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KOPPERS COMPANY. INC., NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) SITE

TEXARKANA, TEXAS

^i- i ncT'^ * "t • --lOt,l UC5 LC*, .

SUMMARY

Tbe Koppers Company, Inc., Site is a National Priorities Lists(KPL) site located in Texarkana, Texas. The site is the formerlocation of a wood treatment facility. A residential subdivisionconsisting of 79 houses has been constructed on the northernportion of the site. An inactive sand and.gravel miningoperation occupies the southern portion of the site. The site iscontaminated with numerous chemicals from the former woodtreatment operations including polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH),phenolic compounds, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD), andpolychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF)* Previous remedial activityhas included reseeding and the installation of sod in highlycontaminated residential areas. The primary environmentalpathways of potential concern are surface soils and groundwater. Long-term exposures to contaminated soils in theresidential area pose a potential health risk for ingestion anddermal absorption of soil contaminants. Ground water beneath thesite is contaminated and would pose a potential health risk ifused for potable purposes.

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BACKGROUNDA. SITE DESCRIPTIONThe Koppers Company, Inc., Site is an NPL site. The site islocated in northeastern Texas within the city limits ofTexarkana, Bowie County, about 178 miles east of Dallas and 70Biles northwest of Shreveport, Louisiana. It is about one milefrom the Texas-Arkansas state line. The site encompasses about62 acres. It is bordered by the Texas and Pacific Railroad tothe north, Wagner Creek to the southwest, an unnamed tributary tothe northwest, Jameson Street to the south, and a drainage ditchto the southeast. See Appendix I for a site map. Wagner Creek,an unnamed tributary, an on-site drainage ditch and gravel pitsare the nearest surface water. There is now a large standingbody of water in a former borrow pit on site. Several areasalong the east and west boundaries of the site are bordered bydense trees. Within the site, there is a housing development anda former sand and gravel operation. One house next to the sitewas reportedly built on the former plant office foundation. Theremainder of the site, which is owned by the Kennedy Sand andGravel Company, is fenced and posted with warning signs.In 1920, the National Lumber and Creosote Company built and beganoperation of a creosote wood treatment facility at the site. Theprocessing operations located at the facility included treating

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cylinders, working tanks, drip tracks and a wastswater lagoon.Ijn 1938, the land was acquired by Wood Preserving Corporation,Ttiis corporation was eventually acquired by Hoppers. Thefacility was in operation until 1961. The facility was thenclosed, and the land was sold. In 1964, half of the land waspurchased by Carver Terrace, Inc., and homes were constructed ont£»e northern half of the site. The southern half was sold toKennedy Sand and Gravel Company. They began mining operations intbe late 1970 's and ceased operations in Septemu*.rIn 1980, the Texas Department of Natural Resources did theinitial site inspection. In January 1981, an EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) Field Investigation Team inspected andphotographed the site. In 1985, a soil/sod protective barrierwas placed on several residential lots in the Carver TerraceSubdivision. The criteria used to select the locations forremediation were: 1) soil concentrations of B(a )p in excess of325 mg/kg or 2) visibly oil-stained areas or 3) if most of theresidential yards in a block were remediated, the remaining yardswere also reeoded, even if they did not meet the other criteria.In April 1988, a final Remedial Investigation (RI) report wasissued, and in June 1988, the Feasibility Study Report wasreleased by EPA.S, SITE VISITA site visit was conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances andDisease Registry (ATSDR) headquarters and regional staff on July20, 1988. The Kennedy Sand and Gravel Company facility wasinactive* Uo evidence of trespassing was observed. The CarverTerrace Subdivision yards were, for the most part, covered withgrass. A baseball field, which did not appear to be used, wasalso covered with grass and weeds. Ho creosote odor wasapparent.

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EKVIRONMEHTA.li CONTAMINATION AND PHYSICAL HAZARDSA. ON-SITE CONTAMINATIONAir samples were collected over a three day period in November1985. Both particulate and vapor phased of the samples wereanalyzed. One round of surface water sampling was performed inJanuary 1986, during normal flow conditions. A second round ofsurface water sampling was performed in March 1986, after a stormevent. A third and fourth round of sampling were performed inthe gravel pits in April and June 1986, Three rounds of sedimentsampling were performed in conjunction with the surface watersampling, and a fourth round was collected in Wagner Creek, southof the confluence of the drainage ditch and the creek. Soil

sampling was performed in three separate rounds during December1985-January 1986, January-August 1986, and June 1987. All soilsamples were analyzed for acid and base neutral compounds, andsome ware also analyzed for arsenic, chromium, copper, and zinc.PCDDfl and PCDFa were detected at low concentrations in soil fromtfae hone plate area of the neighborhood baseball field. Threerounds of ground water sampling were performed in June ana .1 ly1986, and July 19S7. In additional sampling performed inFebruary 1987, soil samples and oil samples from an oil layerdiscovered in a monitoring well were collected and analyzed forPCDDa and PCDFs. The municipal water supply system in the carverTerrace Subdivision was sampled in August 1985. It was sampledat residences where the water main enters and exits thesubdivision and at five intermediate locations. The samples wereanalyzed for priority pollutant acid and base neutral fractioncompounds and metals. These results were not provided to ATSDR;however, according to the RI report, there was no indication thatthe municipal system, whose intake on take Texarkana is aboutnine miles from the site, is being adversely affected by thesite. Table I lists the on-site contaminants of concern and themedia in which they appear.B. OFF-SITE CONTAMINATIONThree water samples collected at various locations in WagnerCreek adjacent to the site indicated no acid base/neutral organiccompounds in first and second round samples. One volatileorganic compound (VOC) was detected. No volatile or acidfraction compounds were found in sediments; however, eleven baseneutral fraction organics were found. One base neutral compoundwas found 100 feet upstream of the confluence with drainage ditchand Wagner Creek. At the confluence, seven base neutrals werefound. One base neutral was detected at the farthest downstreammonitoring point. Table II lists the off-site contaminants ofconcern and the media in which they appear.C. PHYSICAL HAZARDSThe water-filled gravel pits on Kennedy Sand and Gravel propertypose a potential drowning risk to trespassers on the site.Poisonous snakes, including cottonmouth moccasins andrattlesnakes, are known to inhabit the site.

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DEMOGRAPHICS OF POPULATION MEAB SITE

There are 79 single family homes on the Koppers site. There isalso a church located on the site. Approximately 33 ,000 personsreside in Texarkana. A veil inventory was conducted by theTDWR. Within a three-mile radius of the site," 83 wells werefound in Texas. Ten wells were alec found in Arkansas, butbeyond a two-mile radius. Three of these wells were used as asource of drinking water supply, and two vere used for wateringgardens* The Carver Terrace Subdivision is supplied with waterby the municipal system whose intake is located on LakeTexarkana, which is nine miles southwest of the Koppers site. C

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TABLE I: ON-SITE COHTAMINATXOHCONTAMINANTS SUBSURFACE

SOIL(lag/kg)GROUNDWATER

AIR

AeenaphtheneAeenaphthylen©AnthraceneArsenicBonzo (a) anthraceneB®n2o(b) fluoranthsnaBenzQ(g,h,i)peryi@n

COHTAKXHAtrrs

AcanaphthanaAnthracanaAraanicBanzoCa) anthracanaBonio(b) fluoranthanaCadmiumChryaanaDibansofuranFluoranthanaFXuorana2-HatliylnaphthalafiaKaphthala-iaHickalPhananthrana

TABLE III OFF-SITE COMTAKIHATIOH

DatactadiKug/l««ierogra»a par litar

SOIL OROUKDWATER(Ranga datactad*)A * _ *

or samp1'

SEDIHTWT

JJL0.5-18HA/HRHD

800HA/NB0,47-1621

0.4-270.44-35

29-5519-56HVHR

0.63-1000 .48 -32

30HD13-47

HDHD

10-63HD17HDHDHDHD

33-3400HDHD

0.83-190,53-10U&/UHnil/ fiK,1.1A t A

7.6-7.9u m /trpWRy UK17A /HD

3.8-5 ,70.88-15

2767ifi ysmtfJt/ CTR2-32

26-4.9

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•VALUATIONA. SIT1 CKARACTIRIZATIOH (DATA KXKDS AMD EVALUATIOH)1. Environmental KadiaT5**!JT*r* 5hf!* «*i"ing program. for coils. fh» tint w.nt toJ2 !**?iJ,"!

