The Holcomb Creosote Co. site covers 80 acres in Yadkinville, North Carolina. It operated as a wood-treating facility from the 1950s until 2009. EPA added it to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2012 after finding contamination in soil, sediment, groundwater, surface water, and on-site structures.
EPA identified 12 contaminants of concern at the site. Groundwater contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including naphthalene, benzo[a]pyrene equivalents, 2-methylnaphthalene, dibenzofuran, and 1,2-dihydroacenaphthylene. Metals such as cobalt, iron, and manganese were also found in groundwater, along with ethylbenzene and 1,1'-biphenyl. Naphthalene was detected in both groundwater and soil. PAHs were found in sediment. The greatest potential health threat is inhalation and ingestion of contaminated groundwater, but because no one is currently drinking or contacting it, human exposure is under control.
In 2011, EPA ran an emergency removal action to stop contamination from spreading into an unnamed stream tributary of North Deep Creek and nearby Dobbins Mill Pond. Major cleanup construction followed. Workers demolished contaminated structures, excavated contaminated soil, and treated it using in-situ solidification and stabilization. Contaminated material was consolidated into an onsite containment cell covered by an engineered cap. EPA also applied enhanced bioremediation to address groundwater contamination. This construction work ran from March through November 2023, funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Physical construction of cleanup is now complete. Human exposure and groundwater migration are both under control.
EPA is currently overseeing long-term operation and maintenance. Periodic groundwater sampling checks whether the remedies are working. Institutional controls restrict land use to prevent exposure to remaining contamination. Fencing limits access near the surface impoundment and stream sediments. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List, and cleanup goals for current and future land uses have not all been achieved. A five-year review is estimated to occur between March and May 2028.
Community members can stay involved by contacting EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator, Brenda Bonner, by email or phone. EPA has held public meetings and comment periods throughout the process, and additional participation opportunities are organized as needed. Site records are available for public review at the Yadkin County Public Library at 233 East Main Street in Yadkinville.
