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Groundwater-Level Altitudes and Groundwater-Flow Direction and Nature and Extent of Volatile and Semivolatile Organic Compounds at Petro-Chemical Systems, Inc. (Turtle Bayou), Superfund Site, Liberty County, Texas, 2020

Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5104
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20225104

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Abstract

The Petro-Chemical Systems, Inc. (Turtle Bayou), Superfund site is 15 miles southeast of Liberty, Texas, in Liberty County. Improper disposal of waste oils led to contamination of soil and groundwater at the site. In cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey collected water-quality samples from 11 monitoring wells at the site, in particular the area near well MW-109A (the MW-109 area), in August and September 2020 and compared the water-quality results to the results from previous water-quality sampling events at the site in June 2016 and August 2018 with a focus on benzene concentrations. Contours of groundwater-level altitudes in the MW-109 area indicate that groundwater-flow direction is south-southeasterly in the eastern part and south-southwesterly in the western part.

Of the 51 volatile organic compounds analyzed, 13 were detected in groundwater samples from 1 or more wells. In all but 1 well, MW-109A, concentrations of these compounds were less than 100 micrograms per liter. Benzene is still the principal contaminant of concern, as it persists at concentrations exceeding 53,000 micrograms per liter, although naphthalene also appears to be a contaminant of concern, as it was detected at the greatest concentration of any semivolatile organic compound analyte (1,100 micrograms per liter in the sample from well MW-109A).

Suggested Citation

Braun, C.L., and Becher, K.D., 2022, Groundwater-level altitudes and groundwater-flow direction and nature and extent of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds at Petro-Chemical Systems, Inc. (Turtle Bayou), Superfund site, Liberty County, Texas, 2020: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2022–5104, 17 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20225104.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Groundwater-Level Altitudes and Groundwater-Flow Direction
  • Nature and Extent of Volatile and Semivolatile Organic Compounds
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Groundwater-level altitudes and groundwater-flow direction and nature and extent of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds at Petro-Chemical Systems, Inc. (Turtle Bayou), Superfund site, Liberty County, Texas, 2020
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2022-5104
DOI 10.3133/sir20225104
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
Description Report: v, 17 p.; Data release
Country United States
State Texas
County Liberty County
Other Geospatial Petro-Chemical Systems, Inc. (Turtle Bayou), Superfund site
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details