Former Houston Wood Preserving Works Vapor Testing
Your safety and well-being are important to us at Union Pacific. In collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we began the vapor assessment program in November 2023, focusing on areas near the former Houston Wood Preserving Works (HWPW) site in the Fifth Ward. Initial field activities involved the installation of soil gas probes and shallow monitoring wells in November that will be sampled and tested in coming months. Through vapor testing, we are working to understand if any chemical gases are migrating from underground near the site. Testing will provide data needed to determine next steps for safeguarding the community. We will collect various samples from the groundwater, outdoor air, soil gas, and underground utilities for testing. We care about the Fifth Ward and remain committed to transparency. Results will be shared with residents, state and federal regulators, and other interested stakeholders.
For any questions, reach out to our HWPW Community Coordinators via email: [email protected] or phone: 1-800-823-6070.
- Vapor intrusion occurs when chemical gases originating from underground sources move through the soil, stormwater systems, or sewer lines and enter buildings, affecting indoor air quality.
- EPA approved the work plans and testing map submitted by Union Pacific. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), City of Houston, Harris County, and Bayou City Initiative also reviewed and commented on all testing plans Union Pacific submitted to the EPA.
- Union Pacific will pay for all sampling and testing. The test results will be made available to the community once they have been reviewed, validated, and approved by the EPA.
- Vapor intrusion occurs when chemical gases originating from underground sources move through the soil, stormwater systems, or sewer lines and enter buildings, affecting indoor air quality.
- Vapor testing is being conducted to determine if vapor intrusion is occurring in the Fifth Ward due to certain underground chemicals or pollutants from the former HWPW site.
- Testing and resulting data may enable us to confirm past findings and determine whether any additional measures are needed to protect community health and the environment.
Vapor testing is done by sampling groundwater, outdoor air, soil gas, and underground utilities. The information gathered helps determine if additional testing is needed.
- Tests are being conducted for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs).
- VOCs are chemicals that evaporate quickly in the air. You can find VOCs in common household products like paint and cleaning products. SVOCs evaporate more slowly and might stick around on surfaces or in the ground.
Union Pacific contractors, accompanied by authorized U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) representatives, are conducting vapor testing and sampling in the Fifth Ward.
There will be three categories of sampling and laboratory testing: soil gas, sanitary sewer and storm drain (vapor and liquid), and shallow groundwater.
- Soil gas sampling involves placing probes in the ground to collect air samples from within the shallow soil and checking for vapors. The air samples help us evaluate if there’s a risk of these chemicals possibly migrating through the soil. The results will help direct our next steps in order to protect the community and promote safety.
- Sampling and testing the sanitary sewer and storm drains means taking samples of air and water from the underground sewers and drains near the former HWPW site. Analytical data from these samples will be used to evaluate potential migration pathways. This helps us find out if there’s any risk of site-related vapors migrating from underground utilities and guides our next steps to make sure the community stays safe.
- Shallow groundwater testing involves collecting samples from monitoring wells positioned in the Fifth Ward and near the former HWPW site, allowing us to evaluate the presence and levels of site-related chemicals in the shallow groundwater. As with the other testing, the results will help direct our next steps to protect the community and promote safety.
- Vapor sampling assesses whether gases from ground pollution exist and can migrate, mostly focusing on site-related chemicals that evaporate easily. Soil testing looks at a wide range of site-related pollutants, including chemicals in the ground that do not evaporate easily, to understand if contamination exists. Both tests are important for assessing any health or environmental concerns.
- Soil testing will occur early in 2024.
Testing is conducted with care and safety to protect the community and the environment. The procedures and protocols in place are designed to minimize any potential risks and promote the safety of those conducting the assessments, as well as the surrounding community and environment.
The EPA-approved plans call for two rounds of sampling, with the initial set to finish in early 2024. EPA will specify the timing for the second round of sampling in 2024.
We don’t anticipate sampling causing any significant disruption. During the sampling process, there will be brief closures on specific roads and storm and sanitary sewers to allow for samples to be taken in the public right-of-way. Union Pacific will work with the City of Houston to secure the necessary permits for lane closures.
Union Pacific prioritizes the safety of everyone involved in the testing, including community members, field teams, and workers. EPA has approved the field sampling procedures Union Pacific is using for the investigations around the former HWPW site and surrounding area. On-site teams will consistently attend safety briefings before sampling begins, reinforcing safety measures and protocols. On-site teams may set up barricades or safety cones when collecting samples in the public right-of-way. All teams and workers will comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations and guidelines that oversee vapor testing and assessment activities.
