Palmer Barge Line

Overview

Palmer Barge Line is a 17-acre industrial property east-northeast of Port Arthur, Texas, situated on Pleasure Inlet. The site operated as a municipal landfill from 1956 to 1987, then as a barge-cleaning and marine vessel maintenance facility from 1982 to 1997. Those two uses left behind a mix of contaminants that led EPA to add the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in July 2000.

Nine contaminants of concern have been identified, all found in soil within the source area (Operable Unit 1). They include Aroclor 1254, arsenic, benzene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, and pentachlorophenol. These substances pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, and they were the focus of all cleanup decisions at the site.

Cleanup work unfolded in several phases. A removal action in 2000 separated and removed 100,000 gallons of oil and styrene. Later remedial work, completed in 2007, removed 181 tons of contaminated soils, treated roughly 250,000 gallons of water, and disposed of hazardous materials off site. The selected cleanup approach for the source area combined excavation, on-site recycling, institutional controls, and off-site disposal. Deed restrictions now limit the property to industrial and commercial uses only.

EPA deleted the site from the NPL on February 6, 2012, after determining that no threat to human health or the environment remained. Human exposure is currently under control, physical construction is complete across the entire site, and all cleanup goals for current and anticipated future land uses have been met. The site is now owned by New Birmingham Resources Maritime II, LLC and continues to operate as an industrial property, with two on-site businesses generating roughly $273,200 in annual sales revenue as of December 2024. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) partners with EPA in overseeing ongoing operation, maintenance, and monitoring. The most recent five-year review, completed July 1, 2022, confirmed the remedy remains protective. The next review is estimated between July and September 2027.

Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator. Site documents are available for public review at the Port Arthur Public Library, located at 4615 9th Ave, Port Arthur, TX 77642.