Davis Timber Company

Overview

The Davis Timber Company site is a 30-acre former wood-preserving facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It operated from 1972 to the late 1980s. Contaminated wastewater discharged into an on-site storage pond left soil, sediment, and groundwater polluted. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 2000 and deleted it in September 2018, confirming that cleanup goals had been met.

EPA identified three contaminants of concern at the site. Two are forms of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxicity equivalents, a family of highly toxic chlorinated compounds, found in surface water and soil. The third is pentachlorophenol, a wood preservative chemical, found in soil. All three fall under Operable Unit 1, the designated cleanup area.

Physical cleanup ran from October 2011 through September 2012. Work included demolishing on-site structures, extracting and treating about 525,000 gallons of liquid from the impoundment, relocating West Mineral Creek, excavating roughly 2,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil, building an impoundment cap, and completing final grading and vegetation. The project used green remediation practices, recycling steel from demolished buildings, repurposing concrete as riprap for erosion control, and reusing treated water for irrigation. Institutional controls, including land use restrictions and deed notices, now limit future uses of the capped area and the broader property.

Human exposure is under control at the site. Contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized, and no unacceptable discharge to surface water is expected. EPA conducted a Five Year Review in 2021 confirming the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. Another review is estimated for completion between January and March 2027. The site does not currently threaten nearby residents or workers.

Following cleanup, the property was redeveloped for community and animal welfare uses. The site owner donated a 3-acre portion for a community center and polling location. The Hub City Humane Society operates an animal shelter on the remaining property and plans further expansion, including a shelter for abused horses and programs for disadvantaged children and children with disabilities. As of December 2024, one on-site business employed 6 people and generated about $760,000 in annual sales. Community members with questions can contact EPA staff directly using the information below.