The Site is located at 2578 N Wauwatosa Avenue, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin which was a former dry cleaning facility.  The Vogue Cleaners Site is located in a mixed commercial and residential area.  The Site is bordered to the north by Clarke Street, a veterinary clinic, and residential properties; to the east by residential properties; to the south by residential properties; and to the west by North Wauwatosa Avenue and residential properties.  The Site contains a two-story building and paved parking lot.  The Menomonee River is located approximately 1.3 miles south of the Site.

A threat of release of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants exists at the Vogue Site due to the presence of chlorinated solvents in groundwater and soil gas, and chlorinated solvents, ignitable and corrosive chemicals in tanks, drums and containers.  EPA documented the presence of hazardous substances and pollutants during its site assessment activities conducted in April 2014.   An inventory of the chemicals abandoned in the building was documented during the site assessment.

Soil gas samples collected on the Vogue property showed high levels of tetrachloroethene at 180,000 ug/m3.  These high levels of soil gas detected in on site soils have the potential to migrate to neighboring residents.  

Soil samples were collected on site and indicated levels of tetrachloroethene as high as  51,000 ug/kg.  These high concentrations found in the soil indicate the potential for the migration of contaminants off site.

USEPA conducted a vapor intrusion assessment along the right of way in a one block vicinity of the site and collected indoor air samples and sub-slab samples at three adjacent homes.  Although some compounds were detected above the screening levels, none of these compounds were found in sampling conducted on the Vogue Cleaners Property.  USEPA consulted with the Wisconsin Department of Public Health and their determination is that there is no vapor intrusion threat caused by the Vogue Cleaners site.
 

The deteriorating drums and containers were stored in an abandoned building which has caught fire recently.  The City of Wauwatosa plans to demolish the building in 2014 and is requesting assistance to remove the hazardous materials. 

On January 30, 2014, Symbiont, a subcontractor to the City of Wauwatosa, conducted a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) which consisted of advancing eight soil borings on the Site property with the use of a Geoprobe^® rig.  The soil borings were advanced to a total depth of 6 to 15 feet below ground surface (bgs) and the depth to water was 12 feet bgs.  One groundwater and two soil samples were collected from each boring.  PCE was detected in soil at concentrations ranging from 36.6 to 76,600 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) and in groundwater at concentrations ranging from 0.57 to 10,900 µg/L.  Although residents have Wauwatosa water supply to their homes, these high levels in the groundwater have the potential to migrate off site and pose a vapor intrusion threat to the nearby residents.

Soil and Soil Gas samples collected on the Vogue Cleaners property by EPA in June of 2014 showed tertrchloroethene levels at 51,000 ug/kg in the shallow core 1-3 depth, and 27,000 ug/kg in the 3-6 foot depths.

From June 30, thru July 2, 2014 U.S.EPA along with the Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team (START) contractors conducted a vapor intrusion investigation (sub-slab soil gas, ambient and residential indoor air) within residential properties that immediately border the former facility and conducted an onsite subsurface soil gas investigation to determine the absence or presence of chlorinated solvents and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) associated with the former dry cleaning operations.   Results of the sampling did detect some compounds above screening levels but none of these compounds were detected at the Vogue Cleaners property.  After consulting with Wisconsin Department of Public health the determination was made that no vapor intrusion threat exists from the Vogue Cleaners Property.

From October 6, to October 8, 2014 U.S. EPA, START and Emergency Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractors conducted a removal action to identify and remove all hazardous and nonhazardous materials, pollutants and contaminants that could pose an imminent threat to the environment, residential properties and residents that are in proximity to the former dry cleaner.

Removal activities included the removal of waste fuel oil from from an aboveground storage tank (AST) located within the basement of the facility and site reconnaisance to identify, classify and segregate all small containers, drums and pails to confirm the absence or presence of hazardous material, and determine proper waste streams for future off-site disposal. Lab-pack waste streams included fuel oil, sodium metasilicate (commercial auxiliary detergent), Oxalic acid, corrosive powders (Sodium Hydroxide) solid and liquid detergents, paint related wastes, propane cylinders, both polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and non PCB containing ballasts and capacitors, aerosols, acidic liquids, elemental mercury (glass ampules within thermostats) and mercury containing (universal waste) fluorescent light bulbs. EPA also identified potentially asbestos containing thermal insulation pipe wrap, floor tiles and associated mastics that will be sampled and addressed accordingly prior to slated demolition activities by the city of Wauwatosa.

During removal activities, START provided technical support, conducted perimeter air monitoring to confirm the absence or presence of fugitive emissions.  Conducted air monitoring within the facility to confirm the necessity for personal protection equipment (PPE) upgrades and provided project documentation, health and safety oversight.

USEPA and EQ re-mobilized to the iste on 11/17/14 to remove and ship all of the containers to an approved disposal facility, Tradebe Treatment and Recyling, LLC in East Chicago, Indiana.  The 14 -55 gallon drums, 10 5 gallon containers, 4 bags of flourescent light bulbs were propertly labeled to meet DOT requirements, loaded, and transported to Tradebe in East Chicago, Indiana.

In addtion, one 20 cubic yard roll off of debris was loaded and transported to Waste management in Milwaukee, Wisconisn for landfill.   See the disposal chart below for break out of waste streams.