On August 19, 2009 OSC Stephen Ball received preliminary analytical data from an EPA site assessment sampling event in Asheville, North Carolina. Preliminary results from one residential well indicated elevated TCE (trichloroethylene) concentrations of approximately 800 ug/l (the maximum contaminant level for TCE in groundwater is 5 ug/l). The well depth is approximately 500 feet deep. The OSC immediately contacted the resident to confirm that they were drinking the well water. The resident indicated that he, along with his wife and child, were consuming the groundwater; the resident also indicated that his son and daughter-in-law were living in the residence next-door which was connected to the same well, so they were also consuming the well water. The OSC also notified the Region 4 ERRB telephone duty officer of the situation. The telephone duty officer OSC determined that conditions at the Site met criteria listed under 40 CFR 300.415 for initiation of an emergency removal action and that a release or threat of a release of hazardous substances existed at the Site. The telephone duty officer OSC authorized funding to initiate an Emergency Removal Action to mitigate the threat to human health or welfare or the environment.
The site is located at 14 and 18 Chapel Hill Church Road, Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. The geographic coordinates of the Site are 35o 29’ 48” N Latitude and -82o 29’ 59” W Longitude.
Beginning the week of September 7th, 2009 the ERRS contractor installed a private water line to 14 and 18 Chapel Hill Church Road. Construction of the line was completed the same week. The City of Asheville Water Department installed one shared off-premise meter at the corner of Pinners Cove Road and Chapel Hill Church Road to supply water to both residences. The meter was installed on September 11, 2009. The City of Asheville would only allow one shared meter to be installed because each residence is on the same parcel of land. Meters can be seperated later should the property owners choose to subdivide their land. Residents will be responsible for any additional costs to seperate meters.
City water began flowing to both addresses on the afternoon of September 11, 2009. The excavation area was backfilled and seeded.
The drinking water well was left open for use by EPA Site Evaluation Branch during their attribution study and for future groundwater monitoring events.
Final data from the well sample and re-sample event, on August 19, 2009 and August 20, 2009 respectively, is still awaiting QA/QC validation by ERT. Once final data is released, the OSC will provided the residents with sample results for their well.
No further response actions are planned at 14 and 18 Chapel Hill Church Road. PRP oversight is ongoing for the Mills Gap Groundwater Contamination Site Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) system and the Ozone treatability study.
The contaminated well is located within a mile radius of the CTS/Mills Gap Groundwater Contamination site. Efforts are currently under way by EPA Site Evaluation Branch to determine if the contamination can be attributed to the site.
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