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Jerrell B. Thompson Battery

No further Superfund environmental response actions are required at this former lead-acid battery reclamation site in Phalba, Van Zandt County.

Site Background

The Jerrell B. Thompson Battery site is located north of Phalba on County Road 2410, approximately one mile north of the intersection of County Road 2410 and Texas 198. This site was a battery reclamation operation. It is believed that operations began in 1970. In 1978, a battery processing facility was built on site.The facility became inactive in April 1981. Between 1984 and 1987, the Texas Water Commission inspected the site, noted several violations, and filed several enforcement actions against the operators.

Superfund Actions Taken to Date

  • September 25, 1990, a legal notice was published in the Texas Register (15 TexReg 5623) describing the site, proposing the site to the state Superfund registry, and announcing that a public meeting to receive citizen comments would be held at Canton City Hall Council Chambers on October 26, 1990.
  • September 1, 1993, effective date of the creation of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission from the joining of the Texas Water Commission and the Texas Air Control Board and a portion of the Texas Department of Health.
  • October 13, 1993, TNRCC issued a work order to determine the nature and extent of contamination (remedial investigation/feasibility study).
  • April 1, 1994, the final RI/FS report was approved, marking completion of the remedial investigation /feasibility study phase.
  • June 13, 1997, a legal notice was published in the Texas Register (22 TexReg 5801) announcing a public meeting would be held on July 31, 1997, at the Canton City Hall to present to the community the best choice among cleanup remedies and to receive citizen comments to be considered in the final recommended remedy.
  • July 31, 1997, a legal notice was published in the Texas Register (22 TexReg 7097) announcing the cancellation of the public meeting originally scheduled for July 31, 1997, at Canton City Hall.
  • September 12, 1997, a legal notice was published in the Texas Register, (22 TexReg 9348), announcing a public meeting would be held on October 30, 1997, at the Phalba Community Center to present to the community the best choice among cleanup remedies and to receive citizen comments to be considered in the final recommended remedy.
  • October 30, 1997, a public meeting was held at the Phalba Community Center to present to the community the best choice among cleanup remedies, which was on-site containment with stabilization, and to receive citizen comments to be considered in the final recommended remedy.
  • June 19, 1998, a legal notice was published in the Texas Register (23 TexReg 6645) announcing a public meeting would be held July 23, 1998, at Canton City Hall, to present to the public the revised proposed selection of remedy and to receive citizen comments on the proposal.
  • July 17, 1998, a legal notice was published in the Texas Register (23 TexReg 7455) rescheduling the public meeting at Canton City Hall to present to the public the revised proposed selection of remedy and to receive citizen comments on the proposal. The meeting was rescheduled for August 25, 1998.
  • March 1, 1999, an administrative order was issued. The order set cleanup levels, selected the remedy for cleanup, and established rules, responsibilities and enforcement options for remedial design/remedial action under state Superfund process.
  • March 11, 1999, effective date of a final TNRCC administrative order, setting cleanup levels, selecting the remedy for the cleanup, and establishing rules, responsibilities and enforcement options for the remedial design/remedial action under the state Superfund process. By issuing the order, the TNRCC has determined that the facility poses an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and safety or the environment and has listed the site on the state Superfund registry.
  • April 15, 1999, remedial design of the selected site remedy was completed.
  • June 6, 1999, Texas General Services Commission requested bids from registered contractors for the remedial action contract.
  • August 6, 1999, the remedial action contract was awarded to Eagle Construction and Environmental Services. Cleanup crews excavated and treated contaminated soil. In some locations, excavation was as deep as 15 feet to undercut contaminants. A total of 6,200 tons of soil was removed offsite to an approved disposal facility. Excavated areas were backfilled with clean soil. The 5-acre site was graded, hydro-mulched and planted with seed grass.The site was remediated to residential land use standards.
  • January 8, 2000, the TNRCC project manager determined that the project was substantially complete. The contractor had finished the remedial action.
  • August 30, 2000, TNRCC approved the final report for completion of the remedial action.
  • September 1, 2002, effective date of the name change from Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

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