d **"* **r" "4 holM «'ilied. The Meond w»nt10 to 104 f«.t, utd 71 hoi.. «*m drill*!, i additionth*d i i r ,drilling program. oun thr^ was dona to«Mt vertical .xt.nt of .oil oontMiiation. rtlwr. w.r« 28 boritKf., 8 «*u« «,nd 4 .dditionilin«t«U«d. A total of 134 *ub»urfac* .oil ..ipu. v«r«•nalysjd, m addition to tti* 15 «xi»tin« «onitorina walla•ita, thara war. as valla inatallad on alta and off ait.•«pl«J durin, th. M. «.t.r l.vala wn Lt^d n'Sduring tha Hi. Tha domaatic wall, aouthvaat o« tto •!?,MMiirad for w.tar lavala and one. 4atar«in«l to ba hydraulicallvupgradiant w.ra not .uplad for conta.inanta. Sinca Xinyoaji influanea tha diraetion of ground watar flov, a oo^f ip9rforMd to *• Mrt*ln "»* wall, arfno

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•urf*°« w«fc«r aaaplaa and 28 aadimnt aamlaa waraeollacted. Burfaea watar aamplaa wara takan at 13 location.during four rounds of sampling, Tha aadiMnta wara aanplad in 14location, during four rounds. Air .onitoring waa parformad attnraa locations on tha site to obtain upwind (background) anddownwind saiplaa. A total of nina air aa«plas wari collactad andanalysed. Additional fiald work inciudadiquiCar taatinagaotechnieal analysis, and a taat pit invastigatlon of awaatawatar lagoon. With tha aacaption of tha lack of saifor contaminants of tha doaastic wells and th. dapth of awwails, tha anviroiwantal information collactwl at th. Koptwrsat thTLtfr111*6" t0 9*naraUy d*fllw P

3. Quality Assurance and Quality ControlATflDR was provided with QA/QC documentation for the monitoringdata at Koppera. Tha analyaaa which did not Mat accuracy amiprecision standards were alraady flagged as unusable. Therefore,thaaa raaulta vara not used in tha preparation of this HealthAaaaaaaont.Tha conclusions praaantad in thia Raaith Assessment ara baaad ontha data contained in tha RZ/P8 raport. Tha validity of thaaaconclusions ia, therefore, dependent on tha accuracy andreliability of tha data provided.B. KCVXROifHKSTAL PATHWAYSMonitoring and analyaaa performed during tha RI revealedcontamination in air, aoila, turface water sediments and groundwater. The extent and types of contamination were quite varied,though »ome correlation of contaminant* between madia did exist.The neat concentrated contaminant* ware found in the area of thaKennedy Sand and Gravel Company. However, contamination wa* alaodetected in the Carver Terrace Subdivision.Boil sampling and analyaaa revealed contamination of the aurfaceand eubeurface aoila. Contamination waa found in ail araaa oftha site, Hovavar, in the residential areas much of the surfacecontamination has been covered by sod. Most of thiscontamination occurred in the 0*4 foot depths. Concentrationssubstantially highor than background ware found for PAHs,pentAchiorophenol (POP), and other phenols. The presence ofthese compounds in soil, in particular in subsurface soil, canMrva as A reservoir for future ground water contamination. Inaddition, tha presence of these compounds In surface soil maJcasit possible for the contaminants to be transported by the wind orsurface water runoff.Contamination was also present in tha aurface watara andsediments of tha drainage ditch, ttagnar Creek, the unnamedtributary, and in the gravel pits. PAKs and metal concentrationsabove background were detected in aavaral of tha surface waterand sediment samples taken during the RI. The site is located inthe Sulphur River Drainage basin. Tha main surface water nearthe site consists of Wagner Creak which flows to Day Cceek whichflows to tha Sulphur Rivar. Wagner Creek is fed by the unnamedtributary and drainage ditch on-site. The presence ofcontamination in on*site surface waters may facilitate transportof contaminants off site.

