PRELIMINARY CLOSE OUT REPORT

STATE MARINE SUPERFUND SITE

PORT ARTHIJR, TEXAS

REGION 6

JUNE 2OO7

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PRELIMINARY CLOSE OUT RBPORT

FOR TIIE

STATE MARINE SIJPERFT.]ND SITE

EPA ID# TXDO998O11.O2

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Donald Williams, Députy Associate Director, Superfund Division

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Compton, Office of Regional Counsel, Superfund Branch

Gus Chavarria. Chief. A

Director S uperfund Division

Mark Peycke, Chief of Regional Counsel, Superfund Branch

Pamela Phillips, Deputy
PRELIMINARY CLOSE OUT REPORT

STATE MARINE SIJPERFI.]ND SITE

PORT ARTHI]R, JEFFERSON COI]NTY, TEXAS

I. INTRODUCTION

This Preliminary Close Out Report (PCOR) documents that the U. S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have

completed cleanup activities for the State Marine Superfund Site in accordance with Close Out

Procedures for National Priorities List Sites (OSWER Directive 9320.2-09A-P). The EPA

completed a Time Critical Removal Action in August 2001 that removed contaminants from the

site that pose a risk to human health and the environment. Following the removal action, EPA

conducted a remedial investigation in 2001 and a Supplemental Remedial Investigation in 2006

which confirmed that contaminants above industrial human health levels are no longer present at

the site. Based on this determination, EPA signed a No Further Action Necessary Record of

Decision for the site on April 18, 2007. By letter dated April 9, 2007, TCEQ concurred with the

No Further Action Necessary Record of Decision.

il. SUMMARY OF SITE CONDITIONS

Site,History and Backeround

The State Marine Site is located approximately 4.5 miles east-northeast of the City of Port

Arthur in Jefferson County, Texas, on Old Yacht Club Road on Pleasure Islet, a peninsula

located approximately O.S-mile southwest of the mouth of the Neches River. Overall, the Site

encompasses approximately I7 acres and is bounded to the north by the Palmer Barge Line Site

(PBLS), to the west by Old Yacht Club Road, to the south by undeveloped property, and to the

east by Sabine Lake. There is very little topographical relief to the Site. The Site is located

approximately 0.5 mile southwest of the confluence of the Neches River and the Sabine Neches

Barge Canal.

Pleasure Islet is a manmade landmass consisting of dredge spoils generated during the

construction and maintenance of the Sabine-Neches Canal, also called the Intercoastal 'Waterway.

The canal was constructed between 1898 and approximately 1920 in the vicinity of Sabine Lake

and the Neches River, between the current site location and the mainland. Between 1955 and

L957 , a portion of the canal along the western side of Pleasure Islet was abandoned, and a new

canal was cut along the eastern and southern sides of Pleasure Islet. Pleasure Islet was created

when a land bridge was constructed across the abandoned portions of the canal, between the

northern tip of Pleasure Island and the mainland. Vehicle access to the Site is limited to a single

dirt road starting at the western site border along Old Yacht Club Road.

Ownership of Pleasure Islet was transferred from the State of Texas to the City of Port
Arthur, Texas, in 1955. Development of the islet and the Site began after 1957, following

construction of the land bridge across the abandoned portions of the Sabine-Neches Canal. In

approximately 1963, the City of Port Arthur began municipal landfill operations on the northern

and central portions of the islet. Initially, the landfill consisted of a burn pit in which wastes

were incinerated. By December 1969, burn operations were discontinued, and the landfill was

used solely for disposal of wastes. Between 1969 and 1972,landfill disposal operations

expanded to include the central and northern portions of the Site and the property north of the

Site. Between 1972 and L974, disposal activities were generally concentrated in the northern

parts of the islet. In December 1974, the City of Port Arthur closed the landfill in accordance

with Texas Department of Health (TDH) regulations, which required covering the entire landfill

with approximately 2feet of fine-grained fill material. The cover material is believed to be

dredge spoils that originated on the islet.

Site operations began about 1973 under the names of State Welding and Marine Works

and the Golden Triangle Shipyard. The construction of wastewater impoundments in the

northwestern portion of the Site was also reported. The impoundments were reportedly unlined,

earthen diked areas approximately two (2) acres in size used to store oil and wastewater from

barge-cleaning operaiiõns. Inspection reports indicate that wastewater from barge-cleaning

operations was directed to two Above Ground Storage Tanks (AST) and then pumped to the

wastewater impoundments. Some of the oil from the tanks was diverted to an old ship (on land)

that was used as an oiUwater separator. Oil from the separator was collected for reuse,

potentially on-site. The Site included the locations of the former wastewater impoundments, tar

burn area, distillation column, and the former location of the Lauren Refining Company (IRC)

Tank Farm.

Historv of Federal and State Investisations

In 1995, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), now the

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), initiated an Expanded Site Inspection

(ESÐ at the Site. The objective of the TNRCC ESI was to collect sufficient data to develop an

understanding of the Site contaminants and to identify the potential migration pathways, primary

contaminant sources, exposure pathways, and presence of potential human health and ecological

receptors. The following reports were completed as a result of the data obtained from the field

work during the ESL

. 1996 Expanded Site Investigation Report (TNRCC).

. 1997 Hazardous Ranking System Documentation Report (TNRCC).

. 1999 Technical Memorandum (CH2M HILL).

Other Investigations Adjacent to the Site included a Preliminary Assessment (PA), a

Screening Site Inspection (SSI), and an ESI that were conducted immediately adjacent to the Site

at the PBLS. The PBLS is located on Pleasure Islet immediately north of the Site. These

investigations did not involve collecting soil, sediment, or ground water directly from the Site;
however, some sediment data obtained from the PBLS at near-shore and offshore locations were

used in the human health and ecological screening risk assessment.

