Hazardous Toxic Waste Sites in One Lake project area
The 2018 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) identified 3 Hazardous Toxic Radiological Waste (HTRW) Sites in the Pearl River Flood Risk Management project area and stated that the environmental impacts associated with their remediation could include, “the temporary addition of large additions of sediment to the Pearl River, the release or exacerbation of current releases of leachate and/or solid and hazardous substances to the groundwater and/or surface water...” The 2025 USACE Revised DEIS warns of "Potential direct impacts to water supply due to the coexistence of known HTRW sites and probable exposure to contaminants within the ponded area created by the proposed weir. "
The HTRW sites identified are the Gulf States Creosote Company Site, LeFleurs Landing Site (Jefferson St Landfill), and the Gallatin St Dump Site.
The HTRW sites identified are the Gulf States Creosote Company Site, LeFleurs Landing Site (Jefferson St Landfill), and the Gallatin St Dump Site.
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GULF STATES CREOSOTE COMPANY SITE
141-acre site operated as wood treating facility for 25 years. This location was studied by the EPA in 2010 for inclusion in the National Priority List as Superfund site. Sediment samples collected from the oxbow sloughs on the property exhibit elevated creosote levels and creosote can be observed on the surface of the slough waters. The 2018 DEIS states that the creosote residuals occurring in the sediment cover a broad area and that the creosote sloughs "present a continuing source of release of creosote chemicals to the environment and to the City of Jackson's drinking water."
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"The onsite levee is owned by the Levee Board - which is a joint venture between the state and Rankin County. Mr. John McGowan owns the marsh area due west of the levee. McGowan has plans of developing the marsh areas as residential subdivisions." page 3
"Sediment samples collected from the marsh located west of the Gulf States property exhibited elevated levels of constituents detected in on-site soils and are common constituents used in the wood preserving industry." page 26
"Sediment samples collected from the marsh located west of the Gulf States property exhibited elevated levels of constituents detected in on-site soils and are common constituents used in the wood preserving industry." page 26
"Contaminated soil has been detected throughout the property and comprises approximately 1,441,876 square feet (or 33 acres). Based on analytical results from 2003 and 2006, SVOCs and pesticides including acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(ghi)perylene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, carbazole, chrysene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, fluoranthene, indeno(l,2,3-cd)pyrene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, 4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDT, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, and methoxychlor were present in the surface soil as a resuU of Gulf States' operations (Refs. 1, 17, 16, 6). Of these contaminants, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, indeno(l,2,3-cd)pyrene, and 4,4'-DDE have migrated to the subsurface soil at elevated concentrations." page 9
"Based on the currently available information, the Gulf States Creosoting site score is 26.8. This score is less than the cutoff value of 28.50 necessary to consider listing a site on the National Priorities List (NPL). EPA will determine the need for further remedial actions at this property." page 14
"Based on the currently available information, the Gulf States Creosoting site score is 26.8. This score is less than the cutoff value of 28.50 necessary to consider listing a site on the National Priorities List (NPL). EPA will determine the need for further remedial actions at this property." page 14
2025 USACE Revised DEIS
"EPA conducted an onsite soil sampling analysis in December 2003 and discovered chemicals such as barium, cobalt, manganese, zinc, and creosote residuals including a variety of semi-volatile polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Though this site was not placed on the EPA’s Superfund list, elevated levels of organic and inorganic chemicals remain onsite and are possibly being released into the oxbow lake water and into the Pearl River during high flows/flood events. Due to this risk, if dredging, bank stabilization, or any form of construction is done near the Gulf States Creosoting Company Site, there is a risk that the known chemicals discovered onsite could either leach into the Pearl River or to nearby groundwater." (Main Report, p 4-29)
"Some excavation is located near areas of historical concern for HTRW within the protected area of the Jackson East Levee. Excavation is planned to near the levee toe. the Non-Federal Sponsor shall be solely responsible, as between the Government and the Non-Federal Sponsor, for the performance and costs of HTRW cleanup and response, including the costs of any studies and investigations necessary to determine an appropriate response to the contamination.. If additional contamination were to be detected, excavation will be limited to avoid the HTRW impacted areas. Removal of the excavation near the levee reduces project improvements just upstream of this location by approximately 0.8 feet at the 100-year event. The level of flood protection for structures (homes and businesses) will be impacted, and the design of the Canton Club Levee will need to be refined." (Appendix I, p 17)
"EPA conducted an onsite soil sampling analysis in December 2003 and discovered chemicals such as barium, cobalt, manganese, zinc, and creosote residuals including a variety of semi-volatile polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Though this site was not placed on the EPA’s Superfund list, elevated levels of organic and inorganic chemicals remain onsite and are possibly being released into the oxbow lake water and into the Pearl River during high flows/flood events. Due to this risk, if dredging, bank stabilization, or any form of construction is done near the Gulf States Creosoting Company Site, there is a risk that the known chemicals discovered onsite could either leach into the Pearl River or to nearby groundwater." (Main Report, p 4-29)
"Some excavation is located near areas of historical concern for HTRW within the protected area of the Jackson East Levee. Excavation is planned to near the levee toe. the Non-Federal Sponsor shall be solely responsible, as between the Government and the Non-Federal Sponsor, for the performance and costs of HTRW cleanup and response, including the costs of any studies and investigations necessary to determine an appropriate response to the contamination.. If additional contamination were to be detected, excavation will be limited to avoid the HTRW impacted areas. Removal of the excavation near the levee reduces project improvements just upstream of this location by approximately 0.8 feet at the 100-year event. The level of flood protection for structures (homes and businesses) will be impacted, and the design of the Canton Club Levee will need to be refined." (Appendix I, p 17)
LEFLEURS LANDING SITE (JEFFERSON STREET LANDFILL)
45-acre plot of land where City of Jackson operated an unregulated landfill dating back to early 1900s. No retroactive improvements (e.g. liners, caps, leachate collection systems) were ever installed on the landfill and studies show that groundwater may be currently interacting with debris and leachate at the site. Site Assessments have found Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons and benzene concentrations above regulatory limits. In 2003, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr's Brownsfield Initiative proposed the cleanup of an 89-acre area at LeFleur's Landing for construction of Festival Park. The proposed cleanup was cancelled after a 2005 Phase II Site Assessment discovered that: "Due to the large area of the former landfill, and the presence of lead concentrations greater than Tier 1 TRGs that are possibly high enough to be classified as hazardous wastes, excavation of the area is not considered a viable option." (page 35).
