[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1070-1073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-359]


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EVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[FRL 6517-3]


National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan; 
National Priorities List

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Direct final rule to delete the D.L. Mud, Inc., Superfund Site 
from the National Priorities List and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 announces 
its direct final action to delete the D.L. Mud, Inc., Superfund Site 
(Site), located in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, from the National 
Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this deletion.
    The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 
1980, as amended, is Appendix B of 40 CFR Part 300, which is the 
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). 
This direct final action to delete is being taken by EPA with the 
concurrence of the State of Louisiana, through the Louisiana Department 
of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) because EPA has determined that all 
appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed and that 
the Site poses no significant threat to public health or the 
environment and, therefore, further remedial action pursuant to CERCLA 
is not appropriate.

DATES: This direct final rule will be effective March 7, 2000 unless 
EPA receives significant adverse or critical comments by February 7, 
2000. If significant adverse or critical comments are received, EPA 
will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the 
Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take 
effect.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Ms. Janetta Coats, Community 
Involvement Coordinator (6SF-PO), U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, 
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, (214) 665-7308 or 1-800-533-3508. Information 
Repositories: Comprehensive information about the Site is available for 
viewing and copying at the Site information repositories located at: 
U.S. EPA Region 6 Library, 12th Floor, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 12D13, 
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, (214) 665-6524, Monday through Friday 8:00 
a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Vermilion Parish Library, 200 North Magdalen 
Square, Abbeville, Louisiana 70511, (318) 893-2674, Monday and Thursday 
9:00 a.m. to 8:00

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p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and 
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Louisiana Department of Environmental 
Quality, 7290 Bluebonnet Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809, (225) 765-
0487, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katrina Higgins, Remedial Project 
Manager (6SF-LP), U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 
75202-2733, (214) 665-8143 or 1-800-533-3508.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Site Deletion
V. Deletion Action

I. Introduction

    EPA Region 6 announces its direct final action to delete the D.L. 
Mud, Inc., Superfund Site from the NPL and requests public comments on 
this deletion.
    The EPA identifies sites that appear to present a significant risk 
to public health or the environment and maintains the NPL as the list 
of those sites. As described in Sec. 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP, sites 
deleted from the NPL remain eligible for remedial actions if conditions 
at a deleted site warrant such action.
    The EPA will accept comments concerning this direct final action to 
delete for 30 days after publication of this document in the Federal 
Register. If no significant adverse or critical comments are received, 
the Site will be deleted from the NPL effective March 7, 2000. However, 
if significant adverse or critical comments are received within the 30-
day public comment period, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of this 
direct final action to delete within 60 days of publication of the 
original document. The EPA will prepare a response to the comments and 
continue with the rulemaking process on the basis of the proposal to 
delete filed simultaneously with this document and the comments already 
received.
    Section II of this document explains the criteria for deleting 
sites from the NPL. Section III discusses procedures that EPA is using 
for this action. Section IV discusses the D.L. Mud, Inc., Superfund 
Site and demonstrates how it meets one of the deletion criteria. 
Section V discusses EPA's action to delete the Site from the NPL unless 
significant adverse or critical comments are received during the public 
comment period.

II. NPL Deletion Criteria

    Section 300.425(e) of the NCP provides that releases may be deleted 
from the NPL where no further response is appropriate. In making a 
determination to delete a release from the NPL, EPA shall consider, in 
consultation with the State, whether any of the following criteria have 
been met:
    i. Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all 
appropriate response actions required;
    ii. All appropriate Fund-financed (Hazardous Substance Superfund 
Response Trust Fund) response under CERCLA has been implemented, and no 
further response action by responsible parties is appropriate; or
    iii. The remedial investigation has shown that the release poses no 
significant threat to public health or the environment and, therefore, 
the taking of remedial measures is not appropriate.
    Even if a site is deleted from the NPL, where hazardous substances, 
pollutants, or contaminants remain at the deleted site above levels 
that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure, CERCLA Section 
121(c), 42 U.S.C. 9621(c) requires that a subsequent review of the site 
be conducted at least every five years after the initiation of the 
remedial action at the deleted site to ensure that the action remains 
protective of public health and the environment. If new information 
becomes available which indicates a need for further action, EPA may 
initiate remedial actions. Whenever there is a significant release from 
a site deleted from the NPL, the deleted site may be restored to the 
NPL without application of the hazard ranking system.

