1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B4A2 |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
6/15/2010 |
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
NPL Status: |
NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
6/1/2010 |
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Start Date: |
6/1/2010 |
Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category - Emergency
1.1.2 Site Description - Contaminated Drinking Water
1.1.2.1 Location - Ashe County, North Carolina
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat - Concentrations of metals that exceed Maximum contaminant levels for drinking and bathing
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Due to growing concern of elevated levels of metals precipitating into groundwater due to acid mine drainage, EPA's Remedial Branch performed a water sampling event in April, 2010. Initial samples were taken in areas believed to have the highest exceedances of metals concentrations with other residences to be sampled shortly thereafter. The samples were taken at the well head outside of the homes and at the water tap inside of the residences. EPA's Remedial Branch and Technical Services Section have analyzed results and determined that homes with a functional water filtration system or water softening device have metal contaminants below risk levels. However, some residences without these devices were determined to have manganese levels that exceed MCLs. Concentrations approaching 10,000 ppb were recorded. OSC Byrd executed an emergency action providing affected residents with potable water based on this information.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA's ERRS contractor has been tasked to provide affected residents with bottled water and explore options to provide affected residents sources of water for dermal contact. EPA, as a preventative measure, provided potable water to any resident that requested it in addition to households identified to have contaminants that were above Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) or Regional Screening Levels (RSL) (800 ppb for manganeese) in drinking water. EPA's Remedial Program has taken the lead role in sampling households in the affected area.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
# of Households Sampled |
# of Households Placed on Potable Water b/c of Possible MCL/RSL Exceedences |
# of Households Receiving Treatment Systems |
# of Households with Exceedances After Proper Installing/Adjustment of System |
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87 |
11 |
8 |
0 |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
EPA plans to continue sampling drinking water wells to ensure that no actionable levels of contaminants are being ingested by residents.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Initlal and confirmation sampling is ongoing in a limited number of households.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
A community meeting was held on August 11, 2011. Local residents were informed of the conclusion of the time-critical removal activities at the Site, the current status of remedial activities and the cessation of bottled water distribution to redidents that have potable drinking water.
2.2.2 Issues
Bottled water service is being discontinued for those residences were sampling indicates that there are no health hazards with drinking water. Sampling results have indicated that the filtration units installed on drinking water wells have reduced the concentration of dissolved metals in water to a level that EPA deems safe for healthy individuals to drink.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
2.6 Liaison Officer
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator: Sheryl Carbonaro
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3. Participating Entities
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No information available at this time.
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4. Personnel On Site
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No information available at this time.
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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