Brown Wood Preserving

Overview

Brown Wood Preserving is a 51-acre former wood treatment facility near Live Oak, Florida. It operated from 1946 to 1978, using creosote and pentachlorophenol to treat wood. Wastewater and contaminated materials polluted soil, sediments, sludge, and groundwater. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 and removed it in 1995 after all cleanup goals were met.

Nine contaminants of concern were identified at the site. Eight are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of organic compounds produced during wood treatment and combustion. They are benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, and pentachlorophenol. All were found in soil, groundwater, sludge, and liquid waste within one operable unit covering the full site.

Potentially responsible parties carried out cleanup from 1988 to 1991 under EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection oversight. Workers treated and discharged 200,000 gallons of lagoon water, excavated and solidified 15,000 tons of contaminated sludge, and placed contaminated soil in a 14-acre biological treatment zone. A clay-lined treatment area with drainage systems was also installed. EPA confirmed soil cleanup was complete in July 1990, and construction of the full remedy finished on December 31, 1991. Operation and maintenance activities continued through 1994.

Today, no contamination remains on site that threatens residents or the environment. Human exposure is under control, and groundwater migration is also under control, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water confirmed. Residents and nearby businesses use the public water system, which is not affected by site conditions. There are no restrictions on future reuse of the property, and the site is considered ready for anticipated use. Because no hazardous wastes remain, EPA does not plan further cleanup or additional five-year reviews.

Community members with questions about the site can contact the Remedial Project Manager directly. This site profile remains available for historical reference. Public notices and information meetings were used throughout the cleanup process to keep residents informed.