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There are three ground wat«r flow zone* immediately beneath thesite. The topmost is a shallow, unconfinad aquifer located intha surficial sand and gravel deposits with a maximum depth of 24feet. The second is a leaking confining zone, approximately 25fast thick, composed of alternating layers of sand, silty sandand clay. Sanaath the confining zone la the third flow zone, aMini-confined aquifer with a geological matrix composed of thincarbonaceous deposits, lignite, and vary thick claydeposits.Ground w&tar in th* shallow, unconfinad aquifer on sitedischarges to tha site drainage ditch and Wagner Creek. Off-siteground watar to tha east discharges to tha site drainage.Off-site ground watar to tha waet dischargee to Wagner Creek, Itappears that ground water in the leaky confining zone from boththe site and araaa off aita to the weat discharge to WagnerCreek. Plow direction in the semi-confined aquifer has not beenclearly established. Vertical flow gradients in all aquifers arefor the nost part upward.Apparently/ three nearby residential wells tap the shallowaquifer for a water supply. However, these walls are reportedlyupgradiant of tha site. Information on the depths of other localwalls is inconclusive. It is not Known how many local wells usetha shallow zone, semi-confined aquifer or if they tap evendaapar aquifer systems.High levels of PAHs ware found in the monitoring wells on-site intha shallow aquifer, dome contamination was found in the leakyconfining zone under the Kennedy Sand and Gravel property. Mocontamination in the lower aquifer was detected. The potentialfor movement of these contaminants increases greatly once theyare in the ground water. Since some of the ground water on-eiteappears to be discharging to surface water on-slte, this mayfacilitate the movement of contaminants off-site.On-aite air monitoring, which was conducted on 3 consecutivedays, detected several phenolic compounds. Several othercompounds (such as benzene, xylena, styrene, etc.) were presentin environmental media at the site but were not analyzed for intha air. Ho off-site air monitoring was performed.Ho monitoring was conducted during tha Koppere Ri to definepossible contamination of consumable plants and animals in thevicinity of the site. Therefore, a determination cannot be maderegarding whether contaminated biota could be an environmentalpathway. Fish electroshocking and counting was dona to determinetha types and number of fish found in Wagner Creek. The samplingdiscovered only 2 fish (catfish) of edible size out of the 6099observed.

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C, HUMAN EXPOSURE PATHWAYSThe contamination of th© environmental media previouslyIdentified constitute the following potential human exposurepathways :1,

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Ingastion, inhalation/ and dermal absorption of contaminatedsoil*. Sinea off-site as well as on-eite soils showedcontamination, this pathway could be of importance to anyoneliving naar the site as well as on-site. Site access ispartially limited by a fence in the area of Kennedy Sand andGravel, so this may prevent some exposures to thecontaminated soils* In addition, the placement of sod onsome residential lota should decrease exposure tocontaminated soils.Xngastion and dermal absorption of contaminated ground water.The shallow aquifer and the leaky confining zone in the areahave both shown contamination. The RI report indicates thatthe only three wells in the area used as potable water supplyare upgradient of the site. However, because many factorsinfluence the direction of ground water flow and because thewells are very close to the site and have not been tested forcontaminants, this will ba considered a potential humanexposure pathway.Ingastlon and dermal absorption of contaminated surface waterand sediments. It is unlikely that Wagner Creak would beused as a wat«r recreational area since it is relativelyshallow, turbid, and inhabited with poisonous snakes (watermoccaaina) . Since sedimenta are contaminated and groundwater appears to discharge to surface water, it is possiblethat tftifi ajechaniam may serve to transport contamination offsite, it is unlikely that Wagner Creek would be used as awater recreational area since it is relatively shallow,turbid, and inhabited with poisonous snakes (watermoccasin*} ,Ingest ten of contaminated biota. Mo biota were analyzed forche»iofti sontamlriation. Consumption of contaminated biotacould be a human exposure pathway if levels of contaminationwere of aoncern fco public health.

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The report^concern . of air eontafflinants were not of public health

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PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

calca-L

playPAHs thattaken

"* •*»*"•»•. ors ess

contact

* als° of w»w«m because of thsof «oma PAHs and PAH mixtures.

