12.04.2012
West Anniston Foundation
Solutia Update
“Operable Unit 04”
On December 4, 2012, West Anniston Foundation (WAF) conducted a Focus Group
Meeting. The meeting was hosted by WAF’s Technical Advisor (TA) contractor, Bertrand
Thomas, P. G. There were over 82 residents in attendance.
The purpose of the meeting was for Solutia to summarize the clean-up work Solutia had
completed up to this date on Operable Unit 4 (OU-4). OU-4 encompasses the length of
Choccolocco Creek and it’s floodplain from the confluence with Snow Creek downstream to the
Coosa River. The upstream portion of OU-4 also includes two additional areas:


The lower end of Snow Creek and its floodplain between Highway 78 and the confluence
with Snow and Choccolocco Creek floodplain than the urbanized reaches of Snow Creek.
The backwater area of Choccolocco Creek at its confluence with Snow Creek. This area
is identified in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility
Investigation (RIF) characterization due to the depositional nature of the basin.

The key note speaker for Solutia was Mr. Allen Sowler. Mr. Sowler is a consultant to Solutia
and has worked on characterizing OU-4 for over eight years. Mr. Allen Sowler was
introduced by Solutia’s Remedial Project Manager (RPM), Ms. Gayle Macolly. The
following statements are snap shots of Mr. Sowler presentation.
Presentation Overview
 Background information
 General
 Overview of environmental investigation
 Initial Remedial and Restoration accomplishment
 Upcoming Activities
Watershed for Choccolocco Creek
 6,000 acres of floodplain within a 500 square miles watershed
 35 miles of creeks including Choccolocco Creek and the lower portion of Snow Creek
 Land area are approximately 90% agricultural and forested
 Most of the access to the creek is through private property
General Status
 OU-4 evaluated between 1998 and 2003 was under RCRA and CERCLA under the
Partial Consent Decree
 Site investigations are nearly complete



The Human Health Risk Assessment is being performed by EPA
Ecological Risk Assessment is being performed by Solutia
Residential cleanup nearly completed
Environmental Investigation
 Sediment quality
 Sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation
 Surface water
 Flood plain soils
 Fish tissue Fish consumption study
 Ecological survey and biological sampling
 Residential use evaluation
 Floodplain land use evaluation
Sediment Sampling Program
 Samples were collected to understand the nature and extend of PCB in sediment
 Sediment core samples were initially collected at 4 to 7 locations across Choccolocco
Creek every 1,000 ft.
 Cores were segments to understand PCB concentration as a function of depth
 Additional sediment samples were collected in the Backwater Areas and to support the
human health and ecological risk assessment
Sediment Data Summary
 Surface area-weight surface PCB concentrations for Choccolocco Creek (except the
backwater areas) are below 1 mg/Kg
 Elevated concentration (and majority of the PCBs) are located in the Backwater area at
the confluence of Snow and Choccolocco Creeks
Floodplain Soil Data Summary
 Soils with elevated PCB concentrations were typically observed in the first 10 miles of
the floodplain in the creek downstream of the Back Water area.
 Higher PCBs contraction soil were typically located within 500 feet of the creek bank
 PCBs were generally limited to the top 12 inches of floodplain soil
 Residential characterization and sampling are completed
Fish Tissue Collection Program
 Fish tissue collection program designed to support the human health risk assessment
 Fish tissue samples (fillets) were collected at 9 locations along the creek where public
access was available
 Approximately 12 fish of each species were collected at each of the 9 collection locations
 Fish tissue data and a companion fish consumption study were provided to EPA for use
in preparing the human health risk assessment
Ecological Investigations
 Multiple habitat surveys were conducted starting in the mid-1990s through 2007



Habitat surveys were conducted for in-stream and terrestrial settings and included
reference site located in the watershed
Investigation of chemical concentrations in terrestrial and biota conducted in 2009
through 2010
Sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation testing:2010 through 2012
Initial Restoration Efforts

Early habitat survey findings indicated that Choccolocco Creek was healthy other than
input from:
o Urban runoff
o Wastewater treatment outfalls
o Agricultural runoff
o Agricultural activity in Choccolocco Creek
Conservation Corridor
 Conservation Corridor concept initially developed in 2001
 Protect and enhance water quality by limiting uncontrolled development and agricultural
practices near the creek
 Watershed management concepts being consistent with nationwide practice
Choccolocco Creek Watershed Alliance
 Solutia supports the Watershed Alliance that was formed during 2011
 Charter Alliance members include representatives from: JSU; Alabama Power; Anniston
Water Works; Solutia; Alabama Department of Transportation; Calhoun and Talladega
Extension Agencies; and Anniston Army Depot
Watershed Alliance: Group Activities
 Participation in several community events to promote awareness:
o Choccolocco Heritage Festival
o Creek clean up in partnership with Renew Our Rivers
o Get Outdoors Day
o Organized creek float
 The Alliance has become an engaged group which meets every other month with the
focus of promoting Choccolocco Creek through education, public involvement and
information sharing
OU-4 RI/FS: Upcoming Activities
 Complete the human health and ecological risk assessments
 Prepare the Preliminary Site Characterization Summary Report (PSCSR) once the
sediment toxicity testing data are finalized
 Prepare the Remedial Investigation (RI) Report following EPA approval of the PSCSR
 Prepare Feasibility Study (FS) Report following approval of the human health and
ecological risk assessments
Overall, the meeting was very productive. There were people who fish and wanted to
know about eating the fish out of Chocclocco watershed. Some people wanted to know about
the consumption of dairy milk and farm meat. Mr. Sowler remained after the meeting to
answer the community questions. The presentation may be given by EPA on air sampling
and a meeting may be scheduled between January and March 2013.