III. Deletion Procedures

    The following procedures apply to deletion of the Site:
    (1) The EPA consulted with LDEQ on the deletion of the Site from 
the NPL prior to developing this direct final action to delete.
    (2) LDEQ concurred with deletion of the Site from the NPL.
    (3) Concurrently with the publication this direct final action to 
delete, a notice of availability of this direct final action to delete 
is being published in a major local newspaper of general circulation at 
or near the Site and is being distributed to appropriate federal, 
state, and local government officials and other interested parties; the 
notice announces the 30-day public comment period concerning this 
deletion of the Site from the NPL.
    (4) The EPA placed copies of documents supporting the deletion in 
the Site information repositories identified above.
    (5) If significant adverse or critical comments are received within 
the 30-day public comment period, EPA will publish a notice of 
withdrawal of this direct final action to delete within 60 days of the 
publication of this notice and will prepare a response to comments and 
continue with the rulemaking process on the basis the proposal to 
delete filed simultaneously with this notice and the comments already 
received.
    Deletion of a site from the NPL does not itself create, alter, or 
revoke any individual's rights or obligations. Deletion of a site from 
the NPL does not in any way alter EPA's right to take enforcement 
actions, as appropriate. The NPL is designed primarily for 
informational purposes and to assist EPA management. Section 
300.425(e)(3) of the NCP states that the deletion of a site from the 
NPL does not preclude eligibility for future response actions, should 
future conditions warrant such actions.
    For deletion of this Site, EPA Region 6 will accept and evaluate 
comments on EPA's direct final action to delete before making a final 
decision to delete. If necessary, EPA will prepare a responsiveness 
summary to address any significant comments received. If none of the 
comments received during the public comment period are significantly 
adverse or critical, the Site will be deleted from the NPL effective on 
March 7, 2000.

IV. Basis for Site Deletion

    The following information provides EPA's rationale for deleting the 
Site from the NPL:

A. Site Location

    The Site is located in a rural area of southern Louisiana, 
approximately 20 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico and approximately 3 
miles southwest of Abbeville, Louisiana. The Site comprises 
approximately 12.8 acres in Range 3 East, Township 12 South, Sections 
60, 58, 38, and 32 in Vermilion Parish. The surrounding property is 
chiefly agricultural consisting of livestock grazing, crawfish farming, 
and crop production. Approximately 116 residences are located within a 
one mile radius of the Site on Parish Road P-7-31 and Louisiana Highway 
335.

B. Site History

    The Site took its present form on October 1, 1980, when G.H. Fluid 
Services, Inc., sold 12.78 acres of the 25.56 acre parcel to GCVS (this 
later became the GCVS site). On February 11, 1981, G.H. Fluid Services, 
Inc., sold the remaining 12.78 acres to Dowell, a

[[Page 1072]]

division of the Dow Chemical Company. Ownership of the Site was 
transferred to Dowell Schlumber, Inc., (DSI) in April 1984. The Site 
was then sold to D.L. Mud, Inc., in March 1985 by DSI.
    The 25.56 acre parcel was used for agricultural purposes prior to 
1969. From 1969 to 1980 (prior to the division of the property), the 
portion of the property that later became the D.L. Mud, Inc., Site was 
used as a barium sulfate based drilling mud storage and formulating 
facility. The D.L. Mud, Inc., Site remained relatively inactive after 
1980. A citizen's complaint through the Vermilion Association to 
Protect the Environment led to Site identification by EPA on June 27, 
1980. After considerable investigation, the Site was proposed for 
inclusion on the NPL in June 1988, and inclusion was finalized on 
October 4, 1989, pursuant to Section 105 of CERCLA, qualifying the Site 
for investigation and remediation under CERCLA.

