FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2010
CONTACT: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277
MDEQ RELEASES SAMPLING AT GULF STATES CREOSOTE SITE
(Jackson, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) released letters Thursday written to Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny L. DuPree and to the Forrest County Environmental Support Team concerning recent sampling conducted by MDEQ and contractors around the Gulf States Creosote site beginning in December. Sampling results received and analyzed by MDEQ have indicated there were low levels of creosote compounds, but the results are below ground water protection levels and soil screening levels. These sample results show there is not a health or environmental risk to the surrounding community.
In late December, MDEQ and contractors responded to calls from citizens concerned about staining that was observed around recovery wells near Gordon’s Creek. Samples collected by MDEQ and contractors at the end of December through the middle of February confirmed the presence of compounds associated with creosote, but in amounts that are not harmful to the public or Gordon’s Creek. MDEQ will continue to require Tronox to remove minor amounts of creosote out of wells on a quarterly basis, as outlined in the remedial action plan that was approved in 2002. Copies of the analytical results from the recent sampling events will be placed on MDEQ’s web site in the coming weeks.
As a precautionary measure and in response to concerns raised by Hattiesburg citizens, MDEQ is requiring surface water samples to be collected from Gordon’s Creek on a periodic basis to ensure creosote does not adversely impact the creek in the future. For further information about the history and cleanup of the Gulf States Creosote site, go to MDEQ’s web site at: http://bit.ly/bsLO2q or contact MDEQ at 601-961-5171.
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