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The Site has not been defined as a specific delineated area, but is considered to include the
Town of Chauncey. The Site's major locations of interest include the following areas: the
unnamed hollow containing Miller's Branch of Island Creek; Chaffin Hollow; Chauncey’s
residences; the old mining salvage recycling facility and surrounding grounds; Omar
Elementary School, including the playground area, and the UPS facility; and Island Creek.
Portions of the Site have been identified by local residents as the locations for illegal
dumping of hazardous materials and the possibility of dumping of transformer oil.
Under direction from OSC Kelly, START conducted a series of sampling events at the Chauncey PCB Site. The initial sampling event was conducted during the week of April 21, 2003. START collected a total of 16 drinking water, 12 surface water, 11 sediment, and 30 surface soil samples from the Site. The analytical results from this sampling event showed elevated levels of lead and PCBs in the vicinity of the old mining recycling facility. Lead levels in the surface soil were as high as 1,270 ppm and Arochlor 1260 was detected at 15 ppm. There was also a significantly high level of dioxin in the surface water that was collected from the basement of the old mining recycling facility, with a total TEQ 137.08 pg/L.
A health consultation was completed on March 8, 2004, during which the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) evaluated all the data from EPA's sampling event in April, 2003, and the data from WVDEP's sampling in October and November, 2003. The main exposure pathway that was identified by WVDHHR was exposure to lead and arsenic from incidental ingestion of soil or sediment that contained these chemicals. The WVDHHR concluded that "under the site-specific conditions of exposure at this site, chemicals in the samples posed no apparent public health hazard for the present or future". No historical data existed, so the site was classified as an indeterminate public health hazard for the past.
Under the direction of EPA, START conducted a second sample collection event during the week of November 24, 2003. START collected ten samples from the former gas station area in town. START collected six sediment samples from Island Creek. START collected eight surface soil samples from the sloping bank to Island Creek from the power substation. Finally, START collected a sediment sample from the runoff area in the parking lot located behind the old salvage recycling facility. These samples were analyzed for a combination of metals, dioxins, and furans.
Under the direction of EPA, START conducted a third sample collection event on December 2, 2003. START collected drinking water samples from the Logan Public Service District to verify that the residents of Town of Chauncey were not drinking contaminated water.
Under the direction of EPA, START conducted a fourth sample collection event on January 29, 2004. START collected ground water samples from the well located on the UPS facility's property. EPA tasked START to collect a sample from this well by request of UPS representatives; the well water was used in prior years for washing vehicles and employees were exposed to the water.
Under the direction of EPA, START conducted a fifth and final sample collection event during the week of March 23, 2004. START collected samples from both the ball field and the t-ball field located adjacent to the Omar Elementary School. The samples were analyzed for the following: lead, arsenic, PCBs, pesticides, organo-phosphate pesticides, and chlorinated herbicides.
Correspondence between EPA, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the West Virginia Department of Health, the West Virginia Cancer REgistry Division of Serveillance & Disease, and the Toxic Substances and Disease Registrar occurred throughout EPA's sampling activities in the Town of Chauncey. A Public Availability Session was held on April 20, 2004, during which representatives from the aforementioned agencies were present at the Omar Elementary School. During the session, the public was informed of the sampling activities and results at the Site to date. Any questions and/or concerns from the residents were addressed at this meeting. START was available during the meeting for technical support to the EPA concerning sampling activities.
In cooperation with ATSDR, the WVDHHR conducted a Health Consultation, dated March 9, 2005. Following review of the analytical data from the most recent sampling events conducted by EPA in November, 2003, and March, 2004, WVDHHR evaluated the potential for adverse health effects occurring from exposures to the chemicals at the levels detected at this Site. WVDHHR did consider child health during this consultation. The Health Consultation conducted by WVDHHR concluded that: "the Chauncey PCB site poses no apparent public health hazard for the present from the exposures likely to occur at this site to either children or adults. As long as the frequency of access to contaminated areas does not increase, such as by building homes on the Bermed Area, the Chauncey PCB site poses no apparent public health hazard for the future." WVDHHR is available to community members who need information regarding the conclusions of the report an the potential for adverse health effects from exposure to lead at this site.
Following receipt of the Health Consultation, EPA determined that no future involvement is expected at this site.
There are no Removal Actions planned at the Site.
No further EPA involvement is expected at the Site.
The key issue at the Site was a report that possible illegal dumping of hazardous materials and discharge of PCB's occurred in the Town of Chauncey.
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