Dresser Pineville Site

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality – Remediation Division (LDEQ-RD) is providing regulatory oversight of detected environmental contamination identified in the vicinity of Property Owners and Residents near the Intersection of Louisiana highways 3225 and 167, near Pineville, Louisiana.

Historic soil, groundwater, surface water, and soil gas contamination from the release of an industrial solvent was discovered at the Dresser, LLC (Dresser) facility. Dresser previously manufactured industrial valves and components at the facility, which ceased operation in December 2016. The former processes included degreasing metal components with trichloroethene also known as trichloroethylene. The source of the contamination was identified as a tank used to store the material, along with other material management areas, located onsite. Dresser has conducted extensive investigation of the onsite and offsite areas of contamination and has ongoing investigation activities in specific areas to further characterize and monitor the impact. It has contracted with environmental consulting companies including Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. and GHD Services, Inc.to carry out the investigations. The main onsite and offsite contamination is from trichloroethene. Additionally, perchloroethylene, also known as tetrachloroethylene, is present as a minor co-contaminant onsite, probably as a function of the original solvent product mixture. Breakdown products also known as daughter compounds are also present.

The historical and ongoing investigations have revealed contamination in groundwater and soil gas that extend from the industrial property to portions of the residential and commercial properties located to the east, north, and south of the Dresser site. As a result, groundwater and soil-gas sampling is being conducted routinely to monitor the environmental conditions within the affected areas of the surrounding properties and neighborhoods. In addition, sampling of indoor air is being conducted in some of the occupied residences, along with outdoor ambient air, to determine if site-related contaminants are present in those homes. Surface water sampling is also being performed to monitor surface water conditions.

On the facility property, Dresser has conducted soil excavation activities to remove the source of the contamination, along with two additional remedial actions to mitigate the impact to soil, groundwater, and soil vapor. In June 2018, Dresser began injecting chemicals designed to break down the contaminants in the groundwater (In-situ Chemical Oxidation or ISCO) on the Dresser property. On April 28, 2020, Dresser began soil gas removal (Soil Vapor Extraction or SVE) through a system of wells and piping installed on the Dresser property. The ISCO and SVE systems have also been expanded to offsite areas to remediate these areas. Several rounds of offsite ISCO injection events have been completed and the SVE system was expanded offsite to the east (Aurora Park area) along Austin Drive. Remedial measures have also been implemented in residential homes to mitigate the potential for the vapor intrusion of contaminants to indoor air. Routine monitoring and remedial actions are ongoing to address the soil, groundwater, soil vapor, and surface water contamination at and in the vicinity of the Dresser site. The information from these activities is being used to track the progress and effectiveness of the remedial actions and determine what additional actions and/or activities may be needed. 

The owner of the Dresser industrial property is:

Dresser, LLC
Website
For more information please call: Pineville Information Line 713-879-1230

Individual LPDES Permit Information

A Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) permit, LA0099547, was issued to Dresser Inc./GE Oil and Gas on March 18, 2016, for the facility’s operations as a metal products and machinery facility. The 2016 LPDES permit authorized discharges of sanitary wastewater, process wastewaters, steam condensate, cooling tower blowdown, boiler blowdown, wash water, parts rinse water, hydrostatic test wastewater, reverse osmosis reject water, fire test water, and stormwater. The November 25, 2020, renewal application submitted by Dresser, LLC certified that all processing from the metal products and machinery facility ceased in December 2016. With the changes in operation, the only remaining discharges for consideration under the LPDES renewal permit included sanitary wastewater and stormwater runoff from the plant area and undeveloped areas (stormwater that is not associated with the remediation area).  A draft permit for these wastewaters was issued to Dresser, LLC on March 16, 2021, and public noticed in accordance with departmental regulations. The final permit was issued by the LDEQ on September 1, 2022.

Short Term General Permit Information

Dresser, LLC submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI), requesting coverage under the LPDES Short Term and Emergency General Permit, LPDES Permit Number LAG420000 on Feb. 12, 2021. A review of the NOI indicated the proposed discharge met the eligibility criteria of the general permit, and authorization was issued on March 18, 2021. Per the general permit conditions and the authorization of coverage:

• Dresser, LLC is authorized to discharge stormwater, which is removed from excavated trenches, for a maximum period of 6 months. Contaminated and/or remediated groundwater, hazardous waste, or any other type of wastewater is not authorized to be discharged under this permit.
• Dresser, LLC must sample the stormwater prior to discharge, ensuring all assigned permit limits are met.
• Permit limits are developed to be protective of human health and aquatic life.
• Coverage under the general permit does not supersede or replace any more stringent requirements required as part of a Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Program (RECAP) plan.

The Notice of Intent may be viewed in EDMS

The authorization of coverage may be viewed here

Key

Stormwater: Stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface water runoff and drainage are generated from rain and snowmelt events that flow over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops.

Groundwater: Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand, and rocks called aquifers.

Wastewater: Wastewater is any water that has been contaminated by human use. Wastewater is “used water from any combination of domestic, industrial, commercial or agricultural activities, surface runoff or stormwater, and any sewer inflow or sewer infiltration,” dissolved or suspended waterborne waste material.

• Sanitary Wastewater: Sanitary or domestic wastewater refers to liquid material collected from residences, offices, and institutions. It does not include stormwater.
• Process Wastewater: Industrial or Process wastewater refers to wastewater from manufacturing facilities.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency - Reference LDEQ's rules and regulations.

Please note: neither of these LPDES wastewater permits in any way authorize the discharge of groundwater.

All publically available information for Dresser, LLC is available to be viewed on LDEQ’s website using the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) at http://www.deq.la.gov/page/edms, searchable using Agency Interest (AI) Number 2920.