Star Lake Canal Superfund Site, Jefferson County, Texas

Client: Chevron Environmental Management Company

Location: Port Neches, Texas

Summary: Cardno ENTRIX is conducting the screening level and baseline ecological risk assessments in support of a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for a CERCLA site in southeast Texas. The RI/FS includes the evaluation of both historical and current analytical data under the direction of multiple state and federal agencies. The RI/FS is being conducted as part of an agreed order (AO) under the USEPA Superfund program.

The site includes a diverse and well functioning marsh, three industrial canals and a bayou situated between nearby industrial facilities and the Neches River. Historically effluent from nearby industrial facilities was discharged into the canals, bayou and associated wetlands contributing to potential exposure risks at the site. In support of the RI/FS, a characterization of the nature and extent of constituents and evaluation of risk to ecological receptors at the site were conducted through the collection of sediment, soil, surface water and biological tissue. Using data collected at the site, Cardno ENTRIX conducted a Tier I Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment (SLERA) submitted to Federal and State Trustees in 2008. To further characterize potential risk to ecological receptors from pesticides, metals, PCBs, volatile organics and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Cardno ENTRIX is conducting a Tier II Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment (BERA) which will be submitted in 2010. In conjunction with assessing risk to ecological receptors at the site, Cardno ENTRIX is also assisting the natural resource damage assessment of the site.