Brunswick Wood Preserving Site

The Brunswick Wood Preserving Site holds a wood preserving facility that operated for over 30 years. It occupies 84 acres and is surrounded by railroads, roads, residential and wooded areas. On the western end of the site is Burnett Creek, a tidally influenced stream. Over the years, contamination resulted from several activities, including poor housekeeping, open dumping into Burnett Creek, and accidental spills as well as the spraying of wastes in the air over ponds. The chemicals formerly used at the site include creosote, pentachlorophenol (PCP), and copper chromium arsenate. These chemicals rendered the groundwater and soil contaminated. Some chemicals that are still impacting the subsurface at the site including non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL), and sediment chemicals of concern like napthalene, benzene, PCP and semi-volatile organic compounds.

From November 2010 to April 2011, chemical testing was completed and documented in the Bench Scale Treatability Study Summary Report and Pilot Test Treatability Summary Report. An caps and barriers were installed to contain soil/sediment and groundwater, however, some chemicals still remain outside of these caps and barriers. In the summer of 2011, a Work Plan was completed to determine how to treat chemicals in the groundwater. The Work Plan outlined the implementation of a full-scale in-situ chemical oxidation remediation system to treat the chemicals in the area outside of the existing western barrier. This oxidation system will breakdown pentachlorophenol into carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic chloride.

Resources

For more information about the background and status of the remediation activities at the Brunswick Wood Preserving Site visit the EPA website

Site Documents

Proposed Plan for Remedial Action (OU2) – June 15, 2012

Interview Form for Brunswick Wood Preserving Superfund Site Five-Year Review: 2012