B OBBY JINDAL 	

GOVERNOR 	

P EGGY M. HATCH 

SECRETARY 

~tate of 1Louisiana 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 


OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE 


JAN 12 2015 

Mr. Ron Curry, Regional Administrator 

US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 

1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 

Dallas, TX 75202-2733 

Re: 	 Proposed Listing of Colonial Creosote Site on the National Priorities List 

LDEQ Agency Interest Number 129320 

EPA Identification Number LAN000607134 

Hickory Avenue; Bogalusa, Washington Parish, Louisiana 

Dear Mr. Curry: 

This letter is in response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency' s (EPA's) 

request for concurrence from the State of Louisiana before the Colonial Creosote Site ("the site") 

can be proposed for listing on the National Priorities List (NPL). 

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) has been actively involved with 

the site in the past, providing technical assistance to the EPA in assessment of the site. The 

LDEQ believes that the site is eligible for proposed listing on the NPL by virtue of the nature of 

the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and other constituents of creosote contamination that 

remains at the site, and the threat this contamination poses to Yell ow Branch, residential areas, 

and wetland areas that are adjacent to the site. 

Should the site be listed on the NPL, the LDEQ will continue to assist the EPA in making the 

necessary cleanup decisions designed to protect public health and the environment in this part of 

Louisiana. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Gary A. Fulton, Jr., Administrator, 

LDEQ-Underground Storage Tanks and Remediation Division, at (225) 219-3 716 . . 

Post Office Box 4312 • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821 -4312 • Phone 225-219-3550 ° Fax 225-219-3708 

www.deq.louisiana .gov 
Mr. Ron Curry, EPA Regional Administrator 

Proposed Listing of the Colonial Creosote Site on the National Priorities List 

Page 2 

/rap 

C: Cheryl Nolan, Assistant Secretary, LDEQ 

Gary A. Fulton, Jr., Administrator, LDEQ-USTRD 

Ms. Brenda Nixon Cook, Region 6 NPL Coordinator 

Imaging Operation - IAS 
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 


BOBBY JINDAL 

GOVERNOR 

PEGGY M. HATCH 

SECRETARY 

Fact Sheet 

Colonial Creosoting - Proposed National Priorities List (NPL) Site, Agency Interest #129320 · 

West end of Hickory Avenue, Bogalusa, Washington Parish, Louisiana 

BACKGROUND: 

Colonial Creosote is a 32-acre property in Bogalusa, Washington Parish, Louisiana, that was used for the pressure treatment of wood 

with creosote from 1911 until 1953 . It is situated on the west end of Hickory Avenue in a mixed industrial/residential area west of the 

city. It is bounded on the north, northwest and west by a railroad spur that is owned by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and to the 

east and south by an undeveloped land. Several residential communities are located between 0.2 to 0.5 miles to the east, south, and 

west of the site. Vehicular access into the site is inhibited by a pipe metal fence that does not hinder pedestrians' foot traffic. 

Colonial Creosote has been inactive since 2008. Five buildings that were present during creosoting operations, including 2 offices, 2 

maintenance buildings, and the paving block plant, remain at the site, as well as two above ground tanks that were used to store 

creosote. The two pressure tanks used for treatment, as well as the tramways used for moving the wood before and after treannent and 

rail sidings have been removed from the site. The concrete structure containing the pressure tanks has been filled in with debris and 

concrete. Two impoundments, a settling pond and a fire water reservoir are no longer present at the site. In August of 2012, the 

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) asked EPA for assistance in evaluating this site for both Removal and 

Remedial consideration. 

AREAS OF CONCERN: 

The areas of concern consist of two former above ground storage tanks, two former steel treatment footprint locations of removed 

cylinders, two former surface impoundments and contaminated soils. The volume of hazardous materials associated with the source 

areas occupies approximately 5.87 acres. EPA conducted an integrated assessment in September 2012. Within the three source areas, 

the general wood storage area, the frrewater reservoir and the north wood storage area sampling data documented the release of the 

acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzo(a) anthracene, benzo (a) pyrene, benzo (b) fluoranthene, indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene, 2­

methynaphthalene, naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene to surficial soils. Current sampling data has been limited to surface soil 

samples, so the horizontal extent of the soil contamination has not been determined. san·d and gravel and concrete operations which 

have occurred since 1957 have likely spread material over the original land surface, potentially causing soil and subsurface 

contamination. The surface water pathway is the pathway of concern. Primary receptors include eligible wetlands and a fishery within 

the 15-mile Target Distance Limit (TDL). Without remediation of the site, additional releases to ground water, and surface water and 

soil will continue to occur. 

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency have both conducted preliminary 

inspection and sampling activities resulting in EPA's recommendation for further investigation and, if needed, a removal action under 

superfund. 

NEED FOR LISTING: 

The site was referred to EPA in 2012 from the LDEQ. The State of Louisiana does not have the ftmds to remediate the site and feel;; 

without listing, the site contamination will continue to pose a risk to human health and the environment. 

EPA proposes to list the site onto the National Priorities List (NPL) in order to expedite further site action and cleanup and -is 

requesting state concurrence~