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2025 USACE Revised DEIS
"For the Unpermitted LeFleur’s Landing “Jefferson Street Landfill”, benzene was found within soil and water samples to be three times the regulated limit. Reconnaissance from the consultant showed that the landfill had evidence of waste/debris exposed due to possible erosion. It was also found that the landfill had no signs of a constructed cap or liner to prevent possible leachate from the landfill to nearby groundwater." (Main Report, page 4-29)
Clarion-Ledger, 10 Jul 2003
Clarion-Ledger, 15 Aug 2004
GALLATIN STREET DUMP SITE
117-acre site operated as unpermitted City of Jackson municipal dump for 20 years. Groundwater samples collected from borings placed within the landfill found leachate with concentrations of cadmium, lead, and nickel which were above the Maximum Contaminate Levels (MCLs) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act for these parameters. Visual inspection showed leachate from the landfill seeping out of the soils along the bank of the Pearl River.
117-acre site operated as unpermitted City of Jackson municipal dump for 20 years. Groundwater samples collected from borings placed within the landfill found leachate with concentrations of cadmium, lead, and nickel which were above the Maximum Contaminate Levels (MCLs) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act for these parameters. Visual inspection showed leachate from the landfill seeping out of the soils along the bank of the Pearl River.
2025 USACE Revised DEIS
"Within the Unpermitted Gallatin Street Landfill Site, the proposed construction details excavating roughly 40 acres of material and relocating the material to the western portion of the Gallatin Street Landfill. Within the NFI sponsor’s consultant report, it was found that soil borings discovered garbage roughly 3 to 34 feet deep. Water samples from monitoring wells within this landfill resulted in concentrations of cadmium, lead, and nickel above the maximum contaminant levels for the Safe Drinking Water Act. The consultant who sampled this landfill stated that there is a clay layer possibly holding the potential leachate material from entering the nearby groundwater." (Main Report, pages 4-28 to 4-29)
Click to view Clarion-Ledger, 7 May 1998
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Clarion-Ledger, 7 April 1999
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Remedial Actions
The Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District must remediate all 3 Hazardous Toxic Waste Sites prior to the USACE beginning any project construction and has acknowledged "complete financial responsibility for all necessary cleanup and response costs of any hazardous substances regulated under CERCLA that are located in, on, or under lands, or rights-of-way that the federal government determines to be required for construction, operation and maintenance of the project." Final Agency Technical Review, June 2020, comment 8293857 Real Estate
"Pursuant to USACE policy, (ER 1165-2-132), potential Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste concerns are to be identified early and construction in HTRW-contaminated areas is to be avoided to the extent practicable. A Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) was conducted by the Non-Federal Interest (NFI) September 2014 and updated by the NFI in August 2021 and December 2023 to assess the potential for HTRW materials within the footprints of the Study Area. Within the Study Area, it was found that there is a probability of encountering HTRW during construction. Prior to construction, an ASTM E 1527-13 Phase I and possibly a Phase II, depending on the selected construction footprint, ESA would be completed. Reference Section 4.2.1.1 HTRW for additional information." 2025 USACE Revised DEIS, page 7-14
"Pursuant to USACE policy, (ER 1165-2-132), potential Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste concerns are to be identified early and construction in HTRW-contaminated areas is to be avoided to the extent practicable. A Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) was conducted by the Non-Federal Interest (NFI) September 2014 and updated by the NFI in August 2021 and December 2023 to assess the potential for HTRW materials within the footprints of the Study Area. Within the Study Area, it was found that there is a probability of encountering HTRW during construction. Prior to construction, an ASTM E 1527-13 Phase I and possibly a Phase II, depending on the selected construction footprint, ESA would be completed. Reference Section 4.2.1.1 HTRW for additional information." 2025 USACE Revised DEIS, page 7-14
Impacts of HTRW Site Remediation according to 2018 DEIS
- "Construction activities have the potential to increase noise levels, erosion and runoff of silt, generation of air borne dust, and the release of hazardous substances from these HTRW sites."
- "Other immediate effects that may result from construction of the proposed project could include a temporary loss of the secondary water supply intake for the City of Jackson. Jackson utilizes an existing water treatment plant which is located on the Pearl River at a location scheduled for dredging and development of the “Channel Improvement/Weir/Levee” alternative. This water treatment plant is used as a secondary source and backup water supply source for the City. The dredging of sediments and subsurface soils in the Pearl River could potentially increase the turbidity of the surface waters to levels unacceptable for human consumption; therefore, the City of Jackson would need to evaluate temporary water supply alternatives during the duration of dredging and construction activities."
page 16, Allen ES HTRW report
