Alexandria / Pineville
The communities of Alexandria and Pineville are home to several wood treating facilities. These facilities currently and historically use creosote, pentachlorophenol (PCP), and chromate copper arsenate(CCA) to treat railroad cross-ties, telephone poles and pilings. The Dioxin impurities in the Pentachlorophenol used to treat the wood products have resulted in Dioxin bioaccumulating in the blood of individuals living within a 2 mile radius of the wood treating facilities. In response to community complaints, LDEQ and EPA have conducted several sampling efforts and engaged extensively with the local environmental justice(EJ) community. A Health Survey is being conducted by LSU Alexandria, and EPA has worked to develop the Community Sustainability Network Initiative. Residents continue to work toward reducing their exposure and remediating the contamination within their community.
