LINE SUPERFUND SITE EPA ID# TXD068104561

Rafae Casanova, P.G., RemedIal Project Manager

ompton, Office ofRegional Counsel, Superfund Branch

Carlos Sanchez, Chief, Arkansas/Texa ection

# [74~~~ . Donald Williams, Deputy Associate Director, Superfund Division

Charles Faultry, Associate Direc r Superfund Division

Mark Peycke, C' , Office ofRegional Counsel, Superfund Branch

Director, Superfund Division Date 

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# r/r~l/f( D teAMENDED FINAL CLOSE OUT REPORT PALMERBARGE LINE SUPERFUND SITE PORT ARTHUR, 

### JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS
I. INTRODUCTION This Amended Final Close Out Report documents that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have completed all ofthe cleanup activities for the Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site (hereinafter "the Site" or "PBL Site") in accordance with the EPA's guidance document titled, "Close Out Procedures for National Priorities List Sites" (OSWER Directive 9320.2-22, May 2011). II. SUMMARY OF SITE CONDITIONS Background The PBL Site (CERCLIS ID

- TXD068 104561), a former barge-cleaning operation, encompasses approximately 17 acres andis located approximately 4.5 miles east-northeast ofthe City ofPort Arthur on Old Yacht Club Road on Pleasure Islet. Pleasure Islet is a peninSUla located approximately 0.5 miles southwest ofthe mouth oftheNeches River. The Site is bordered by vacant property to the north, by Old Yacht Club Road to the west, by the State Marine ofPort Arthur Superfund Site to the south, and Sabine Lake to the east. Pleasure Islet is a manmade landmass consisting ofdredge spoils generated during the construction and maintenance ofthe Sabine-Neches canal, also called the Intracoastal Waterway. The canal was constructed between 1898 and approximately 1920in the vicinity ofSabine Lake and the Neches River, between the current Site location and the mainland. Between 1955 and 1957, a portion ofthe canal along the western side ofPleasure Islet was abandoned, and a new canal was cut along the eastern and southern sides ofPleasure Islet. Pleasure Islet was created when a land bridge was constructed across the abandoned portions ofthe canal, between the. northern tip ofPleasure Island and the mainland. Vehicle access to the Site is limited to a single dirt road starting at the western Siteborder along Old YachtClub Road. The Site, along with the adjacentproperties to the north and south, were used as a Municipal Landfill for the City ofPortArthur from 1956 to 1987. Although disposal at the landfill has long since ceased and the landfill contents have been covered with dredged sediments, the contents are still present onthe Site in the subsurface soils. In April 1982, John Palmer, President ofPalmer Barge Line Inc. purchased approximately 17 acres from the City ofPort Arthur for the purpose ofservicing and maintaining barges andmarine vessels. The company ceased operations on theproperty in July 1997. During operation, the typical activities performed atthe Site included cleaning, degassing, maintenance, and inspection ofbarges and other marine equipment. Cleaning operations includedthe removal ofsludge and other residual material by pressure steaming the vessel holds, engines, and boilers. Engines were degreased and accumulations ofsludges were removed. Degassing activities involved theremoval ofexplosive vapors from vessel holds using nitrogen or boiler exhaust. Maintenance and inspection activities included the replacement and/or repair ofvalves, engines, and line leaks followed by pressure tests.. A flare was located on-site to burn excess gases and liquids produced during facility operations. Site History In December 1996, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), nowthe TCEQ, conducted a multi-media investigation. The purpose ofthis study was to determine the compliance status ofthe facility. In March 1998, the TNRCC along with the EPA conducted an investigation to identify potential sources and to sample the soils and sediments atthe Site. Five areas

### ~f stained soil were identifiedon-site near the sumps, boiler house, flare, ASTs, and wastewater tanks. Sample results indicated the presence ofmetals, semi-volatile organic constituents (SVOCs), and pesticides in on-site soil. Metals and SVOCs were detected inoffshore sediments adjacent to the Site. In July 1999, the TNRCC sampled the ASTs, roll-offboxes and slop tanks to characterize the stored materials. In October 1999, the EPA conducted anExpanded Site Inspection (Weston 2000) to determine the presence and nature ofon- and off-site constituents and to determine migration and routes ofexposure ofsite-related constituents. The investigations ofthe Site included the wastewater aboveground storage tank (AST), boiler house ASTs, opentop slop tanks area, horizontal ASTs, twelve ASTs area, flare area, area east offlare in the center ofthe Site, ground water, and sediments ofSabine Lake. Results ofthe inspection indicated the presence ofvolatile organic constituents (VOCs), SVOCs, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals. EPApublished a proposed rule onMay 11, 2000 (65FR30489), to add the Site to the National Priorities List (NPL). The Site was added to theNPL in a final rule published onJuly 27, 2000 (65FR46096). The surface water migrationpathway was scored as part ofthe Hazard Ranking System Documentation Record.

