Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Delaware
New Castle County
Newport

EPA ID# DED980552244

1st Congressional District

Last Update: June 2008

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

Beazer East, Inc., formerly Koppers Company, Inc., and E. I. DuPont, Inc. (DuPont) performed an extensive investigation of the site contamination and submitted a report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA reviewed Dupont and Beazer East, Inc.’s Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Reports. EPA released a Proposed Plan of Remedial Action ("PRAP" or "Proposed Plan") for public comment on October 7, 2004. A public meeting was held on October 21, 2004. The public comment period was extended, and remained open from October 7, 2004 until December 7, 2004. EPA issued the Record of Decision for the Site on September 30, 2005, laying out the final cleanup plan for the site. The Remedial Design is currently underway, pursuant to a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) issued by EPA to Beazer East, Inc., in September 2006.

Site Description

The 317-acre Koppers Co., Inc. site in Newport, Delaware, operated as a wood preserving plant from 1929 until 1971. During operations, Koppers loaded railroad ties and telephone poles into cylinders and pressure-injected them with either creosote or a mixture of No. 2 fuel oil and pentachlorophenol (PCP). The wood treating operations resulted in the contamination of large areas of the site, including soil and ground water in portions of the uplands, sediments in the wetlands, several onsite ponds, and adjacent streams. In 1971, Koppers removed the process equipment from the Site and sold the property to DuPont. Beazer has since acquired the property from DuPont. The site is currently vacant. Artesian Water Company draws drinking water from three wells within three miles of the site and combines the well water with water from other sources to serve approximately 150,000 customers. Wood treating contamination is found in the Columbia Aquifer beneath the site. The areas north and east of the Site are industrial and residential. About 3,500 people live within one mile of the site.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup of this site is the responsibility of federal and state governments, and DuPont and Beazer East, Inc., through a Consent Agreement and Order (AOC). Once the ROD is issued, negotiations toward a new agreement for design and implementation of the remedy will begin.

NPL Listing History

This site was proposed to the National Priorities List (NPL) of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long term remedial action on October 26, 1989. The Site was formally added to the list August 30, 1990, making it eligible for federal cleanup funds.

Threats and Contaminants

Soil, ground water, and nearby creek and marsh sediments are primarily contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the wood preserving treatment processes.

Contaminant descriptions and associated risk factors are available on the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC, web site at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hazdat.html

Cleanup Progress

Beazer East, Inc., formerly Koppers Company, Inc., and E. I. DuPont, Inc. (Dupont) performed an extensive investigation of the site contamination and submitted a report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA reviewed Dupont and Beazer East, Inc.’s Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Reports. EPA released a Proposed Plan of Remedial Action ("PRAP" or "Proposed Plan") for public comment on October 7, 2004. A public meeting was held on October 21, 2004. The public comment period was extended, and remained open from October 7, 2004 until December 7, 2004. EPA issued the Record of Decision for the Site on September 30, 2005. The Remedial Design is currently underway, pursuant to a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) issued by EPA to Beazer East, Inc., in September 2006.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Adminsitrative Record Locations