U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Louisa Acme Well Site - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III
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Subject:
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POLREP #4
Assessment Plan and Schedule
Louisa Acme Well Site
Louisa, VA
Latitude: 38.0129580 Longitude: -77.9855590
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To:
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Mr. Jeff Lake, Virginia Department of Health
Mr. Dean Rodgers, Louisa County Water Authority
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From:
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Christine Wagner, OSC
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Date:
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1/12/2011
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Reporting Period:
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
A3RC |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
11/24/2010 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
11/26/2010 |
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Start Date: |
11/26/2010 |
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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: |
VDEQ |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
An emergency sampling assessment led to a Time-Critical Removal Action which began on 11/26/10. The removal action scope includes providing bottled water to affected residents until a permanent water supply can be connected.
1.1.2 Site Description
100-200 Area of Jefferson Highway, Louisa, Virginia. Area may be expanded upon additional information. The Site boundaries have not been defined as the source of contamination is still unknown.
1.1.2.1 Location
38.012958 N
-77.985559 W
The coordinates above are for the Acme Well. This is not considered the Site source, but is being used as a reference for documentation purposes.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
Tetrachloroethylene is a manufactured chemical used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing. It is also known as perchloroethylene or "perk"
The EPA maximum contaminant level for the amount of tetrachloroethylene that can be in drinking water is 5 micrograms tetrachloroethylene per liter of water (0.005 mg/L).
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a limit of 100 ppm for an 8-hour workday over a 40-hour workweek.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that tetrachloroethylene be handled as a potential carcinogen and recommends that levels in workplace air should be as low as possible.
For more information on tetrachloroethylene, please see the "DOCUMENTS" section of the main website.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
An assessment is currently underway.
The Site was brought to EPA's attention when a sample from an unused Town well (known hereafter as the "Acme Well") indicated high levels of tetrachloroethylene.
The Virginia Department of Health and EPA collected samples from nearby residents who still use private drinking water wells. Most of the residents in the area are already connected to public water.
Results from the testing indicated elevated levels of tetrachloroethylene in several of the wells. In November of 2010, EPA activated emergency funds to provide bottled water to the most affected residents.
The source, nature, and extent of contamination are unknown and background information is limited.
Ms. C. Prisk, an investigator with EPA's Cost Recovery Branch, was able to obtain to obtain a draft Real Estate Transfer Environmental Assessment which was prepared in 1992. In 1992, Weston, an environmental contractor, performed an environmental review of the Acme Visible Records (AVR)-Louisa facility located near the Acme Well. This building is currently operated by Piedmont Metal Fabricators.
The assessment included physical inspection of the facility and its operations, records review, and interviews with Site personnel. The report does not identify tetrachloroethylene as a contaminant of concern. However, the report does note the use of volatile and semi-volatile organic solvents used during Acme's operation of the facility.
No sampling was conducted during this assessment. OSC Wagner is consulting with EPA legal counsel to determine if this document can be posted on the public website.
EPA is planning an extensive sampling assessment over the next several weeks. The sampling assessment will include groundwater, subsurface soil, and sediment sampling. This information will be used to try and identify the source of contamination.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
The Louisa Acme Well is owned by the Town of Louisa. This well has been inactive for approximately 20 years. The Town was investigating the possibility of reactivating this well for use. As part of the feasibility study, the Town arranged to have the well sampled.
The well sample indicated a high level of tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene, "PCE", or "perc". Perc was formerly widely used in the dry-cleaning business. The chemical is also used as an industrial solvent.
Since the initial result, the Acme Well has been sampled two more times both by EPA and the Town of Louisa. Results are consistently high for tetrachloroethylene. The level of tetrachloroethylene has been detected as high as 9.2 milligrams/liter (ppm).
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
All residents known to have private drinking water wells along the 100-200 area of Jefferson Highway have been contacted. All residents with private drinking water wells in this area have been sampled, with the exception of one property which is currently not occupied.
All of the property owners received their results from either EPA or the Virginia Department of Health, depending on the testing Agency.
The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for tetrachloroethylene in public drinking water systems is 5 micrograms/liter. Results from the residential sampling indicated three properties which had levels higher than 5 ppb. Due to the elevated level of tetrachloroethylene in two drinking water wells, EPA activated funds to provide bottled drinking water to these two residents. The third property with an elevated level of tetrachloroethylene is not occupied.
On December 2, 2010, a public availability session was held. Local, state, and federal representatives were present to answer questions from the residents.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The source, nature, and extent of contamination have not yet been identified. EPA will continue to work on enforcement issues as the assessment progresses.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Two major activities are planned by EPA
1. A sampling assessment intended to collect information needed to determine the nature, source, and extent of contamination
2. Connection of two residential properties to public drinking water
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
2.2.1.2 Assessment
Phase I
During the week of January 17, 2011, EPA and its contractor intend to sample monitoring and residential wells.
