In the 1940's, the United States government acquired land in Newton County, Missouri for construction and operation of Camp Crowder, an Army installation. Some time in the 1940's, a building was constructed near what is now the intersection of Highway 71 and Quince Road, which was used for the Camp Crowder laundry. This building was originally referred to as the 1900 Building, but is now known as the 900 Building. The 900 Building is located near the intersection of 71 Highway and Quince Road.
In approximately 1980, the United States sold the 900 Building to Teledyne Industries, the successor to Continental Aviation. Teledyne Industries used the 900 Building for jet engine overhaul and testing until it sold the 900 Building to Sabreliner in 1992. Solvents, including trichloroethylene, were utilized by Teledyne Industries for their operations. Sabreliner has used the 900 Building primarily as a warehouse.
Testing conducted by the Newton-MacDonald County Health Department, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA has identified an area of contaminated residential drinking water wells westerly and downgradient of the 900 Building. Over 50 private drinking water wells have been sampled in this area to date, with trichloroethylene (“TCE”) and 1, 2-dichloroethylene (“1,2-DCE”) being the contaminants detected most frequently in the drinking water wells. Of these 50 plus wells, approximately 8-10 have been found to exceed the Maximum Contaminant Level for TCE (5.0 µg/l).
In 1997, EPA conducted a site investigation at the 900 Building and the surrounding area. EPA found elevated concentrations of TCE in ground water and soil near the 900 Building. EPA also found 1,2-DCE, carbon tetrachloride, and vinyl chloride in the soil or groundwater in samples collected immediately adjacent to the 900 Building.
Under terms of an Administrative Order on Consent, Docket Number VII-98-F-0024, a removal site evaluation was completed for the QRA, documented in the report entitled “Removal Site Evaluation Report, Quince Road Area, Pools Prairie Site, Newton County, Missouri,” dated September 2000. The Removal Site Evaluation report describes, inter alia, more precisely defined areas of VOC contamination in soil and groundwater at or in the vicinity of the QRA.
Also under terms of this Order, an engineering evaluation/cost analysis was completed for the QRA, documented in the report entitled “Final Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis, Quince Road Area, Pools Prairie Site, Newton County, Missouri,” dated September 2003. The Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (“EE/CA”) presents an analysis of various alternatives which could potentially achieve the objectives described in Section 2 (“Statement of Purpose”). The EE/CA also estimates that approximately 400 to 1,200 pounds of TCE exists in the subsurface near the 900 Building, adjacent to the western and northern sides of the building.
The proposed removal action for soils at the QRA is soil-vapor extraction (SVE). The SVE system is expected to consist of approximately 13 vapor extraction wells, spaced approximately 50 feet apart. Extracted vapors will not be treated. A conceptual layout of the wells is shown in the EE/CA. The cost of this action is estimated at $494,000. Performance goals for the SVE system are detailed in the EE/CA, but will include evaluation of the following: (1) sufficient radius of influence of extraction wells and (2) demonstration of the maximum achievable mass removal of contaminants from the soil.
