Gulf State Utilities-North Ryan Street

Overview

This 19-acre site in Lake Charles, Louisiana operated as a manufactured gas plant before 1926. Coal tar byproducts were discharged into nearby marshlands, and a 6-acre wetland was used to dispose of electric equipment and transformer oil. The site was proposed to the National Priorities List (NPL) in February 1995 and has remained under EPA oversight since. It is currently an active Entergy service facility.

EPA has identified 97 contaminants of concern across groundwater, surface water, and soils. These include metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and chromium, organic chemicals including benzene, toluene, and xylene, pesticides such as aldrin and dieldrin, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like naphthalene and benzo[a]pyrene. Cobalt-60, a radioactive substance, was also detected in groundwater and surface water. Sediments in the Calcasieu River posed risks to aquatic life before cleanup actions began.

The site is divided into three operable units covering sitewide activities, groundwater, and soils. From 2000 to 2003, the responsible party removed contaminated soil and river sediment under EPA oversight, including dredging and placement of an engineered cap over exposed tar areas. Groundwater remediation relied on monitored natural attenuation combined with institutional controls, with remedial action completed between July and September 2005. The soils operable unit received a "no further action" decision in September 2004.

Human exposure is currently under control, and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. However, physical construction across all operable units remains incomplete, and the site is not yet ready for anticipated use across its entire area. The most recent five-year review, sources cite either September 2019 or June 2025 as the date, found the remedy protective of human health and the environment. Annual groundwater monitoring and post-removal site control inspections continue. Institutional controls restrict the site to industrial use, limit groundwater use, and prevent excavation on the cap. Two on-site businesses currently employ 13 people and generate an estimated 2.2 million dollars in annual sales revenue.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA Remedial Project Manager or the Community Involvement Coordinator. For state-related questions, contact the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ).