The Cabot/Koppers site in Gainesville has created a buzz recently, and caused some movement from the government agencies in charge.
We received a Letter from the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department – they say that the EPA is finally going to set boundaries so we know what areas are affected and what areas are not. Hooray!
Test Results
Here are maps & test results recently published by the EPA:
Here is a link to an interactive map that shows the test results for 3 different chemicals. The results are all over the place – be sure to zoom in and OUT to see the different areas of Gainesville. Click on the 3 buttons for each chemical to get all the info!
http://www.alachuacounty.us/depts/epd/pollution/pages/soildata.aspx
Here are the individual maps for each chemical they have tested for, updated as of today (6/1/11).
Dioxin Test Results Koppers site
Arsenic test results Koppers site
Bensopyrene (BAPTE) test results Koppers Site
The History
(from http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/npl/nplfln/cabkopfl.htm)
The Cabot/Koppers Superfund site covers 140 acres bridging two properties. It is made up of two sites: the Koppers portion covers 90 acres on the western side, and the Cabot Carbon portion covers 50 acres on the eastern side.
A wood-treating operation on the Koppers portion of the site, currently operated by Koppers Industries, has been active since 1916. Cabot Carbon formerly operated a charcoal production operation on the Cabot Carbon portion. This portion has been redeveloped and currently contains a commercial shopping mall, car dealership and a series of smaller stores and businesses.
Poor waste handling practices in the past have resulted in contaminated ground water, soil and possibly off-site surface water. Contaminants include arsenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and creosote compounds.
Clean-up started back in 1985 and the site has been in the news on and off over the years.
Want more info?
http://www.alachuacounty.us/Depts/EPD/Pollution/Pages/CabotKoppersSuperfund.aspx
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/npl/nplfln/cabkopfl.htm
http://www.alligator.org/news/local/article_41793e68-3019-11e0-9537-001cc4c002e0.html