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Chem Fab Corporation

All POL/SITREP's for this site Chem Fab Corporation
Doylestown, PA - EPA Region III
POLREP #2
Removal Assessment - Sampling event 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Chem Fab Corporation - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III
Subject: POLREP #2
Removal Assessment - Sampling event
Chem Fab Corporation

Doylestown, PA
Latitude: 40.3160690 Longitude: -75.1356830

To:
From: Cindy Santiago, OSC
Date:
Reporting Period:

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority:      Response Type:  
Response Lead:    Incident Category:
NPL Status:    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:      Start Date:  
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

The Site, which is located in a mixed residential, commercial and industrial area, was operated as a metals plating facility from 1965 to approximately 1994. On 1995 EPA removed more than 100 drums of hazardous substances and more than 8,000 gallons of chromic acid waste that had been left on the site. The Site was then referred to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). Since then PADEP has continued testing the groundwater. Their findings show groundwater contamination around the source. Trichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethene and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) are some of the contaminants present in the groundwater. A municipal well was closed to avoid the use of it as a drinking water source and nearby residences and businesses were connected to Doylestown's public water system. On 2010 PADAEP turned the site over to the EPA.

1.1.2.1 Location
Doyles town, PA

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The chemicals found in the groundwater can potentially release vapors that at high concentrations may pose a threat to the health.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
On May 2010 EPA started a vapor intrusion study to evaluate if there is a threatening exposure to this vapors among the residences located on top or near of the plume.

A total of ten structures were sampled (9 residences and the Doyle Elementary School). The samples were tested for a full range of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), focusing on VOCs known to exist on the Chem-Fab Site. There were eight chemicals of concern (vinyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethene, methylene chloride, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, TCE (thrichloroethene) and PCE (tetrachloroethene).

Some of the previously mentioned chemicals were found at a few properties, Nonetheless, some of them could not be related to the groundwater contamination and any of them were found at concentrations that would pose an inmediate health threat. Due to the low levels of VOCs found and after consultation with an EPA toxicologist, it was determined by EPA that there is no mitigation action needed at any of the sampled properties in the near future. Nonetheless as a preventive measure EPA would like to test homes again during the winter season.

Vapors move differently depending on the temperature and pressure acting on them. Therefore, sampling for the same chemicals during the coldest months would help to make a more accurate observation of the vapors movement, if present.

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA has shared the results of the sampling event with the owners of the homes and the school tested. EPA has requested access to re-sample the same structures and is in the process of requesting access from additional homes to be included in the study. Residents who denied access or never responded to our request for that sampling event will have the chance to participate in the study this next time.
 
2.2.2 Issues
Even when EPA couldn't find any homes where vapor intrusion is a current problem, it is still possible that other homes be affected. The presence of the vapors does not depend only on the presence of contaminants in the groundwater, but on the conditions of the structure above or near the contamination, among other factors. Owners of homes not tested before may have the false perception that if the fisrt homes tested were safe, theirs will be safe too.

  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.
3. Participating Entities
  No information available at this time.
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.