(ffUFHH? REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/ FEASIBILITY STUDY V Virgin Island Chemical Site Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands ^ EPA REGION II = ^ January 1994 'J About This Fact Sheet The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting a Remedial Investigation/Feasibil- ity Study at the Virgin Island Chemical Superfund Site (the Site) in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. A Remedial Investigation is a study to determine the nature and extent of contamination that might exist at the Site. The Feasibility Study is conducted to determine and evaluate alternatives for the cleanup or control of the contamination. EPA has prepared this fact sheet to inform the com- munity of Site activities. The fact sheet includes a brief Site history, a description of current proposed acdvities, and infonnation on places to visit and persons to contact for additional infonnation. Public Meeting EPA is holding a public meeting to present the Work Plan for the Remedial Investiga- tion/Feasibility Study on Febmary 15,1995 at the Department of Education Curriculum Center, at 7 p.m. All interested parties and area residents are welcome. Site Background The Virgin Island Chemical Site is an approxi- mately 3.5-acre facility located in the southwest portion of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The sur- rounding 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 bound- aries. (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 includ- ing Houston Chemical Industries, Inc. (1969), Caribe Chemical Company Inc., subsequently known as Pierrel America, Inc. (1972-1978), and Cooper Laboratories, Inc. (1978) • October 1979 - Cooper assigned the lease to its subsidiary, Island Chemical Company. • November 1979 - Cooper sold all of the Is- land Chemical Company stock to Berlex Labo- ratories, Inc. • September 1984 - Berlex sold Island Chemical's assets and assigned the lease to Virgin Island Chemical Company. Between 1978 and 1980 or later, the facility was used for the manufacture of pharmaceutical chemi- cals, primarily phenacetin, ethoxyquin, and quini- dine. In 1984, Virgin Island Chemical Company produced benzyl acetate, which is used in per- fumes, flavorings, resin, lacquers, printing inks, and vamish removers. Virgin Island Chemical Company also began producing benzyl salicylate, which is used as a perfume fixative, a solvent for synthetic musk, and an ingredient in sunscreening lotion in 1985. Cunentiy, the Site is inactive. The Virgin Island Chemical Site was proposed to be added to the National Priorities List in January 1994. The National Priorities List is the nation- wide list of hazardous waste sites that qualify for federal Superfund cleanup. SDMS Document 115613 1 0 . 0 0 6 8 Past Response Actions Upcoming Field Activities In September 1984, Island Chemical Company hired a consultant to conduct an investigation of the Site. Soil samples collected between Septem- ber 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 re- ported to have been either removed or treated on- site. On September 9, 1985 and on March 13, 1986, two separate Resource Conservation and Recov- ery Act enforcement inspections were conducted by EPA to verify the effectiveness of soil remediation. The analytical results ofthe samples collected during the inspection indicated the pres- ence of phthalates, benzene, chlorofonn, and poly- nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, along with chro- mium and zinc. Removal Action On January 31 and Febmary 1, 1989, EPA con- ducted a removal evaluation at the Site. At that time, the laboratory/warehouse building onsite was found to contain approximately 400 drums, some extremely deteriorated, leaking cylinders ofchlo- rine and hydrogen chloride, and over 800 contain- ers of laboratory reagents that included sodium metal, potassium cyanide, and ethyl ether. EPA removed 354 dmms containing 14,720 gallons of various chemicals and 8,061 pounds of lab pack chemicals from the laboratory/warehouse build- ing. Current Activities 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 Re- medial Investigation/Feasibility Study for the Site according to EPA guidelines and with EPA over- sight. The field activities will be conducted by Harding Lawson Associates and Caribbean Hy- dro Tech, contractors for Island Chemical. EPA has approved a Work Plan submitted by Is- land Chemical that outlines field activities to be conducted during the Remedial Investigation/Fea- sibility study. The Remedial Investigation will consist of a soil and groundwater investigations to provide data regarding the soil and ground wa- ter quality. The soil investigation will include sampling and chemical analysis of 11 shallow and deep soil samples. These soil samples will be collected in the vertical intervals from land surface to the top of the water table. The groundwater investigation will include instal- lation of five monitoring wells to measure ground- water levels and to collect groundwater samples. The monitoring wells will be sampled during four distinct groundwater sampling events. Water level measurements and survey data will be used to de- termine the direction of groundwater flow at the Site. The field work for the Site began on January 9, 1995 and will continue until November 1995. Information Repositories EPA has established an information respository where documents regarding the Virgin Island Chemical Site are available for review at: The University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Campus Library Kingshill, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands, 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. 1 0 . 0 0 6 9 PUBLIC MEETING EPA will hold a public meeting to present the Work Plan for the Virgin Island Chemical Superfund Site: Date: February 15, 1995 ; 7 p.m. Place: Department of Education Curriculum Center, Centerline Road near St. Croix High School and the Territorial Court Building, Kingshill. Contact: Cecil A. Williams - (809) 773-0565 EPA invites all interested parties and area residents to attend. Source: 7.5' U.S.G.S. Quadrangles: Frederiksted and Christiansted, V.I. 1958. Photorevised 1982. Island ChemicalA^irgih Island Chemical Site St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 1 0 . 0 0 7 0 Further Information For more information about field activities at the or Virgin Island Chemical Site, please contact: Cecil A. Williams Shenel Henry Environmental Specialist II Remedial Project Manager Department of Planning and Natural Resources U.S. EPA, Region II Water Gut Homes-1118 290 Broadway, 20th Floor Christiansted, St. Croix New York, New York 10007-1866 U.S. Virgin Islands 00820-5065 (212)"^37-4273 (809)773-0565 (809) 773-9310 fax or Lillian Johnson, Chief Community Relations Branch U.S. EPA, Region II 290 Broadway, 26th Floor New York, New York 10007-1866 (212) 637-3000 U.S. EPA, Region II 290 Broadway New York, New York 10007-1866 1 0 . 0 0 7 1