The test results will be made available to the community once they have been validated by an EPA-approved laboratory.
- Transparency is important to the community and essential to our work. We are committed to maintaining clear lines of communication and a genuine focus on the needs and concerns of the community.
- To stay connected with all updates on the site, follow @HWPWForward on X, Facebook, and YouTube.
- When testing is complete, Union Pacific will generate a final report summarizing the assessment process and results. The report will be available to the public.
- Union Pacific will generate a final report summarizing the assessment process and results. The report will be made public.
- EPA will utilize test results to guide a human health risk assessment, which will enable informed decisions on any next steps required to protect the community.
- Union Pacific is collaborating with the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Bayou City Initiative throughout the process.
- EPA will collect split samples from randomized locations throughout the area. Split sampling is a technique where multiple samples are collected from the same location at the same time and then sent to separate laboratories for analysis.
- As data is collected, results will be validated and shared with EPA for review to determine next steps.
Can residents participate in community meetings or discussions related to vapor testing and results?
Yes. Following the testing phase, EPA will conduct a public meeting to share and discuss the results with the public. We will also publish updates to our website.
- In partnership with EPA, we’re conducting additional vapor testing from dozens of sampling locations to confirm past findings that found no risk to human health.
- Over the past 25 years, Union Pacific has conducted all investigation and cleanup activities under the oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the environmental regulatory agency for the State of Texas. This includes removing soil affected by creosote and constructing a barrier cap consisting of clay and topsoil, concrete, asphalt, and other materials. Union Pacific also removed a significant amount of creosote both from the site and the surrounding area.
Former Houston Wood Preserving Works Soil Testing
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Union Pacific entered into a legal agreement requiring Union Pacific to conduct the testing.
- EPA approved the work plans and testing map submitted by Union Pacific. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), City of Houston, Harris County, and Bayou City Initiative also reviewed and commented on all testing plans Union Pacific submitted to the EPA.
- Union Pacific will pay for all sampling and testing. The test results will be made available to the community once they have been reviewed, validated, and approved by the EPA.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Union Pacific entered into a legal agreement requiring Union Pacific to conduct the testing.
- EPA approved the work plans and testing map submitted by Union Pacific. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), City of Houston, Harris County, and Bayou City Initiative also reviewed and commented on all testing plans Union Pacific submitted to the EPA.
- Union Pacific will pay for all sampling and testing. The test results will be made available to the community once they have been reviewed, validated, and approved by the EPA.
- Union Pacific recognizes the community’s concerns and fears and assures that neighborhood sampling, testing, and any actions to follow will be thorough, transparent, and effective.
- During the first public meeting, the EPA told the community that the testing was being completed for the following two reasons:
- The results of the TxDSHS Cancer Assessment (Cluster Report)
- The results of the Houston Health Department’s dioxin sampling results from 2022.
- The results of the testing will be used to determine the potential exposure to the community for chemicals in the soil, such as dioxin and furan, or compounds related to creosote contamination.
- Union Pacific did not own the HWPW site when the contamination happened. Since inheriting the property in a 1997 merger, Union Pacific has made measurable progress with site cleanup under the direction of the TCEQ and is committed to finishing the job.
- Yes, EPA will review and approve the work plan for sampling and testing and will monitor Union Pacific throughout the process. EPA and Union Pacific are committed to maintaining transparency throughout the process, ensuring the community is informed about testing activities and the results.
- The test results will be made available to the community once they have been received from the EPA-approved laboratory and validated by scientists. The EPA will also hold a public meeting to explain the results.
- Testing is the only way to assess whether potential contamination exists on your property, how much there is, where it’s coming from, and whether it could pose any risk to your household.
- EPA urges all property owners to sign access agreements to allow sampling and testing of their soil.
- Union Pacific will make the complete test results available to the public once they have been received from the EPA-approved laboratory and validated by scientists. The EPA will also hold a community meeting to explain the results.
- The results will also help inform a human health risk assessment to enable EPA to make decisions about any next steps required to protect the community.
- Union Pacific or its representatives will be in the neighborhood on Sept. 15, 2023, and subsequent week(s) to begin distributing and collecting property access agreements. Soil sampling is projected to begin later in fall 2023.
- The approved testing plan requires landowners to sign an access agreement permitting Union Pacific contractors and authorized EPA representatives to access your property to collect samples to test.