In addition, PAHs areinjectad, or inetilledto PAHs have b*en conducted among cokeProducti"n workers. EpidemiologicalhaV* r?Ya«^d ™ association betweenc ombu8On Product« containing PAHs anddnaV- bladdwr, and skin.studies i« confounded by aimultaneousti°n Pr2ducts! as wal1 " ̂ additiona!exposure from cigarette ssioking.

PAH-contaminatad soil can b* ingested byWork a*^ities or by children during7

«ou^e of »AH. 1. the consumptionfflaV contain small quantities oft oJ h8U f a c e °f tha *>l*

PAH« can also be absorbed through intact human akin. Human skinIs capable of activating PAHs to chemically-reactiveInt&raediates that may be involved in chemical carcinogenesia.Ifce quantity of PAHs absorbed would depend on the area andanatomical location of the exposed skin, the contact time, thedermal permeability of the individual PAHa, etc* Since theseparameters ar* not known, it 10 not possible to quantify therisks associated with dermally-absorbed PAHs. However, the PAHsby this pathway could contribute, in an additiveto the risks resulting from the oral ingastlon of PAH*.In 1935 and 1936, several highly contaminated areas in thesubdivision were covered with sod or covered with dirt andseadacl. The criteria used to select the locations forremediation were: 1) soil concentrations of B(a)p in excess of325 mg/kg or 2} visibly oil-stained areas or 3) if most of theresidential yards in a block were remediated, the remaining yardswere also resoded, even if they did not meet the other criteria.Although some areas with high PAH concentrations were coveredduring remedial activities, other contaminated areas rswain. Theremedial action level of 325 mg/kg of B(a)p in residential soilis not sufficiently protective of public health. The excesscancer risk associated with long-terra exposure to soil containingthis concentration of B(a)P (325 mg/kg) / plus other PAHs withcarcinogenic initiating and promotjng activity/ poses aaignifiaant health risk.Since aoil contaminant concentrations vary widely throughout thesubdivision, it is not possible to estimate potential impacts onpublic health in those areas where there is no soil samplingdata. Thor nigh monitoring of surface soils in all residentialareaa is needed in order to identify locations with elevatedconcentrations of PAHs or other contaminants.Soil samples from the subdivision were also analyzed forpolychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD) and polyehlorinateddibenzofurans (PCDF). Of the numerous PCDD and PCDF congener®,2,3,7,8-tetraehlorodib©n3Qdioxin (TCDD) is the most toxic. Humanexposure exposure to TCDD has resulted in an aene-like skincondition called chloracna. In addition, animal 0xp&rimant@ havedemonstrated that TCDD is a tumor promoter and can causereproductive failures, developmental toxieity, and impairment ofthe immune system. It has been suggested that other PCDD andPCDF congeners hava toxieitiea similar to TCDD, although theirtoxic r^tencies are relatively less; however, there is littleexperimental animal data to vorify this proposition.

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Relatively low concentrations of several PCDOa and PCBPsdetected in soil samples from the Carver Terrace Subdivision. HoTCOD was detected, and the only congeners detected were panta,haxa, hspta, and octa species. Baaed on the data provided toATSDR, the concentrations of PCDDs and PCDPa in residential aoilawouJ.d not be expected to raau.lt in significant adverse publichealth affect*.During the Remedial Investigation, numerous aoll borings wereconducted on Kennedy Sand and Gravel property. Analyses of aollsamples from the** borings detected high concentrationa of PAHain subsurface and surface {0-2 feet) samples. Highconcentrationa of PAHa were alao detected in aediment samplesfrom the on-aite drainage ditch located south of the formerlagoon area. Aa previously discussed, human contact with aoilaand sediments containing high concentrations of PAHs could poa«significant health concerns for long-tara exposure by ingesticnand dermal contact. However, the Kennedy Sand and Gravel aite iacurrently Inactive and ia fenced and poated with warning signs.Ho significant contamination of water from Wagner Creek waadetected. Sediment samples from several locationa in the cra&kcontained low concentrations of PAHa (

