United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

On Wednesday, December 5, 2007 USEPA received a request for emergency bottled water supplies from NCDENR in response to contaminated Person County residential wells.  An NRC report was filed subsequently notifying USEPA Region IV.  USEPA and START began immediate distribution of bottled water to 14 residential homes in Roxboro, North Carolina—Person County.  
The Person County Health Dept. and NC Dept. of Public Health conducted a sampling event for petroleum contamination related to two former gas stations that at one time had USTs located at the intersection of Halifax Rd and Virgilina Rd; results returned high levels of petroleum and solvent contamination, particularly 1,1-Dichloroethene (DCE) in residential wells.  Four primary residents were of concern due to high levels of 1,1-DCE contamination.  Four different notification letters were sent out by the Person County Health Dept. notifying residents not to consume or cook with their well water, in some cases not to bathe or recommending residents to limit their bathing times based on the concentrations found in the samples.  1,1 Dichloroethene (DCE) was found in well water at a concentration greater than 6,000 parts per billion (ppb). OSC Rhame was not certain at the time which wells were impacted with petroleum compounds and which ones were impacted with solvent compounds, the decision was made to provide all 14 residents that were sent letters by the Health Agencies with bottled water.

On Thursday, December 6, 2007 Person County Health Dept. completed the distribution of bottled water to impacted residents.  USEPA and Person County Health Dept. continued to perform outreach activities to residents and collected access agreements. USEPA, NCDENR, Person County Health Dept. and START met to discuss alternatives for water consumption and bathing for residents with contamination issues.  It was decided to install "Point of Entry" (POE) carbon filtration systems on the homes with the higher levels of contaminants— wells with sample results exceeding NC Removal Action Levels (RALs).  These filtration systems are intended as temporary solutions, USEPA, NCDENR, NC Dept. of Public Health and Person County Health Dept. will continue to discuss long-term solutions.

On Friday, Dec. 7, 2007 USEPA ERRS contacted a water filtration contractor that could begin installing POE filtration units on Monday, Dec. 10, 2007.  A water distribution contractor was hired and began delivering water coolers (dispensers) and 5 gallon water containers to the impacted residents.  Eight (5 gallon) containers were delivered to each resident, deliveries will be scheduled to take place every two weeks.

On Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 OSC Rhame collected "Water Filtration Agreements" from residents needing the filters and scheduled their installations with the water filtration contractor.  

On Monday, Dec. 10, 2007 USEPA contractors began installing POE filtration systems at 4 residents.

Continuing to identify impacted wells and install filtration systems as needed. Water distribution will be continued for 17 residents until NCDENR takes over water distribution tasks/activities.

On Wednesday, December 12, 2007 USEPA and START will being sampling ~30 locations to confirm Person County's results. Investigations for source contamination will be ongoing. Plans are in progress for surface & subsurface sampling with the Geoprobe on 2 commercial properties located at the intersection of Halifax & Virgilina roads. A public meeting is being scheduled to discuss site activities, sample results, and to make health professionals available for public concerns.