Railroad TCE HSCA Site Public Hearing Warwick Township Building November 17 th, 2015

Transcription

1 Railroad TCE HSCA Site Public Hearing Warwick Township Building November 17 th, 2015

2 Agenda Site background and history Response alternatives and associated costs for potable water supply Public comments on proposed response

3 Site Area Map

4 Site Description The groundwater is contaminated with several volatile organic compounds (VOC s). VOCs are present in commercial, industrial, and residential products. - degreasers, adhesives, food packaging, synthetic fibers, dry cleaning, septic cleaners VOCs can reach groundwater after spills, or improper disposal, impacting private wells. *The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) established health-based Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for VOCs. These vary by individual compound.

5 Trichloroethylene (TCE) TCE is a colorless solvent used primarily for cleaning metal parts MCL in drinking water: 5 parts per billion (ppb) TCE ranged from non-detect (ND) to 20.7 ppb 1, 1-Dichloroethene (1, 1-DCE) Site Related VOC s Breakdown product of TCE MCL in drinking water: 7 ppb 1,1-DCE ranged from ND to 8.6 ppb * parts per billion (ppb) = micrograms per liter (µg/l)

6 Site Background Spring 2011 PADEP collected samples from businesses located along Railroad Drive and in nearby areas. The contamination is unrelated to contamination affecting residential homes within the Jacksonville TCE site.

7 Site Background November PADEP found contamination in private home wells along Creek Rd. Bottled water was supplied as necessary. May PADEP expanded the sampling area and continued to provide bottle water as necessary. Spring PADEP sampled for Perfluorinated Compound (PFC) contamination which was recently discovered near the Naval Air Warfare Center.

8 Residential Sampling Activities PADEP sampled 43 residential properties. TCE concentrations ranged from ND-20.7 ppb. 8 properties exceeded the MCL for TCE. 1 of the 8 properties also exceeded the MCL for 1,1-DCE. 2 properties along Creek Rd have since privately installed carbon filtration systems. PADEP continues to supply bottled water to homes with concentrations of VOC s above the MCL.

9 Commercial Sampling Activities PADEP sampled 21 business located in the Northampton Industrial Park & Warwick Commons Industrial Park TCE concentrations ranged from ND-210 ppb 6 properties exceeded the MCL for TCE. 1,1-DCE concentrations ranged from ND-99 ppb 4 of the 6 properties also exceeded the MCL for 1,1-DCE.

10 Other Investigation Activities Between 2013 & 2014 PADEP sampled 4 different locations of the Neshaminy Creek Tributary that runs through the Site Area. TCE concentrations ranged from ND-0.46 ppb. EPA Indoor Air Risk Assessment Study Collected air samples while showers were running PADEP plans to install 5 monitoring wells

11 Site Area TCE Results Map

12 Site Area TCE Results Map Non-Detect Detections Below 5 ppb Detections Above 5 ppb TCE Concentration Distribution Map

13 Analysis of Response Alternatives This step is an evaluation of possible response alternatives by PADEP to determine: The appropriate response for the overall protection of human health and the environment at this site. The appropriate response that is in compliance with applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements (ARARs).

14 Response Alternative Evaluation Criteria Effectiveness Does it mitigate threats resulting from the contamination? Response Timeframe Is it temporary or permanent; how long will it take to implement? Reliability Does it consistently comply with health based standards? Feasibility Is it feasible to initiate, install, operate, and maintain? Community Acceptance Discovered through public comments and local government support Cost Is it cost prohibitive, or cost-effective?

15 1. No action (Baseline) Response Alternatives 2. Bottled water combined with restrictions on use of groundwater 3. Carbon filters combined with restrictions on use of groundwater 4. Public water line combined with restrictions on use of groundwater

16 Alternative 1 No Action (Baseline Alternative) PROS Implementable No cost CONS Not protective of human health Not a permanent solution Does not meet ARARs

17 Alternative 2 Bottled Water Combined with Restrictions on Use of Groundwater PROS Implementable Meets MCLs Cost effective CONS Not a permanent solution Inconvenient Not protective for all exposures Periodic sampling required

18 Alternative 3 Whole House Carbon Filters Combined with Restrictions on Use of Groundwater PROS Protective of human health* Meets MCLs* CONS Inconvenient-requires periodic sampling & maintenance Permanent* Implementable Cost effective * if properly maintained

19 Carbon Filter System Sediment filter 2 carbon tanks 4 tall 1 diameter Three sampling ports Pre treatment (Raw water) Mid treatment Post treatment

20 Restrictions on Use of Groundwater Alternatives 2-3: Environmental Covenants (PA Uniform Environmental Covenant Act, 2007) Covenants would be required for homes with VOCs above MCLs Agreement between PADEP and homeowner that documents presence of contaminated groundwater on the property deed Provides guidelines for filter monitoring & maintenance requirements Can be removed from property deed after attainment of drinking water health standards HSCA 512 Order can be issued if agreement cannot be reached

21 Alternative 4 Public Water Line Combined with Restrictions on Use of Groundwater PROS Protective of human health Permanent and reliable Implementable CONS Inconvenient during construction Residents pay water bills Cost effective

22 Restrictions on Use of Groundwater Alternative 4: Ordinances Warwick and Northampton Township would each enact an Ordinance to mandate connection to public water for all residential properties included in the project Ordinances would also include requirements for the abandonment of residential wells once connected to public water

23 Proposed Waterline Map

24 Cost Estimate-PADEP Funding Alternative 1 No Action Alternative 2 Bottled Water* Alternative 3 Carbon Units** Alternative 4 Water line Water/ Equipment $0 $4,200 $28,000 >$1,000,000 Sampling/ Maintenance $0 $14,400 $22,400 $0 Total $0 $18,600 $50,400 >$1,000,000 * Alternative 2 estimate covers 1 year of bottled water for occupied homes with VOCs above MCLs ** Alternative 3 estimate covers installation of filters at homes with VOCs above MCLs, and 1 year sampling/maintenance of those systems

25 Response Alternative Comparisons Criteria #1 (No action) #2 (Bottled water) #3 (Carbon filters) #4 (Water line) Protects Human Health? NO YES (ingestion only) YES (with proper maintenance) YES Complies with ARARs? NO YES YES YES Permanent solution? NO NO Reliable? NO YES YES (with proper maintenance) YES (with proper maintenance) YES YES Implementable? YES YES YES YES Cost effective? YES YES YES YES Public/Municipal support? To be determined based on public comments

26 PADEP s Proposed Alternative Alternative 4 Public Water Line Extension PADEP funds the following activities: Design & Construction work to extend existing water line mains to Creek Rd, Hill Rd, Lincoln Circle, Charter Circle, & Mearns Rd Lateral connections from mains to property plumbing systems Repairs to all road surfaces and properties disturbed by construction Abandonment of private water supply wells

27 Josh Crooks HSCA Project Officer 2 East Main Street Norristown, PA jocrooks@pa.gov (484) Submit comments until December 28 th 2015