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Camilla Wood Preserving
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Demolition of on-site barns at Camilla site.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: GAD008212409Location: Camilla, Mitchell County, GA
Lat/Long: 31.222500, -084.203330
Congressional District: 02
NPL Status: Proposed: 03/06/98; Final: 07/27/98
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Physical cleanup activities have started
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: In partial reuse – recreational area
Site Manager: Scott Miller (miller.scott@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Camilla Wood Preserving Superfund site is approximately 40 acres in size and is located in Mitchell County, in the southwestern corner of Georgia. The site is centered in an area in the City of Camilla that includes residential, commercial, and light industrial uses. Across railroad tracks to the east of the site are community athletic fields, including a high school football field.
The wood treating facility was constructed in 1947 by the Louis Wood Preserving Company. The Escambia Treating Company purchased the facility in 1950 and continued wood treatment processes using creosote. The operating company changed from the Escambia Treating Company to the Camilla Wood Preserving Company. In 1991, Camilla Wood Preserving Company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and wood treating operations ceased. Historically, the site has been used to treat wooden pole products, railroad ties, and other timber with creosote and pentachlorophenol.
As of September 2007, most of the western portion of the site – approximately 25 acres – had been redeveloped into a public recreation area. Most of the remainder of the site is abandoned and located within a fenced area.Threats and Contaminants
Threats primarily include contaminated soil and ground water. Other threats have included on-site water and wastewater, and pentachlorophenol (PCP) and creosote stored in on-site tanks. Contaminants of concern include address dioxin, PCP, creosote, and carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (CPAHs).
Site Cleanup Plan
EPA has been involved at the site since 1991 and has directed a number of cleanup actions at the site (see below). EPA is currently completing a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) in preparation for a cleanup plan that will address remaining site contamination.
The RI work plan was approved on March 24, 1998. Ground water, sediment and surface water sampling was conducted during the week of April 22, 1998. Over 200 samples of surface soil were taken during the week of May 18, 1998. Direct push sampling was conducted during the month of May 1999 to determine the boundaries of contaminated ground water. Phased investigations have allowed EPA to focus on defining the boundaries of PCP and CPAH ground water contamination. The RI/FS was completed in July 2009.
Cleanup Progress
In 1991, EPA conducted its first emergency response action at this site. Actions included:
- Securing the site by placing a fence along the site perimeter.
- Treatment of 95,000 gallons of on-site wastewater.
- Solidification of sludge that was located in an on-site impoundment.
In 1994, EPA treated an additional 52,000 gallons of on-site water. EPA also directed the removal and shipment of 30,723 gallons of PCP and creosote to a Chemwaste facility located in Texas.
In 2007, EPA completed a time-critical removal action at the site to excavate and remove contaminated soils to reduce contaminant levels of dioxins, PCP, creosote, and CPAHs below removal action levels for each pollutant of concern. More information on the 2006-2007 removal action is available on OSCnet.
Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by EPA.
Enforcement Activities
Community Involvement
On September 3, 2009, EPA held a proposed plan meeting in Camilla nearby the former Camilla Wood Preserving Site.
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Camilla Wood Preserving site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices and information meetings on cleanup progress and activities. EPA has also supported the City of Camilla to identify potential future land uses of the sites.
Future Work
The remedial design was completed in February 2011. The next step at the Site is remedial action which will likely take place in the next 12-18 months after remedial design completion.
Site Administrative Documents
Site Repository
For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.
Desoto Trail Regional Library
145 E. Broad St.
Camilla, GA 31730
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.