Four monitoring wells are located on the Piedmont Fabricators property. The owner of the property has granted EPA access to sample these wells. EPA has no preliminary data on the wells. There is no information regarding these wells in the Real Estate Transfer Environmental Assessment Report. The owner of Piedmont Metal Fabricators informed EPA that the company does not sample these wells. EPA will collect samples from the monitoring wells provided they are in adequate condition. EPA's contractor will also document the condition of the existing wells and depth to groundwater.
EPA also plans to resample residential wells along Jefferson Highway pending access. Also, any additional wells identified will be sampled even if these wells are not in service. EPA's purpose is to collect as much information as possible to characterize the Site.
EPA will collect background information from wells not in the immediate area. OSC Wagner coordinated with Mr. J. McDaniel of VDH for suggestions on existing wells located upgradient of the Acme Well. Mr McDaniel was exceptionally helpful and provided this information to EPA. EPA is pursuing access to also sample these wells.
At this time, samples will be analyzed for volatile organic contaminants, which includes tetrachloroethylene.
Phase II
During the week of February 7, 2011, EPA and its contractor will return to the SIte to collect groundwater and sediment samples. This will involve using a geoprobe to advance sampling tools through the soils to collect a wide variety of groundwater samples. This sampling will be performed to help determine the extent of contamination and the direction of the tetrachloroethylene migration. EPA's contractor is currently working to procure the logistics necessary for this work. EPA will examine the drill cuttings for evidence of tetrachloroethylene in the soil and is planning on collecting a limited number of samples from the corings.
Also during the week of February 7, EPA plans on sampling sediment from the two lagoons in the nearby area.
2.2.1.3 Water Connection
EPA is working with the two residents with elevated tetrachloroethylene levels to connect them to a public water supply. EPA is working with both the Town of Louisa and the Louisa County Water Authority to create the agreements to proceed with this work. The EPA OSCs pursued a Memorandum of Agreem which was not feasible. However, EPA is pursuing a contract directly with the water authorities. EPA OSC Todd Richardson has completed the necessary paperwork, which is currently being reviewed by EPA Contractor Officers and EPA Legal Counsel. In the meantime, EPA continues to provide bottled water to these residents for all personal needs.
2.2.2 Issues
Residents with elevated tetrachloroethylene have been advised not to use their drinking water for consumption or bathing. Bottled water is being supplied to these residents at no cost.
OSC Todd Richardson has also been assigned to the Site and is the EPA co-lead along with OSC Chris Wagner.
EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Francisco Cruz has accepted a new position as an OSC and will now be assisting in that position. The new EPA Community Involvement Coordinator for the Site is Ms.Trish Taylor.
TechLaw Inc. has been selected as the contractor who will assist EPA with performing the sampling described above. Laboratories for the analyses will be selected by EPA's Environmental Science Center according to EPA protocols.
Weston Solutions, Inc., a contractor for EPA, assisted OSC Wagner with the initial sampling in November of 2010. Since that time, EPA has learned the Weston performed previous work at the Site. TechLaw Inc. will now be the technical contactor assisting EPA at the Site.
Sampling will be conducted consistent with protocols for a Remedial Site Evaluation as defined by 40 CFR 300.420.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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WRS has been hired as the contractor who is providing bottled water to affected residents This action will continue until public water is installed.
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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
A Site specific Health and Safety Plan is under review and will be posted on the EPA website no later than 1/18/11.
2.6 Liaison Officer
VDH, VDEQ, and EPA are working concurrently on this project.
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
Dr. Maureen Dempsey - VDH
Dr. Lilian Peak, VDH
Roy Seneca - EPA
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
Trish Taylor - EPA
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
Town of Louisa
Brad Humphrey - Asst Town Mgr
VDEQ
Devlin Harris - Site Assessment Manager
Richard Doucette - NRO Waste Program Manager
VDH
Dr. Maurenn Dempsey, VDH, Deputy Commissioner
Dr. Lilian Peake, VDH, Thomas Jefferson Health District
Jeff McDaniel, VDH, Thomas Jefferson Health District
G. Steven Rice, VDH, Louisa County
DCLS
Mr. Greer Mills
EPA
Chris Wagner, OSC
Todd Richardson OSC
Francisco Cruz, OSC
Trish Taylor, CIC
Victoria Binetti, Water Protection Division
Carlyn Prisk, Cost Recovery
LaRonda Koffi - Congressional Liaison
ATSDR
Lora Werner
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA, VDEQ, and TechLaw will be on Site during the week of 1/17/11 for sampling activities.
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5. Definition of Terms
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Maximum contaminant level means the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to the free flowing outlet of the ultimate user of a public water system; except in the case of turbidity where the maximum permissible level is measured at the point of entry to the distribution system. Contaminants added to the water under circumstances controlled by the user, except for those resulting from corrosion of piping and plumbing caused by water quality are excluded from this definition. (40 CFR 142.2)
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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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