Draft Restoration Plan Released for Whitehouse Oil Pits Superfund Site

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a draft restoration plan to address natural resource injuries caused by contamination at the Whitehouse Oil Pits Superfund Site in Jacksonville, Florida.

From the 1950s to the late 1960s, waste oil sludge and refinery by-products were dumped into unlined pits at the site, resulting in multiple spills that contaminated nearby wetlands and McGirts Creek. Cleanup actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency included constructing a slurry wall, removing contaminated sediments, and capping the site. The location was removed from the National Priorities List in 2018, but restoration is needed to compensate the public for losses caused by contamination and remediation of the site.

The goal of this Draft Restoration Plan is to achieve a 30% enhancement of wetland services on at least 40-60 acres of wetland habitat along McGirts Creek Park. Settlement funds will be used for restoration administration support, environmental compliance, and part of the cost of planting native, flood-tolerant hardwood tree species such as loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), swamp bay (Persea palustris), pond pine (Pinus serotina), pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and other flood-tolerant species appropriate to the wetland system.

A Draft Restoration Plan was previously published for public review and comment on June 11, 2012. Due to the elapsed time since that publication, the Service is issuing this updated draft plan. This draft plan is open for public review and comment for 30 days, from September 5 to October 5, 2025. The draft plan and more information on the case can be found at https://www.cerc.usgs.gov/orda_docs/CaseDetails?ID=1122 . Comments can be submitted by:

Email: charmaine_pedrozo@fws.gov

Mail:
Gulf Restoration Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Attn: Charmaine Pedrozo
1875 Century Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30345

Comments must be postmarked no later than October 5, 2025. All input received will be considered in developing the final restoration plan.