4History ofCERCLAEnforcementActivities On September 30, 2002, the EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC, EPA 2002) to the PRPs to conduct the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RIlFS; URS 2004 and 200Sa, respectively) for the Palmer Barge Site. Voluntary respondents to the Order were: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Chevron/Texaco Inc., Kirby Inland Marine, LP, Kirby Inland Marine, Inc. ofLouisiana, and Ashland Inc. OnMay 7, 2007, the EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO, EPA 2007) for Remedial Design and Remedial Action (RDIRA) to a group ofPRPs. The UAO became effective on June 6, 2007. By letter dated June IS, 2007, a group offour (4) companies agreed to comply with the UAO to conductthe RDIRA for the Site. Removal Actions Performed In August 2001, the EPA completed a Removal Action (Weston 2001) to remove source materials stored on-site. Activities included waste removal, water treatment, oil/water separation, and sludge stabilization. Approximately 2S0,000 gallons ofwater were treated onsite; 330 cubic yards ofsludge stabilized; and 100,000 gallons ofoil/styrene were separated and

. removed from the Site. All ofthe ASTs were removed exceptfor a 420,000-gallon AST on the

northern portion ofthe Site that contained liquid and sludge materials. Several ofthe concrete AST foundationsremain along with gravel throughout the Site. Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study On September 30, 2002, the EPA issued an AOC to the PRPs to conduct an RIlFS. The objectives ofthe RIlFS were to characterize the nature and extent ofconstituents ofconcern in soil, ground water, and surface water and sediments ofSabine Lake. Constituents detected in soil samples included metals, SVOCs, VOCs, PCBs, and pesticides. Several samples containing concentrations ofmetals and SVOCs above background were from samples collected in soil that contained municipal waste, indicating that some constituents present may not be due to activities from the barge cleaning operation. There is no current or anticipated future use ofthe shallow ground water at the Site and it is not considered a potential drinking water source. The shallow ground water resulted from the dredging activities.that formed the isle where the former PBL Site is located. Ground water samples collected from permanent ground watermonitoring wells installed downgradient ofthe Site did not contain significant concentrations ofSite-related constituents above risk-based levels.

SIn 2004, URS Corporation, onbehalfofthe Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs), submittedthe Remedial Investigation (Rl) Report (URS 2004), which characterized the nature and extent ofconstituents present inenvironmental media at the Site and in adjacent SabineLake surface water and sediments. The constituents detected inthe sediments ofSabine Lake included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals. Many ofthe constituents found inthe soil atthe Site were not detected in sediment samples. Surface water samples contained onlymetals at low concentrations. The humanhealth risk assessment concluded that contaminants were present in Site soils and sediments that presented anunacceptable riskto on-site workers and off-site recreational anglers. The screening level ecological risk assessment concluded that site contaminants did not present anunacceptable riskto ecologicalreceptors. A total off our alternatives were developed for the Site during the FS. The EPA chose excavation and off-site disposal as th,e Selected Remedy for the contaminated soils atthe Site. Record ofDecision Findings Based onthe results ofthe Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment (BHHRA, URS 200Sb) and Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment (SLERA, URS 200Sc), the EPA's Selected Remedyfor the PBL Site, identified in the September 2005 ROD, was "Excavation and Off-Site Disposal." The Selected Remedy consisted ofthe following components:
• Excavation ofapproximately 1,204 cubic yards ofthe uppertwo feet ofsoil ,that exceed human health and ecological risk-based levels ateach ofthe response areas.
• Confirmation sampling for constituents ofpotential concern ateach ofthe response areas.
• Backfilling ofexcavated areas with clean soil.
• Off-site disposal ofthe excavated soils at a permitted disposal facility.
• Implementation ofinstitutional controls (lCs) to restrict future land use only for industrial purposes. The ICs shall be a restrictive covenantrecorded by the property ownerinthe real property records ofJefferson County, Texas.
• Abandonment offive existing ground water monitoring wells.
• Wastewater AST sludge removal and decontamination and off-site disposal.

6The Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs) achieved bythe Selected Remedy for the Site were based onthe following:
• Thereasonably anticipated landuse scenario is based onthe future redevelopment ofthe Site for industrial orcommercial use, consistent with current Site use and surrounding landuse.
• Potential ecological risks were considered for Site soils to prevent exposure to ecological receptors andprevent surface runoffofcontaminants to Sabine Lake sediments. The RAOs for the Site were:
• Prevent direct contact, ingestion, and inhalation ofsurface soils that exceed human health risk-based levels, basedon an industrial worker scenario, for the chemicals ofconcern (COCs).
• Prevent off-site migration ofCOCs to Sabine Lake sediments that exceed humanhealth and ecological risk-based levels for the COCs.
• Prevent exposure to Site soils that may pose a risk to ecological receptors. Remedial Design and Remedial Action On May 7, 2007, the EPA issued a UAO for RD/RA to the PRPs, whichbecame effective onJune 6,2007. The Final RDIRA WorkPlanwas approved bythe EPA onAugust 2,2007. A total of 181 tons ofcontaminated soils were excavated and disposed at a permitted disposal facility. Eachresponse areawas thenbackfilled with clean soil. Additionally, approximately 78,340 pounds ofoil were skimmed from the 10,000-barrel AST and recycled for fuel blending, and approximately 854,886 pounds ofthe remaining sludge material within the AST were incinerated. As required bythe 2005 ROD, five permanent ground water monitoring wells were plugged and abandoned. The RA on-site construction was completed on September4, 2007. The June 2008 Remedial Action Report was approved onJuly 1,2008. An institutional control, inthe form ofrestrictive covenantby the property owner, to the benefit ofthe State ofTexas andthe United States Government, was recorded inthe real property records ofJefferson County, Texas on March 25, 2011. This IC ensures that future Site use remains commercial/industrial.

