Site history: Wood treating and fertilizer manufacturing
operations resulted in the chronic release of hazardous substances as early as
1942.
Location: Charleston, South Carolina.
Trustees:
Case status: The Trustees are working cooperatively with Beazer
East, Inc., the current site owners, to evaluate restoration alternatives that
will compensate for potential injuries to natural resources resulting from
chronic contamination at the site.
Overview: The Koppers Waste Site consists primarily of wetlands and river habitat. The
site is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (“PAHs”), consistent with those found in creosote;
and with heavy metals, dioxin, pentachlorophenols (“PCPs”), and other organic contaminants. The groundwater
at the Site is contaminated with high levels of dissolved non-aqueous phase liquids (“DNAPLs”). Resources
likely affected by contamination include fish and invertebrates.
In January, 1993, Beazer East, Inc., entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with EPA, whereby
Beazer agreed to perform a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS). Remedial activities including
dredging of contaminated sediments, were conducted in 1999. In 2003 the Site was sold to a Brownfields
developer, with plans for cleanup and mixed use development. Beazer and the Trustees are currently engaged
in discussions regarding appropriate restoration alternatives.
State and Federal natural resource trustees are working cooperatively with the
responsible party to complete a natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) for
Koppers Waste Site. The purpose of the NRDA is to assess and restore the
public’s natural resources and services injured by the release of hazardous
substances from site-associated industrial operations.
