EPA Superfund Site

SOUTH CAVALCADE STREET

TX | EPA ID TXD980810386

About this site’s exposure pathways: As of August 2022, the South Cavalcade Street Superfund site is considered “Insufficient Data to make a Human Exposure evaluation” (HEID) because of a newly identified exposure pathway and/or contaminant(s). Coal tar seeps were observed at the Site for the first time since the remedy was implemented in July 2000. The tar seeps area is west of the southeast cap installed at the Site. Since July 2021, additional tar seeps were observed in the same area during the months of September 2021, October 2021, December 2021, and February 2022. These tar seeps occur in the truck parking lot where there is truck and pedestrian traffic. The source is presumed to be from residual coal tar pooled underground from pre-1962 coal tar distillation operations at the Site. The Potentially Responsible Parties (PRP) removed the exposed tar and pea gravel from the pavement area after each occurrence and placed them into a 55-gallon drum for proper disposal in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The PRP primed and sealed concrete joints in the tar seeps area in March 2022, as per an approved workplan.

The site was previously categorized Human Exposure Under Control (HEUC) and was changed to Human Exposure Saved Draft while the tar seeps were being evaluated. For the remedy at the Site to be protective the nature and extent of coal tar and soil contamination in the southeast is to be determined and remedial alternatives evaluated and implemented. In addition, indoor air quality in the nearby tractor trailer maintenance shop needs to be evaluated and addressed.

EPA uses this Human Exposure status when there is a lack of evidence to suggest that actual or reasonably anticipated human exposures are occurring and that those exposures are above acceptable risk-based levels. The planned activities to collect sufficient information to evaluate this new exposure pathway and/or contaminants(s) are for the Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) to collect soil gas samples near the tractor trailer maintenance shop and perform a risk evaluation to determine whether vapor intrusion is an issue in the maintenance shop. The PRP needs submit a plan to evaluate the nature and extent of coal tar and soil contamination. Once the nature and extent is delineated, the PRP needs to implement response actions to address the tar and contaminated soil. EPA currently anticipates there will be sufficient data to make a Human Exposure evaluation by 6/30/2025 because EPA anticipates the coal tar delineation and vapor intrusion risk evaluation will be completed by then.

The property owner is providing access and has been cooperating with the EPA and PRP to resolve this issue expeditiously. prevent dermal and inhalation exposure.