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Atlantic Wood Industries, Inc.
Atlantic Wood Industries, Inc. is a superfund site in Portsmouth, Virginia. The site was previously a wood treatment facility, and was added to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. The site occupies 50 acres of land on the south branch of the Elizabeth River, as well as 30 acres of contaminated sediment within the river. At present, the site is in the final remedial action stage.

History
Atlantic Wood Industries, Inc. operated as a wood treating facility from 1926-1990 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The site is one of four identified superfund sites in the city, as the military presence in the area utilized the city for various projects that were later determined to be polluted by various toxic products used in military manufacturing. The treatment of wood on this site as well as the disposal of waste utilized compounds such as creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP) both types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The site was also used by the United States Navy to dispose of contaminant waste, and run sand blasting exercises that released Abrasive Blast Media (ABM) during World War II, leading to the deposition of heavy metals.

The site was identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a potential Superfund site in 1983, and added to the national priority list in 1990. In 1992, an ecological risk assessment of the site was completed. This assessment identified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as the primary contaminant of concern at this site, which are toxic at low concentrations. Wood preservative creosote was identified as the main source of PAHs. This creosote directly entered the Elizabeth River, creating concern over bioaccumulation, mortality, and other adverse effects to aquatic creatures. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) was also identified as a contaminant of concern. Heavy metal contamination in soil and groundwater is also a concern for this site. The accumulation of these materials and the effect on organism health leads to harmful effects in the greater Elizabeth River ecosystem. One such organism, oysters, were found to take in both PAHs and copper, both compounds which negatively affect the health of the organism and disrupt the ecosystem on the Elizabeth River. Furthermore, human contact with these contaminants or consumption of affected seafood can cause health concerns.

Following this report, the site began to be assessed for the best plan for remediation. Remedial actions involved multiple projects. Notably, removing acetylene sludge from capping an abrasive blast media (ABM) disposal area in 2003, in-situ removal of creosote and pentachlorophenol from soil in 2013, and dredging the river to remove contaminated sediment in 2017. In 2020, The site began final remedial action and the landfill on site was capped to prevent the escape of the removed contaminants. The site continues to be monitored and was identified by the EPA to be “protective of human health and the environment in the short term.” Approximately $100 million dollars were spent to clean the site.

Settlement
The United States Navy and the Department of Defense (DoD) reached a settlement of $55.3 million dollars, paid to the EPA in 2019 for remediation costs. The Navy and DoD also paid the state of Virginia $8.5 million for past and future expenses pertaining to the site. Among this settlement were funds for a $1.5 million oyster restoration effort.