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SUPERFUND UPDATE 'T ^ ^ ^ : SDMS Document \ ^ l ^ ^ Virgin Island /Island Chemical Site ''"-^ Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S Virgin Island 115615 EPA Region 2 May 1996 DESCRIPTION The Island Chemical/Virgin Island Chemical Site is an approximately 3.5-acre facility located in the southwest portion of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The surrounding area is predominantly commercial, with five businesses located adjacent to the site. An intermittent stream, River Gut, which originates north of the Site and discharges to the Caribbean Sea, borders the northem and eastem Site boimdaries. (See Figure 1) The Site is owned by Charles H. Steffey, Inc. However, throughout its history, the site has been leased to various chemical manufacturers including Houston Chemical industries, Inc. (1969), Caribe Chemical Company Inc., subsequently known as Pierrel America, Inc. (1972-1978) and Cooper Laboratories, lnc.(1978) • October 1979-Cooper assigned the lease to its subsidiary, Island Chemical Company. • November 1979- Cooper sold all of the Island Chemical Company stock to Berlex Laboratories, Inc. • September 1984- Berlex sold Island Chemical's assets and assigned leased to Virgin Island Chemical Company. Between 1978 and 1980 or later, the facility was used for the manufacture of pharmaceutical chemicals, primarily phenacetin, ethoxyquin, and quinidine. In 1984,0 Virgin Island Chemical Company produced benzyl acetate, which is used in perfumes, flavorings, resin, lacquers, printing inks, and vamish removers. Virgin Island Chemical Company also began producing benzyl salicylate, which is used as a perfiime fixative, a solvent for synthetic musk, and an ingredient in sunscreening lotion in 1985. Currently, the Site is inactive. The Virgin Island Chemical Site was proposed to be added to the EPA's National Priorities List in January 1994. The National Priorities List is the nationwide list of hazardous waste sites that quality for federal Superfund cleanup. 1 0 . 0 0 7 5 PAST RESPONSE ACTIONS In September 1984, ICC hired a consultant to conduct an investigation ofthe site. Three areas of concem were identified during the investigation, including an 8,000-gallon process pit, the associated drainage line from the pit to River Gut, and contaminated soil at various areas on-site. Soil samples collected between September 1984 and March 1986 indicated the presence of various organic compounds, including elevated levels of toluene and pyridine. All contaminated soil detected during the site investigation was reported to have been either removed or treated on-site using biodegradation through soil manipulation. On September 9,1985 and on March 13,1986, two separate Resource Conservation and Recovery Act enforcement inspections were conducted by EPA in order to verify the effectiveness of soil remediation. Samples were collected on both occasions. The analytical results ofthese samples indicated the presence of phthalates, benzene, chloroform, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, along with chromium and zinc. REMOVAL ACTION On January 31 and Febmary 1, 1989, the EPA conducted a preliminary assessment and removal evaluation at the Site. At that time the laboratory/warehouse building was found to contain approximately 400 drums, some extremely deteriorated, leaking cylinder ofchlorine and hydrogen chloride, and over 800 containers of laboratory reagents that included sodium metal, potassium cyanide, and ethyl ether. EPA conducted a removal action and removed 205 55-gallon dmms, 40 85-gallon dmms, and 9 5-gallon dnuns of various chemicals, and 8,061 pounds of lab pack chemicals from the laboratory/warehouse buildings. ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES Berlex approached EPA in the summer of 1993 and expressed an interest in entering into a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) administrative order on consent for the Site. On September 29,1994, EPA , Island Chemical Company, and Berlex Laboratories, Inc. entered into an Administrative Order on Consent ( CERCLA-94-0401) The Order required Berlex and Island Chemical Company to conduct a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study for the Site according to EPA guidelines and with EPA oversight. The field activities were conducted and will continued be conducted by Harding Lawson Associates and Caribbean Hydro Tech, contractors for Berlex. The CURRENT STATUS The Site has been proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL). The Site was part ofthe NPL Proposal #16 which appeared in the Federal register on January 18, 1994. Field work for the Site started on January 13, 1995. The data summary report for the first two rounds of sampling was submitted to EPA on August 15, 1995. A second phase to further define the extent of soil contamination will be initiated on May 21, 1996. UPCOMING FIELD ACTIVITIES EPA has approved recommendations submitted by Harding Lawson Associates that outlines additional field activities to be conducted during the Phase II RI/FS at the Island Chemical Site. The additional activities will consists of the installation of two continuous water level recorders in two monitoring well to further define the direction of groundwater flow. These water level 1 0 . 0 0 7 6 recorders were installed on April 25-26, 1996. A soil boring and soil sampling program will be initiated on May 21, 1996, to further characterize the extent of soil contamination in the tank farm area. In addition, an additional ground water monitoring well (MW-2) will be installed at the center of the Site. The monitoring well will be sampled two weeks after installation. Water level measure- ments and information from the water level recorders will be used to determine the direction of groundwater flow at the Site. INFORMATION REPOSITORIES EPA has established an information repository where documents regarding the Virgin Island Chemical Site are available for review at: The University ofthe Virgin Island, St Croix Campus Library Kingshill, St Croix U.S Virgin Island, 00850 Contact: Staff at Reserve Desk, (809) 692-4130 Hours: Monday- Thursday 8 a.m - 10 p.m Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. FURTHER INFORMATION For more information about the RI/FS activities at the Island Chemical Site, please contact: Sherrel Henry Cecil A. Williams Remedial Project Manager Environmental Specialist II U.S. EPA, Region II Department of Planning and Natural 290 Broadway, 20th Floor Resources New York, New York 10007 Water Gut Homes-1118 (212) 637-4273 Christiansted, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Island 00820-5065 or Lillian Johnson, Chief Community Relations Branch U.S. EPA, Region II 290 Broadway, 26th Floor 10 0077 New York, New York 10007 (212) 637-4273 or