State Lead Removal

    Some time in 1985 or 1986, DOW/DSI, by way of agreement with D.L. 
Mud, Inc., agreed to take responsibility for the cleanup of the Site in 
cooperation with LDEQ. Between April 18, 1986, and August 18, 1986, 
under the supervision of LDEQ, DOW/DSI constructed a security fence 
around the majority of the Site. At the same time, DOW/DSI began 
development of a tank sampling, analysis, and disposal plan for the 16 
on-site tanks.
    From April 14, 1987, through July 11, 1987, DOW/DSI performed a 
remediation of the drilling mud storage tank farm under the supervision 
of LDEQ by completing the following tasks:
    Removal of tank contents and associated soils, destruction by 
incineration, and disposal of ash in a hazardous waste landfill,
     Decontamination and demolition of the tanks, supports and 
piping,
     Removal and disposal of approximately 800 cubic yards of 
contaminated soil from eight on-site areas, including tank pads, one 
``bare'' area, and two areas identified by EPA in the southern portion 
of the Site, and
     Placement of clean off-site fill material on-site in the 
excavated areas.
    The limits of excavation for the removal action were determined by 
LDEQ representative using an Hnu photoionization meter. Verification 
soil samples were collected from the eight excavated areas. On December 
17, 1987, DOW/DSI submitted a report of decommissioning and restoration 
of the Site which was approved by LDEQ on February 29, 1988. It should 
be noted that the information used by EPA to list the Site on the NPL 
was gathered before the 1987 cleanup activities were completed.

Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS)

    DOW/DSI conducted the RI/FS pursuant to an administrative order on 
consent signed on June 20, 1990. The objectives of the RI, completed in 
December 1992, were to confirm the efficacy of prior remedial actions 
performed at the Site by DOW/DSI and determine the nature of residual 
Site contamination (if any) and associated public health and 
environmental risks. The objectives of the FS, completed in November 
1993, were to determine and evaluate alternatives for remedial action 
(if any) to prevent, mitigate, or otherwise respond to or remedy any 
release or threatened release of hazardous substances, pollutants, or 
contaminants from the Site.

Record of Decision Findings

    On September 22, 1994, EPA signed a record of decision (ROD) for 
the Site. The remedy was chosen in accordance with CERCLA and the NCP. 
The decision was based on the administrative record for this Site and 
the State of Louisiana concurred on the selected remedy.
    The Site was addressed as one operable unit. The principal concerns 
addressed at the Site were from surface soils contaminated with 
residual barium and contaminated subsurface soils associated with 
former impoundments. The major components of the selected remedy 
include:
     Imposition of institutional controls to address the low 
level threats posed by the residual barium contamination in the surface 
soils (such controls consisting of fencing and deed notices/
restrictions to ensure that future residential use of the property does 
not occur),
     Excavation and off-site disposal of visually contaminated 
subsurface soils to eliminate the potential for migration of the 
contaminants into the ground water, and
     Ground water monitoring to ensure that waste excavation 
actions are successful and potential ground water degradation from 
residual surface soil contaminants does not occur.
    The selected remedy is protective of public health and the 
environment, complies with federal and state requirements that are 
legally applicable or relevant and appropriate to the remedial action, 
and is cost effective. This remedy utilizes permanent solutions to the 
maximum extent practicable for this Site.
    Because the remedy will result in hazardous substances remaining 
on-site above health-based concentration levels, a review will be 
conducted every five years after commencement of the remedial action to 
ensure that the remedy continues to provide adequate protection of 
public health and the environment.

C. Characterization of Risk

    On June 16, 1998, the responsible parties placed deed notices in 
the property files associated with the Site in accordance with the 
remedial design/remedial action (RD/RA) consent decree (CD). The deed 
notices serve to notify future owners that the property is subject to 
certain land use restrictions and EPA access rights as stated in the 
CD.
    Remedial action activities commenced with the baseline ground water 
sampling followed by the construction RA. Construction RA activities 
included the excavation of contaminated subsurface soils based on 
visual observations of soil staining. A total of 4,362 tons of non-
hazardous solid waste materials were transported and disposed of off-
site. After the subsurface materials were excavated, confirmatory 
samples were collected from the excavated bottom which verified that 
the Site has achieved the cleanup standards set forth in the ROD. The 
excavated area was backfilled with a total of 3,988 cubic yards of off-
site fill material that also met ROD cleanup standards. The filled 
areas were graded to provide for uniform drainage of runoff from the 
Site. Removal of all discolored subsurface soil was completed and 
remediation equipment removed by November 13, 1998. The entire Site was 
fenced with a 6 foot tall chain link fence with triple strands of 
barbed wire in order to restrict access to the property and to address 
the low level threats posed by the residual barium contamination in the 
surface soils. Site fencing work was completed by February 5, 1999.
    Upon review of the ground water data obtained in October 1998, it 
was noted that there were concentrations above the maximum contaminant 
levels (MCLs) for barium, chromium, lead, and cadmium. Although the ROD 
calls for annual ground water sampling, the ground water program during 
the operation and maintenance (O&M) phase was increased to quarterly 
monitoring based on the presence of barium, cadmium, chromium, and lead 
concentrations above MCLs. This increased frequency of sampling will

