The American Creosote Works site covers 34 acres in Winnfield, Louisiana. Wood treatment operations ran there from 1901 to 1979, then briefly again from 1981 to 1985 under a different owner. Those operations used creosote and pentachlorophenol to treat wood. Spills and process upsets left soil and groundwater contaminated. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1992, and cleanup has been underway since 1994.
EPA identified 38 contaminants of concern across groundwater, soil, and sludge. Groundwater contains benzene, toluene, xylenes, naphthalene, methylnaphthalenes, and other polynuclear aromatic compounds. Soil contamination includes pentachlorophenol, naphthalene, dioxins, and high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Pentachlorophenol also appeared in sludge. These chemicals are commonly linked to wood treatment operations.
EPA assessments show that human exposure is currently under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways across the site. Groundwater migration is also under control, with contaminated groundwater stabilized and no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The original cleanup remedy, selected in April 1993, included groundwater extraction, bioremediation, excavation, incineration, and capping. Construction under that remedy was completed in June 1999. In September 2016, EPA issued a Record of Decision Amendment that revised the approach. The updated plan calls for excavating and disposing of contaminated soils near Creosote Branch Creek, applying in-situ solidification and stabilization to remaining contaminated soils and groundwater, decommissioning the old groundwater treatment system, and continuing groundwater monitoring. Funding for this work comes in part from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated $3.5 billion nationally for Superfund site cleanup.
A final remedial action phase began in August 2022 and is ongoing. Estimated completion is between April and June 2027. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL and has not yet achieved sitewide ready-for-anticipated-reuse status. Redevelopment is already moving forward on parts of the site. The City of Winnfield and Winn Parish have constructed a joint fire training facility there, and EPA is working with the city to transition the property to industrial use.
Community members with questions can reach EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager. For state-level questions, contact the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
