Site Investigation and Evaluation of Remediation Alternatives for the Vernon Briggs Site, Matagorda County, Texas - Volume I and II

The Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) investigated the Vernon Briggs site (RRC Site Code 03-50218) in Matagorda County, Texas, between June 1996 and August 1997. Historical data indicate that the site was used for disposal of oil-field wastes, including waste drilling fluids. Disposal operations at one large bermed disposal area on-site continued from 1981 to 1993. Contaminants identified at the site by BEG include petroleum hydrocarbons, chloride, metals, and naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). The scope of the BEG study was to determine the extent and composition of the waste materials, identify other impacted areas to determine the effects on groundwater quality, and evaluate risk-based options for site remediation. This report presents the results of that work and recommendations for Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) action at the site.

Remedial standards used in this assessment include disposal criteria from the RRC and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) (1996); health-based standards (U.S. EPA, 1996a, b; TNRCC, 1998), and other guidance, such as secondary maximum contaminant levels (U.S. EPA, 1996b).