Although site-related contaminants have been
detected in various environmental media, currently there are no situations
where exposure to site contaminants is occurring at a level associated with
adverse public health effects. This is either because contaminant concentrations
are not great enough to be a public health hazard, because exposure to contaminated
media would be infrequent, or because contaminated media are not accessible
for contact. Based on available information, we have concluded
that the Hart Creosoting Company site currently poses no apparent public health
hazard. Because
of a lack of information, we could not assess the public health implications
of exposure to site contaminants through the foodchain (fish). We have concluded
that this exposure situation is an indeterminate public health hazard.
At present, site contaminants have not been
found in any of the public or private water supply wells proximal to the site.
The private water wells are downgradient from the site. Although we deem it
unlikely, it is theoretically possible for site contaminants to migrate toward
the private water wells.
TNRCC/EPA should coordinate with TDH Seafood
Safety division to collect and analyze edible fish species from Big Walnut
Run Creek for site contaminants. ATSDR/TDH should evaluate these data when
they become available to assess whether or not eating fish caught from the
Big Walnut Run Creek presents a public health hazard.
Although it is unlikely that the two private
wells south of Hart and the two public water supply wells three miles north
of the Hart site could be affected by the shallow groundwater contamination
at Hart, it would be prudent to periodically monitor these water wells for
site contaminants.
Susan L. Prosperie, M.S., R.S.
Health Assessor
Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology Division
John F. Villanacci, Ph.D.
Director
Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology Division
Dixie Davis
Health Assessment Tech
Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology Division
ATSDR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
George Pettigrew
Senior Regional Representative
ATSDR - Region 6
ATSDR TECHNICAL PROJECT OFFICER
Alan W. Yarbrough,
Environmental Health Scientist
State Programs Section
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
This Public Health Assessment was prepared by
the Texas Department of Health under a cooperative agreement with the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with
approved methodology and procedures existing at the time the Public Health Assessment was initiated.
Alan W. Yarbrough
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this Public Health Assessment and concurs with its findings.
Richard Gillig
Chief, State Programs Section, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
Hazard Ranking System (HRS) Documentation Record.
Hart Creosoting Company. Jasper, Jasper County, Texas. Prepared in cooperation
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission. Site Evaluation Restoration Remediation Section, Site Discovery
and Assessment Program Staff, Austin, Texas. April 1999.
Expanded Site Inspection Report. Hart Creosoting
Site, Jasper, Jasper County, Texas. EPA CERCLIS ID NO.: TXD050299577. Prepared
for the United States Environmental Protection Agency by Roy F. Weston, Inc.
April 1994.
EPA Region 6 News Release: Three Texas Sites
Proposed and One Site Added to National Superfund List, July 22, 1999.
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region
6. POLREPS 1 through 12 (Pollution Reports) for Hart Creosoting Company. July
24, 1995 through October 12, 1995.
EPA NPL Site Narrative at Listing. Hart Creosoting
Company, Jasper, Texas. April 23, 1999.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. Census of Population
and Housing Summary Tape File 1 [machine-readable data files]. The Bureau,
Washington DC. 1991.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual. Lewis Publishing; Michigan. 1992.
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. October 13, 1999. Letter
with maps showing public water supply wells in the vicinity of Hart Creosoting
Company from John Meyer of TNRCC, Public Drinking Water Section to Susan Prosperie,
Texas Department of Health.
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
Interoffice Memorandum to Hart Creosoting Company Files. Hart Creosoting Company,
Jasper, Jasper County, Texas; TXD050299577-Site Visit of 01/19/95. Abbi Power
TNRCC Site Coordinator. June 6, 1995.
Texas Water Commission. Inter-Office Memorandum
to Anne Dobbs from Raymond Marlow, March 25, 1993.
