City could get $10 million for environmental damage

Award would help restore natural resources damaged by a former wood-treating facility

State and federal agencies have recommended that Texarkana, Texas, receive a $9.8 million award for environmental restoration related to the former Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. wood-treating facility on Buchanan Road.

The recommendation is part of an assessment and planning process that seeks to restore natural resources damaged by the facility to Days, Waggoner, and Howard creeks and their adjacent wooded habitats, according to a city news release.

The city and project partners, including Texarkana College, Texas A&M University-Texarkana and Liberty-Eylau Independent School District, proposed 22 creek system restoration projects to Texas Natural Resource Trustees, who recommended funding 10 of them.

Texarkana has requested recon-

sideration of several restoration projects not selected, including the creation of wetlands and an outdoor environmental classroom on the former C.K. Bender Elementary School property that is now home to the Salvation Army’s Boys and Girls Club. A wetland creation project along Swampoodle Creek near downtown was requested for reconsideration, as was the inclusion of additional funds for planning, monitoring and contingencies.

Trustees include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas General Land Office and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The trustees recovered approximately $21.3 million from legal settlements associated with releases of hazardous substances at the Kerr-McGee facility. Those funds are directed to natural resource restoration, while separate funds will go to the facility’s clean up.

A recently released draft report describes how the trustees propose to use the recovered restoration funds to address natural resources injured, lost or destroyed because of hazardous substances from the facility.

The trustees will now review, consider and address public comments received on the draft report, including those by the City of Texarkana and its project partners, before releasing a final version.

“The City’s restoration proposal offers tremendous opportunities for community revitalization, improved quality of life and environmental education,” City Manager Shirley Jaster said. “We look forward to a positive working relationship for years to come with the NRDA Trustees as we implement the restoration projects locally.”

For more information, contact Lisa Thompson at lisa.thompson@txkusa.org or 903-798-1743.