In 2001, a remedial investigation was conducted for the State Marine Site to determine

the nature and extentof contamination present at the site.

In May and June 2006,EP4 conducted a Supplemental Remedial Investigation to

determine if the former surface impoundments were a continuing source of contamination to the

Sabine Lake sediments by movement through the shallow ground water. The Supplemental RI,

included the completion of seven (7) soil borings and the collection of soil samples at seventeen

(17) locations from those borings. Five (5) of the soil borings were completed within the area of

the former wastewater impoundments to determine if waste materials were still present that could

potentially be a source of contamination to the Sabine Lake sediments. Two (2) borings were

installed downgradient of the former wastewater impoundments and completed as monitor wells.

In addition, sediment samples were collected at eight (8) site locations and one (1) background

location. Results of the Supplemental Remedial Investigation confirmed that contaminants

above industrial human health levels are no longer present at the site

National Priorities List

The EPA published a proposed rule on March 6,Iggï,to add the State Marine Site to the

National Priorities List OIPL) of Superfund sites. The Site was added to the NPL in a final rule

published on July 28,1998 [Federal Register Listing (FRL-6130-9), Volume 63, Number 144,

Pages 40182 - 401881.

History of CERCLA Enforcement Activities

On Octobe r29, 7998,EPA issue Special Notice Letters to potentially responsible parties

(PRP) for the PRPs to conduct the remedial investigation and feasibility study. The EPA did not

receive positive responses to the Special Notice Letters. In February 1999, EPA sent 104(e)

infoimation request letters regarding the State Marinè Site. As a result of the 104(e) letters, the

EPA received admissions and denials.

History of CERCLA Removal Actions

The EPA completed a Time Critical

materials stored on-site. Activities included

separation, and sludge stabilization.

Construction Activities

As part of the removal action activities,

\

Removal Action in August 2001 to remove source

waste removal, water treatment, oil/water

the following items were identified at the site:
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Twenty-two (22) above ground storage tanks of varying sizes;

Several oil pits;

27 drums; and

Debris materials scattered throughout the size.

Materials removed and disposed off-site from the State Marine site included 26,000

gallons of waste oil, water and diesel fuel and kerosene, 3,800 gallons of heavy sludge,27 drums,

-8 

"o-pr"rsed 

gas cylinders, and 14 batteries. After disposing of liquids and sludge materials

from the above ground storage tanks, the tanks were decontaminated utilizing a degreaser

solution and a pressure washer. The decontamination rinse water was disposed off site'

Future Work

As part of the selected remedy in the Record of Decision for the site, institutional controls

will be required to ensure that the site current and future use remains for industrial or commercial

use purposes. The No Further Action Necessary remedy selection is based on an

industrial/commercial land use scenario. The EPA will be responsible for obtaining a restrictive

covenant from the landowner and filing it in the appropriate properfy records for the site such

that the future use of the property is restricted to commercial/industrial purposes.

Since no future ground water monitoring will be required for the site, EPA will plug the

ground water wells that were installed as part of the remedial investigation for the site. There are

eight (8) monitor wells that will be plugged for the site'

ilI. DEMONSTRATION OF CLEANUP ACTIVITY QUALITY ASSURANCE AND

QUALITY CONTROL

Through EPA's removal program, the Corps of Engineers implemented the Time-Critical

Removal Action for the State Marine Site. Through the Corps of Engineers, Roy F. Weston

conducted the field construction activities at the site.

During the removal activities, samples collected from the above ground storage tanks and

drums were field screen using theHazCatn Chemical Identification System. Tank contents were

sampled using the Bacon Bomb Sampler which allows for discrete collection of liquid from

various levels.

Throughout the removal action activities, tlealth and Safety air monitoring was

conducted with Rae Systems Multi Raes and SUMMA canisters. The Multi Ptae analyzed the air

for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, lower explosive limits, hydrogen

sulfide, and oxygen levels. The SUMMA canister samples were analyzedfor VOCs by

laboratory methods.

The EPA On-Scene Coordinator and the Corps of Engineers conducted f,reld oversight
throughout the removal action activities to ensure that the removal action met quality assurance

and quality controls and was consistent with the Action Memorandum for the site.

W. ACTIVITIES AND SCHEDULE FOR SITE COMPLETION

V. SUMMARY OF REMEDIATION COSTS

EPA's Time-Critical Removal Action was conducted at a cost of $872,000.00. Since this

response action addressed site contaminants that posed a risk to human health and the

environment, EPA signed a No Further Action Necessary Record of Decision on April 18,2007 '

Therefore, no further remedial actions are planned for the site.

VI. FIVE-YEAR REVIE\il

Hazardous substances will remain at the State Marine Superfund Site above levels that

allow unlimited use and unrestricted exposure after completion of the Time Critical Removal

Action. Therefore, a policy review will be conducted within five years of the signing of the No

Further Action Necessary Record of Decision to ensure that the remedy is, or will be, protective

of human health and the environment. Pursuanto CERCLA section 121(c),42 U.S'C. S

962I(c), and as provided in the current guidance on Five-Year Reviews: EPA 540-R-01-007,

OSWER No. 9355.7-038-P, Comprehensive Five-Year Review Guidonce, June 2001, EPA will

conduct a policy five-year review for the State Marine Site by June 2072, five years after signing

the Preliminary Close Out Report for the site.

Task Estimated Completion ResnonsibilitY

Institutional Controls September 2008 OwnerÆPA

1't S-Year Review June2012 EPA

Plug remedial investigation wells September 2008 EPA

Deletion of the Site From NPL To Be Determined EPA

Superfund Division