[CPEO-BIF] Little Valley, New York TCE vapor sampling

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

U.S. EPA Region 2
Press Release
June 14, 2006

EPA to Sample Homes in Little Valley for Harmful Vapors


(New York, NY) Concerns that vapors from contaminated ground water could 
be seeping into homes has prompted the Environmental Protection Agency 
to test under the foundations of up to 150 homes in Little Valley, New 
York for trichloroethylene (TCE), a commonly used industrial solvent. 
The Agency previously sampled 28 homes and found that some of them had 
vapors under their foundations.

"Years ago, we used to worry mainly about these types of chemicals in 
drinking water," said EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg. 
"Now, we are evaluating sites across the country, including Little 
Valley, to ensure that residents can breathe the air in their homes 
without worrying about harmful vapors."

The Little Valley Superfund site consists of an area of ground water 
extending approximately eight miles and contaminated by TCE from a 
number of possible sources, including two former cutleries, a former 
drum storage area, an inactive municipal landfill that accepted 
industrial wastes and a former industrial facility. The community gets 
its drinking water through private wells, from this groundwater. In 
1997, EPA installed individual treatment systems on over 90 private 
wells with TCE concentrations exceeding the federal and state drinking 
water standard of 5 micrograms per liter. The treatment systems consist 
of two carbon filters which remove TCE to below the federal and state 
drinking water standard.
Samples taken from the private wells before treatment show that TCE 
concentrations are decreasing in the majority of the wells. The carbon 
filters will continue to be used until the pre-filtered TCE levels drop 
below federal and state drinking water standard, which is expected to 
happen in about 10 years.

Concerns about vapors from ground water getting into the air inside 
homes prompted EPA in September 2005 to test the foundations of some 
homes. Based upon these results, air samples were collected from within 
several of these homes in January 2006. EPA intends to test under the 
foundation of up to 150 additional homes in July 2006.

A sample is taken by drilling a hole through the basement floor to 
obtain a sample of any gas trapped beneath the home. Tubing is run from 
the hole to a collection vessel known as a SUMMA canister to collect a 
sample of soil gas over a 24-hour period. Depending on the sampling 
results, EPA may return to take samples of the air inside of the homes. 
If needed, the Agency could install mitigation systems to vent the gases.


EPA officials will be available to answer questions related to vapor 
intrusion and the planned sampling during two public information 
sessions held at the Little Valley Elementary School Auditorium, 207 
Rock City Street, from 3 pm – 5 pm and 6:30 pm – to 8:30 pm on June 14, 
2006.

More information about the Little Valley Superfund Site: 
epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0204016c.pdf
For more detailed information on EPA's vapor intrusion sampling: 
epa.gov/correctiveaction/eis/vapor/guidance.pdf
For more information on indoor air quality: epa.gov/air/topics/comoria.html


For the original press release, see
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/7144dd430c47561885257018004c77a3/adbec5ba88cea49c8525718d0072d0b3!OpenDocument

--


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
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

_______________________________________________
Brownfields mailing list
Brownfields@list.cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org/mailman/listinfo/brownfields