Final Phase I Environmental Site Assessment; Tract 224-05; Big Thicket National Preserve, Kountze, 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 Tract 224-05 (subject property) which is comprised of 180.16 acres. The subject property is located southeast of the Big Sandy Creek Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve (BITH) where Big Sandy Creek and Kimball Creek merge to create Village Creek. This work is being performed in support of the expansion of BITH in Kountze, Texas (TX). The tract is currently 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 the subject property during this, or any of the previous assessments conducted by RMC Consultants, Inc. (RMC) (January and March 2004), and Baker (2006). Based on the information obtained during the course of this Phase I ESA, no evidence of RECs has been observed.