OSWER/OSRTI Washington, DC 20460



# N ATIONAL 

# P RIORITIES 

# L IST 

# (NPL)

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may chang e 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 regar ding the effects of exposure to

these substan ces on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be fo und on

the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1

- 888

- 42

- ATSDR or 1

- 888

- 422

- 8737. 

### *** Proposed Site *** March 2012


### CEDAR CHEMICAL CORPO RATION 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, Arkansa s. 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 f acility was initially operated by Helena Chemical in 1970. The f acility was purchased by Eagle River Chemical and the facility was operated for approximately 18 months

. During this time period, dinoseb w as produced on the site. 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 f acility on October 12, 2002, and currently acts as the caretaker of

the f acility.

 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

- dichoroeth ane, aldrin, dinoseb, chloroform, methylene chloride, toxaphene, methoxychlor, heptachlor and pentachlorophenol. Plant processes were batch operations, with seasonal production fluctuations and the frequent introduction of new products. Chemical processing at the production units included alkylation, amidation, carbamoylation, chlorination, distillation, esterification, acid and base hydrolysis an d polymerization.

 Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment:

E nvironmental issues associated wi th the f acility include abandoned chemicals, buried drums, ground water c ontamination, 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 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

- An sul 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 b e addressed at the facility. Currently, the f acility 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 v iable cleanup

alternative.