[CPEO-BIF] Visit to Hopewell Junction vapor intrusion site

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Below is my report on my latest field visit to Hopewell Junction, New 
York, to learn more about the Hopewell Precision Superfund Site, site of 
a major vapor intrusion response project. For a formatted version with 
photographs, go to http://www.cpeo.org/brownfields/HopewellNY.doc. - LS

Visit to Hopewell Junction
March 14, 2006
Lenny Siegel

On March 14, 2006, I visited the home of Debra and David Hall in 
Hopewell Junction. They live over a groundwater plume of 
trichloroethylene and trichloroethane associated with the Hopewell 
Precision Superfund Site. Since I have previously visited Debra and she 
has testified extensively about this site, this report will focus on new 
information. I used the opportunity to take pictures of the Halls' water 
filtration and "radon" vapor mitigation systems.

Less than 150 homes are known to be impacted by the Hopewell Precision 
plume. At times, Debra has appeared to be an (effective) one-woman 
campaign for investigation and cleanup. It was heartening to learn than 
50 people attended a recent public meeting about the site hosted by U.S. 
EPA, and I assured her that in any community only a small fraction of 
impacted residents are consistently active.

She told me - and repeated in her testimony to New York's Department of 
Environmental Conservation the next day - that "at least 7 homes ... 
have clean water and contaminated air." She also reported on new 
construction: "I know of two homes that were [recently] built in the 
neighborhood. One of them already has needed a mitigation system 
installed. The other one will now need testing every year because of its 
location."

Debra explained that at least one of her neighbors wants the village to 
run municipal water lines to their neighborhood. Debra prefers the 
filter and regular monitoring. That way she and David are sure they are 
drinking acceptable water, and they don't have to pay a monthly water bill.

Finally, she said that Dutchess County's Board of Health has enacted a 
county-wide requirement for private well testing, and that she is 
working with state legislators to implement a state-wide private-well 
sampling program. Officials were aware of contamination in her area long 
before anyone bothered to inform the residents.



--
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org
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