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### III. MONITORING RESULTS The EPA chose a 1.0 x 10-5 target cleanup goal based onexposure to COCs that exceeded those levels at surface soils. The COCs andthe selected soil cleanup goals achieved bythe RDIRAfor the HumanHealth Risk Areas were:
• Aldrin

- 1.1 milligrams/kilogram (mg/kg).
• Benzo(a)pyrene

- 2.3 mg/kg.
• Benzo(a)anthracene

- 23.0 mg/kg.
• Dieldrin

- 1.2 mg/kg.
• Heptachlor Epoxide

- 2.1 mg/kg.
• Naphthalene

- 210.0 mg/kg,
• Pentachlorophenol- 100.0 mg/kg.
• Lead

- 800.0 mg/kg. The COCs andthe selected soil cleanup goals achieved bythe RDIRA for ecological receptors were:
• 4,4'-DDD

- 0.0864 mg/kg.
• 4,4'-DDE**~** 0.0864 mg/kg.
• 4,4'-DDT

- 0.0865 mg/kg.
• Butylbenzyl phthalate

- 5.37 mg/kg.
• Lead, total- 497.0 mg/kg.
• Methoxychlor

- 0.09 mg/kg. TheRODrequired the collection ofconfirmation samples, including analyses for the constituents ofpotential concern, at each ofthe response areas. Analytical results were used to determine horizontal limits ofimpacted mediaineach oftheresponse areas. Ifconstituents were found to contain concentrations in excess ofthe remediation goals (RG), step-out samples were 8analyzed for those constituents. Additional step-out samples were collected and analyzed when the step-out samples exceeded the RO. This process continued until sample results for perimeter samples were belowthe RO, indicating horizontal delineation had been achieved according to the requirements ofthe ROD. These results are documented inthe July 1, 2008 RAreport. 

### IV. SUMMARY OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIRED Operation and maintenance activities include monitoring effectiveness ofthe recorded restrictive covenant. 

### V. DEMONSTRATION OF CLEANUP ACTIVITY QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL The Quality Assurance/Quality Control 

### (QAlQC) program for the PBL Site was conducted in accordance with the EPA-approved work plan for the RAconstruction activities. The following project planswere prepared and implemented for the RA: $ Community Relations Plan. 

### $ Site Management Plan. $ Health and Safety Plan. 

### $ Field Sampling Plan. $ Quality Assurance Project Plan. 

### $ DataManagement Plan. $ Pollution Control and Mitigation Plan. 

### $ Transportation and Disposal and Waste Management Plan. 

### $ Construction Quality Assurance Plan. These plans ensured that the cleanup activities met all 

### QAlQC requirements for the RA for the Site. The EPAperformed oversight throughout the implementation ofthe RA. The TCEQ reviewed and commented on all projectplans for the Site, participated inthe Final Construction Inspection, andreviewed and commented onthe DraftFinal andAmended Draft Final Close OutReport.



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### VI. FIVE-YEAR REVIEWS Since remaining conditions at the Site will not allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure, a Five-Year Review (FYR) must be conducted no less often than every five years from initiation ofthe Remedial Actionto ensure that the remedyis, or will continue to be, protective ofhumanhealth and the environment. The effectiveness ofthe recorded IC will be part ofthe FYRfor the Site to ensure thatfuture Site development is consistent with the industrial cleanup standards for whichthe remedy is based. The EPA will conduct the first FYRby September 4, 2012. 

### VII. SITE COMPLETION CRITERIA The implemented remedy atthe Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site met the cleanup levels specified inthe 2007 Record ofDecision and documented inthe July 2008RAReport. The implemented restrictive covenant ensures future land use will remain commercial/industrial. Therefore, no further Superfundresponse is needed to protecthuman health andthe environment.

# ~/b~ Samuel Coleman, P.E., Director Superfund Division Date

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### VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2002. Administrative Order on Consent for Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study. Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site. September. EPA. 2005a. Proposed Plan. Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site. July. EPA. 2005b. Record ofDecision. Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site. September. EPA. 2007. Unilateral Administrative Order. Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site. May. URS Corporation (URS). 2004. Remedial Investigation Report. Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site. July. URS. 2005a. Feasibility Study Report. PalmerBarge Line Superfund Site. July. URS.2005b. Human Health Risk Assessment, Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site. June. URS. 2005e. Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment. Palmer Barge Line Superfund Site. June. Weston Solutions, Inc. (Weston). 2000. Expanded Site Inspection. Palmer Barge Line Superfund Sites. January. Weston. 2001. Removal Action Report. State Marine ofPort Arthur andPalmer Barge Line Superfund Sites. August.

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