Colonial Creosote

Overview

The Colonial Creosote site in Bogalusa, Louisiana, operated as a wood-treating facility from 1911 to 1953. It was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in September 2015, making it eligible for federal Superfund cleanup funding. The NPL is the list of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country.

The main contaminants are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which came from creosote used during wood-treating operations. These chemicals have spread into soil, sediment, groundwater, nearby wetlands, and surface waters. Some PAHs are suspected to cause cancer in humans and have caused reproductive problems and birth defects in animals.

The EPA is conducting a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, known as an RI/FS. This process determines the full extent of contamination and evaluates possible cleanup approaches. A work plan was finalized in June 2016, and field sampling continued through January 2026. The EPA has not yet selected a cleanup remedy. The next steps are releasing the RI/FS documents and a Proposed Plan that will describe the agency's preferred cleanup approach. Human exposure controls and groundwater migration status cannot yet be confirmed because the response actions have not yet produced enough reliable data to evaluate those conditions.

The site is divided into one operable unit covering soil and groundwater. Physical cleanup construction has not started, and the site has not yet reached its intended future use. Controls or restrictions may still be needed before the site can be used safely.

A public meeting was held on April 9, 2026 at Bogalusa City Hall, 202 Arkansas Avenue. The EPA's Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) contractor, Skeo, was on hand to explain free technical assistance available to help residents understand the cleanup process and participate in decision-making. Ten site documents are available to the public at the EPA Region 6 office in Dallas and at the Bogalusa Branch Library.