[[Page 1073]]

aid in the evaluation and assessment of statistical trends of the 
contaminants' concentrations.
    This Site meets all the site completion requirements as specified 
in OSWER Directive 9320.2-09, ``Close Out Procedures for National 
Priorities List Sites'' (1995), and the June 1999 Site close out 
report.

D. Future Activity

    Site O&M activities will include an annual engineer's inspection 
and report of the condition of the Site along with quarterly ground 
water monitoring. The responsible parties, as agreed upon in the CD and 
accompanying statement of work and as detailed in the remedial action 
report, have assumed all responsibility for O&M at the Site. Plans for 
O&M are in place and are sufficient to maintain the protectiveness of 
the remedy. The responsible parties are fulfilling obligations to 
perform the O&M.
    Matters to be investigated during the annual inspections concern 
the integrity of land use restrictions and the perimeter fencing; the 
existing ground water wells will be monitored quarterly. These 
activities are required for a minimum of 30 years. If the integrity of 
any of these items is found to be unduly compromised, correction to a 
fully functional state is required. The annual inspection report will 
include information gathered during the inspections and ground water 
monitoring data from previous quarters. Every five years an additional 
ground water statistics report will be made to evaluate statistical 
trends and relationships with background data.
    The ROD specifies that ground water monitoring will be conducted in 
existing wells in order to evaluate whether the post-construction RA 
has an impact on ground water quality beneath the Site. The ROD 
requires ground water analyses to include target compound list (TCL) 
volatiles, TCL semivolatiles, and target analyte list dissolved and 
total metals.
    Because the remedy will result in hazardous substances remaining 
on-site above health-based concentration levels, five-year reviews will 
be conducted pursuant to OSWER Directive 9355.7-02, ``Structure and 
Components of Five-Year Reviews,'' May 23, 1991, and OSWER Directive 
9355.7-02A ``Supplemental Five-Year Review Guidance,'' July 26, 1994 or 
other guidance where it exists. All reposonse activities have been 
completed at the Site other than O&M and five-year reviews.

E. Community Involvement

    Public participation activities have been satisfied as required in 
CERCLA Section 113(k), 42 U.S.C. 9613(k), and CERCLA Section 117, 42 
U.S.C. 9617. Documents in the deletion docket which EPA relied on for 
recommendation of the deletion from the NPL are available to the public 
in the information repositories.

V. Deletion Action

    The EPA, with concurrence of the State of Louisiana (LDEQ), has 
determined that the Site poses no significant threat to public health 
or the environment, that all appropriate responses under CERCLA have 
been completed, and that no further response actions, other than O&M 
and five-year reviews, are necessary. Therefore, EPA is deleting the 
Site from the NPL.
    Because EPA considers this action to be noncontroversial and 
routine, EPA is taking it without prior proposal. This action will be 
effective March 7, 2000 unless EPA receives significant adverse or 
critical comments by February 7, 2000. If significant adverse or 
critical comments are received within the 30-day public comment period, 
EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of this direct final action to 
delete within 60 days from the date of publication of the original 
notice in the Federal Register and will prepare a response to comments 
and continue with the rulemaking process on the basis of the proposal 
to delete and the comments already received.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, 
Hazardous waste, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water 
pollution control, Water supply.

    Dated: December 21, 1999.
Lynda F. Carroll,
Acting Regional Administrator, EPA, Region 6.

    For the reasons set out in this document, 40 CFR part 300 is 
amended as follows:

PART 300--[AMENDED]

    The authority citation for Part 300 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 
12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p.351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 
2923, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p.193.

Appendix B--[Amended]

    2. Table 1 of Appendix B to Part 300 is amended under Louisiana 
(``LA'') by removing the site name ``D.L. Mud, Inc.'' and the city/
county ``Abbeville''.
[FR Doc. 00-359 Filed 1-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P