The •hallow, unconflned aquifer underlying tha aita iacontaainated with high concentrations of PAHs, pentachlorophenol,aromatic hydrocarbons, and other chemical*. Use of thia aquiferfor potable purpoaaa would poae a significant risk for adversehealth effecte. However, the carver Terrace subdivision iaserviced by municipal water which has been tested in thesubdivision and shown to be free of contamination. it WASreported that there were some private wells located southwest ofthe site, but tha wells have apparently not been tested forcontamination. Thia information would be needed in order toconclusively determine whather use of this groundwatar poses ahealth risk. CM

CONCLUSIONS AND RBC0MMEHDATIOHS

Baaed on the information reviewed, ATSDR has concluded that thissite is of potential health concern because of the potential riskto human he&lth reaultlng from possible exposure to hazardoussubstances at concentrations that nay result in adverse healthaffects. As noted in the Public Health Implications a act ion,significant human exposures may be occurring via the ingestionand dermal absorption of PAHs in surface soils. Futureconauaiption of contaminant* in ground water poses anotherexposure pathway of potential concern.In order to protect public health, ATSDR recommends thefollowing;1) Continue to restrict access to Kennedy Sand and Gravelproperty in order to prevent human exposure to contaminants insoil and other environmental madia until remediation of the siteis complete.

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2} Soil samples should be collected from al± residential lots,play areas, vacant lots, and other areas with unrestrictedaccess. Those samples should be analysed for carcinoganic andnon-carcinogenic PAHs* Particular attention should be placed onthose areas where former wood treatment activities would haveenhanced the potential for soil contamination. Appropriatereaiadiatlon should be implemented in those areas containingunacc apt ably high concentrations of contanination.3} Based on an extensive fish sampling study, there does notappear to be » significant game fish population in Wagner Creek.However, contaminants which have a high bioaccumulative potentialwere detected on the sits. It is therefore recommended that iffish and other biota fro* ftagnar Cro&k are baing consumed , theyshould tested to determine vhstftor they contain significantlevels of contamination*

4) Provide adequate personal protective equipnent, as required bytha occupational safaty and Raalth Administration (OSHA), toremedial workers who may ba exposed to on-site contamination.Require remedial workers to follow all applicable OSKAregulations and National Inatitut* for Occupational Safaty andHealth recommendations* Conduct real-time air monitoring duringremedial activitiac to anaura that vorkara and nearby reeidentsere not exposed to unacceptable lavala of chemicals released totha air during tha axcavation of contaalnatad-natariala.5}. Bacauaa of tha potential for off-aita nigration ofcontaainiitad ground watar, it i* r«com«nd«d that raaidanta inpotantially-iipflctad araaa uaa tha availatola municipal vatarmtpply. If privata w*lla ara uaad a« A potato la vatar *\ipplyt thawalla should ba nonitorod for chemical contamin«tion.In accordance with CBRCtA aa amandad, tha Koppara TaxarJcarvn aitaha« baan avaluatad for appropriata follow-up with roapact tohaalth affact* atudtaa, fiinca axpoaura to aita contaminant* nayba occurring via diract contact, thia aita ia being conaidaradfor a poaalbla haalth atudy. Ones tho aita 1* diac.uaaad with thaAT3DK Ragion*1 R«pr«*antativ« and tha Taxaa haalth offlciala, andia rsvicwad with laboratory axparta to dfttarmina if a laboratoryta»t ia available/ tha Spidaviology and Hedicina Branch willracoflaandfitlona about a poatibie atudy.

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PRKPAJ&R3 07 THE REPORT:

Knvlronnantal Raviawert

Kaalth Kffacta Raviawar

Regional Representative:

Liea C. HayaeKnvirorwental Health EngineerEnvironmental Engineering BranchKenneth £. Orloff, Ph.D.ftenior lexicologistfloiances BranchChflrlottfl V. GavinClerk typistXnvironftantol Engineering BranchCarl Hicks*Senior Regional RepresentativeRegion VIField Operations Branch

1* Final Remedial Investigation Report, Koppers Texarkana Site,Voluaea I-IV, ERT, A Resource Engineering company, April 1988.APFKHDICM

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HOPPERS TEXARKAWA