Eldorado Chemical Co., Inc.

Overview

Eldorado Chemical Co., Inc. operated as a cleaning products manufacturer in Live Oak, Texas from 1978 to 2007. The facility released chlorinated solvents, specifically tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride, into the soil and groundwater. That contamination forms a plume in the alluvial groundwater with the potential to migrate into the Edwards Aquifer. About 215,722 residents across Live Oak, Universal City, Selma, Converse, Randolph Air Force Base, and San Antonio rely on groundwater for drinking water and could be exposed to these contaminants. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality referred the site to the EPA because of the chlorinated solvent plume, the area's dependence on groundwater, and geologic conditions that favor contaminant migration.

The site was proposed to the National Priorities List in April 2016 and finalized in September 2016. A remedial investigation began in March 2017 and is expected to finish between April and June 2028. That investigation, combined with a feasibility study, will assess the contamination and identify cleanup options. The property owner conducted limited cleanup between 1984 and 1986, removing only visibly contaminated soil. No federal cleanup actions have been carried out so far, and no cleanup remedy has been selected.

EPA assessments currently show that human exposure is under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways exist at this time. Contaminated groundwater is also considered stabilized, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. EPA continues monitoring to keep the affected groundwater within its existing contamination area. Physical construction of cleanup work has not been completed, and the site has not yet reached ready-for-anticipated-use status. That status requires finishing all cleanup goals, putting any needed land-use restrictions in place, and completing construction across the entire property.

Community members can stay involved through an active homeowners association, the Bridlewood Park HOA, which partners with the EPA and holds public meetings throughout the year. The HOA also maintains a website at http://bridlewoodparkhoa.org/ for updates. Publicly available documents related to the site, including fourteen documents currently on file, can be accessed through the EPA's online portal. Residents with questions can reach the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly, or contact the state through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.