U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Dover Area PFC Site - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III
Subject: POLREP #1
Dover Area PFC Site
Dover, DE

To: R3 RRC Response Center, USEPA
Gerald Heston, USEPA R3 Manager
Stephanie Gordon, DNREC
From: Kelley Chase, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 12/8/2014
Reporting Period: 11/6/2014 through 12/8/2014

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type:  
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Assessment
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 11/10/2014    Start Date: 11/6/2014
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

1.1.2 Site Description

EPA and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) are working together to identify drinking water wells in the area of the Dover Air Force Base to determine if they have been impacted by perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). EPA is also coordinating with the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the United States Air Force to ensure that public health is protected.

The Air Force collected groundwater, surface water and soil samples near known Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) releases on the Dover Air Force Base in Kent County, Delaware to determine whether PFCs were released into the environment. Results showed that PFC levels in surface water and groundwater exceeded EPA’s provisional health advisory levels (HALs). As a result, EPA asked Tidewater Utilities Inc. (Tidewater) to sample the on-base drinking water supply wells. PFCs were not detected in any of the on-base drinking water supply wells, nor were they detected in the nearest off-base public water supply well.

PFCs are a group of organic chemicals used in repellants for stains, water, oil, and grease. Commercial and consumer products containing or degrading to these compounds were first introduced in the 1950s. They have been used in a variety of products such as the fabric of upholstered furniture, carpets, nonstick cookware, floor wax, and in some food packaging. The source of the PFCs detected on Dover Air Force Base is the AFFF used for firefighting.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located in Dover, Kent County, Delaware.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

EPA and DNREC are working together to identify drinking water wells in the area of the Dover Air Force Base to determine if they have been impacted by perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).  

The assessment may include sampling of drinking water wells and ground water monitoring wells in the area to define the nature and extent of the contamination.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

DNREC requested EPA’s assistance in sampling the drinking water supply for a private property located near the Dover Air Force Base. The property owner was in the process of replacing an existing shallow well with a new deeper well. This presented an opportunity to determine whether PFCs were present in groundwater from both the shallow Columbia aquifer and the deeper Cheswold aquifer at this location.  On November 10, 2014, with the permission of the property owner, EPA and its contractor, Weston Solutions, Inc., collected water samples from the shallow well.  On November 20, 2014, EPA and its contractor returned to collect water samples from the newly installed deep well.  The final validated sample results are not yet available.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.2 Planning Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    2.4.1 Narrative

On November 6, 2014, EPA issued a technical direction document to its START contractor to provide technical assistance to EPA during the assessment of the site.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)
Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

United States Air Force

Tidewater Utilities Inc.
4. Personnel On Site
  No information available at this time.
5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.
POLREP #1 Last Updated 12/8/2014