Final Phase I Environmental Site Assessment; Tract Nos. 226-04, 226-05, 226-08, 226-10, 226-12, 226-14, & 226-21; Big Thicket National Preserve; Beaumont, Texas

Michael Baker Jr., Inc

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. (Baker) was contracted by the National Park Service (NPS) to perform a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) on Tracts 226-04, 226-05, 226-08, 226-10, 226-12, 226-14, and 226-21 (aka, subject properties) southeast of the Big Sandy Creek Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve (BITH) along the Big Sandy Creek. This work is being performed in support of the expansion of BITH in Kountze, Texas (TX). The tracts were previously owned by International Paper (IP), but are now owned by the Conservation Fund, awaiting acquisition by the NPS. The purpose of this Phase I ESA is to document recognized environmental conditions (RECs) at the subject property, and to research and summarize readily available/ascertainable current and historical information through federal, state, and local databases about the subject and adjoining properties’ conditions with respect to potential environmental issues. Table 1 (Appendix 16.1) provides a summary of conditions observed at the site during this Phase I ESA. No RECs were observed on any of the above-mentioned tracts during this, or any of the previous assessments conducted by RMC Consultants, Inc. (RMC) (2003 and 2004), and Baker 2006). Based on the information obtained during the course of this Phase I ESA, no evidence of RECs has been observed.