Railroad TCE HSCA Site Public Hearing Warwick Township Building November 17 th , 2015
Agenda • Site background and history • Response alternatives and associated costs for potable water supply • Public comments on proposed response
Site Area Map
Site Description • The groundwater is contaminated with several volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). • VOCs are present in commercial, industrial, and residential products. degreasers, adhesives, food packaging, synthetic fibers, - dry cleaning, septic cleaners • VOCs can reach groundwater after spills, or improper disposal, impacting private wells. *The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) established health-based Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for VOCs. These vary by individual compound.
Site Related VOC’s Trichloroethylene (TCE) – TCE is a colorless solvent used primarily for cleaning metal parts – MCL in drinking water: 5 parts per billion (ppb) – TCE ranged from non-detect (ND) to 20.7 ppb 1, 1-Dichloroethene (1, 1-DCE) – Breakdown product of TCE – MCL in drinking water: 7 ppb – 1,1-DCE ranged from ND to 8.6 ppb * parts per billion (ppb) = micrograms per liter (µg/l)
Site Background • Spring 2011 – PADEP collected samples from businesses located along Railroad Drive and in nearby areas. • The contamination is unrelated to contamination affecting residential homes within the Jacksonville TCE site.
Site Background • November 2012 - PADEP found contamination in private home wells along Creek Rd. Bottled water was supplied as necessary. • May 2013 - PADEP expanded the sampling area and continued to provide bottle water as necessary. • Spring 2014 - PADEP sampled for Perfluorinated Compound (PFC) contamination which was recently discovered near the Naval Air Warfare Center.
Residential Sampling Activities • PADEP sampled 43 residential properties. • TCE concentrations ranged from ND-20.7 ppb. • 8 properties exceeded the MCL for TCE. • 1 of the 8 properties also exceeded the MCL for 1,1-DCE. • 2 properties along Creek Rd have since privately installed carbon filtration systems. • PADEP continues to supply bottled water to homes with concentrations of VOC’s above the MCL.
Commercial Sampling Activities • PADEP sampled 21 business located in the Northampton Industrial Park & Warwick Commons Industrial Park • TCE concentrations ranged from ND-210 ppb • 6 properties exceeded the MCL for TCE. • 1,1-DCE concentrations ranged from ND-99 ppb • 4 of the 6 properties also exceeded the MCL for 1,1-DCE.
Other Investigation Activities • Between 2013 & 2014 – PADEP sampled 4 different locations of the Neshaminy Creek Tributary that runs through the Site Area. – TCE concentrations ranged from ND-0.46 ppb. • EPA Indoor Air Risk Assessment Study – Collected air samples while showers were running • PADEP plans to install 5 monitoring wells
Site Area TCE Results Map
Site Area TCE Results Map Non-Detect TCE Concentration Distribution Map Detections Below 5 ppb Detections Above 5 ppb
Analysis of Response Alternatives This step is an evaluation of possible response alternatives by PADEP to determine: • The appropriate response for the overall protection of human health and the environment at this site. • The appropriate response that is in compliance with applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements (ARARs).
Response Alternative Evaluation Criteria • Effectiveness Does it mitigate threats resulting from the contamination? • Response Timeframe Is it temporary or permanent; how long will it take to implement? • Reliability Does it consistently comply with health based standards? • Feasibility I s it feasible to initiate, install, operate, and maintain? • Community Acceptance Discovered through public comments and local government support • Cost Is it cost prohibitive, or cost-effective?
Response Alternatives 1. No action (Baseline) 2. Bottled water combined with restrictions on use of groundwater 3. Carbon filters combined with restrictions on use of groundwater 4. Public water line combined with restrictions on use of groundwater
Alternative 1 No Action (Baseline Alternative) PROS CONS Not protective of human Implementable health No cost Not a permanent solution Does not meet ARARs
Alternative 2 Bottled Water Combined with Restrictions on Use of Groundwater PROS CONS Implementable Not a permanent solution Meets MCLs Inconvenient Not protective for all exposures Cost effective Periodic sampling required
Alternative 3 Whole House Carbon Filters Combined with Restrictions on Use of Groundwater PROS CONS Protective of human health* Inconvenient- requires periodic sampling & maintenance Meets MCLs* Permanent* Implementable Cost effective * if properly maintained
Carbon Filter System • Sediment filter • 2 carbon tanks • 4’ tall • 1’ diameter • Three sampling ports • Pre treatment (Raw water) • Mid treatment • Post treatment
Restrictions on Use of Groundwater Alternatives 2-3: Environmental Covenants (PA Uniform Environmental Covenant Act, 2007) Covenants would be required for homes with VOCs above MCLs – Agreement between PADEP and homeowner that documents presence of contaminated groundwater on the property deed – Provides guidelines for filter monitoring & maintenance requirements – Can be removed from property deed after attainment of drinking water health standards HSCA 512 Order can be issued if agreement cannot be reached
Alternative 4 Public Water Line Combined with Restrictions on Use of Groundwater PROS CONS Protective of human health Inconvenient during construction Permanent and reliable Residents pay water bills Implementable Cost effective
Restrictions on Use of Groundwater Alternative 4: Ordinances • Warwick and Northampton Township would each enact an Ordinance to mandate connection to public water for all residential properties included in the project • Ordinances would also include requirements for the abandonment of residential wells once connected to public water
Proposed Waterline Map
Cost Estimate-PADEP Funding Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 No Action Bottled Water* Carbon Units** Water line Water/ $0 $4,200 $28,000 >$1,000,000 Equipment Sampling/ $0 $14,400 $22,400 $0 Maintenance Total $0 $18,600 $50,400 >$1,000,000 * Alternative 2 estimate covers 1 year of bottled water for occupied homes with VOCs above MCLs ** Alternative 3 estimate covers installation of filters at homes with VOCs above MCLs, and 1 year sampling/maintenance of those systems
Response Alternative Comparisons #1 #2 #3 #4 Criteria (No action) ( Bottled water) (Carbon filters) ( Water line) YES YES Protects Human NO YES Health? (ingestion only) (with proper maintenance) Complies with NO YES YES YES ARARs? YES Permanent NO NO YES solution? (with proper maintenance) YES Reliable? NO YES YES (with proper maintenance) YES YES YES YES Implementable? YES YES YES YES Cost effective? Public/Municipal To be determined based on public comments support?
PADEP’s Proposed Alternative Alternative 4 Public Water Line Extension PADEP funds the following activities: • Design & Construction work to extend existing water line mains to Creek Rd, Hill Rd, Lincoln Circle, Charter Circle, & Mearns Rd • Lateral connections from mains to property plumbing systems • Repairs to all road surfaces and properties disturbed by construction • Abandonment of private water supply wells
Josh Crooks HSCA Project Officer 2 East Main Street Norristown, PA 19401 jocrooks@pa.gov (484)-250-5784 Submit comments until December 28 th 2015
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