- EPA urges all property owners to sign access agreements to allow the sampling and testing. Properties without signed access agreements will not be tested.
- Soil sampling is a simple and low-intrusive process. No damage to your property is expected. The soil sampling locations will be refilled with soil after the sample is collected.
- Technicians will be on your property for approximately 2-4 hours to collect soil samples.
- The testing plan requires landowners to sign an access agreement permitting Union Pacific contractors and authorized EPA representatives to access the property to collect samples for testing. In the unlikely event of damage, Union Pacific will repair it according to the terms of the property access agreement.
- The landowner only needs to be home if they must provide access to the yard area (i.e. if a gate is locked or similar).
- The EPA will determine if your property will be included in the soil vapor intrusion sampling and will discuss that process with you when appropriate.
- The former HWPW site on Liberty Road is contaminated with creosote. Some areas near the closed site, including parts of the Fifth Ward, may have been impacted. Testing will determine if there are compounds related to creosote in the soil or other types of contamination, like dioxins or furans. A complete list of chemicals and the screening levels can be found in the approved work plan on Union Pacific’s HWPW website, https://www.houstonwoodpreservingworks.com, and on the EPA hub, https://fifth-ward-kashmere-gardens-uprr-epa.hub.arcgis.com/.
- The testing plan requires landowners to sign an access agreement permitting Union Pacific contractors and authorized EPA representatives to access your property. Testing crews must have approval from the landowner to collect samples.
- The landowner only needs to be home if they must provide access to the yard area (i.e. if a gate is locked or similar).
- Yes, soil at Atherton and Dogan Elementary Schools will be tested along with nearby parks and Julia C. Hester House.
- No, Union Pacific will pay for all sampling and testing.
- No, Union Pacific or its contractors will provide a three-day notice before accessing your property to collect samples for testing.
- Details related to timing and duration are specified in the access agreement.
- The EPA approved the comprehensive work plan and testing map. The plan was developed to get a holistic view of the area and provide a thorough analysis of the extent and source of any contamination. The EPA will hold a community meeting before resident sampling to explain the testing location decision-making process.
- Union Pacific coordinated with TCEQ, City of Houston, Harris County, and Bayou City Initiative to review and provide input on all testing plans submitted to EPA.
- Union Pacific will make the complete test results available to the public once they have been received from the EPA-approved laboratory and validated by scientists. EPA will also hold a public meeting to explain the results and what they mean for the community.
- Union Pacific will generate a final report summarizing the testing process and results. The report will be public record and shareable. It will not contain any personal information about your property. The report is expected to be posted on EPA’s webpage.
- The results from testing will also be used to guide a human health risk assessment which will enable the EPA to make informed decisions on any next steps required to protect the community.
- Union Pacific cares about the safety of the Fifth Ward community and is actively working on remediation of the former HWPW site. Measurable progress with on-site cleanup has been made since acquiring the property in a 1997 merger. Union Pacific is committed to finishing the job and will pay for what it is responsible for.
- Union Pacific is currently focused on additional testing to accurately determine the true extent and source of contamination in the neighborhood.
- Relocation should be based on a human health risk assessment, which the test results will inform.
- Union Pacific remains steadfast in its commitment to the community and has been actively engaged in remediation efforts at the former HWPW site under the direction of TCEQ since acquiring the property through a 1997 merger, 13 years after its closure. Actions taken to date include:
- More than 11,000 tons of creosote-impacted soil was consolidated onsite and covered with a soil cap to prevent exposure.
- 120+ groundwater monitoring wells have been installed.
- Implementation of a creosote removal program to pump and remove it from recovery wells.
- Union Pacific has made measurable progress on site cleanup and is committed to finishing the job remaining.
- Testing is the only way to assess whether potential contamination exists on your property, how much there is, where it’s coming from, and whether it could pose any risk to your household.
- EPA urges all property owners to sign access agreements to allow the sampling and testing. Properties without signed access agreements will not be tested. Access agreements must be signed prior to the date that sampling will begin in the community. EPA will hold a community meeting prior to the start of residential sampling.
- Union Pacific recognizes the community’s concerns and fears and assures remediation, neighborhood sampling, and testing, and any actions to follow will be thorough, transparent, and effective.
- Testing is the only way to assess whether potential contamination exists on your property, how much there is, where it’s coming from, and whether it could pose any risk to your household.
- Test results will also help inform a human health risk assessment to enable EPA to make decisions about any next steps required to protect the community. Union Pacific will pay for all sampling and testing.