[CPEO-BIF] West Harwich, Massachusetts solvent plume

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Details emerge about toxic plume


By Susanna Graham-Pye
Wicked Local Harwich (MA)
October 5, 2016

WEST HARWICH - What is referred to as the West Harwich Plume, a chemical spill, running deep underground from Dennisport toward the Herring River, has long been a cause for concern for town officials and residents of that part of town. 

Worries recently resurfaced within the context of various discussions about new and redevelopment of the area, most especially use of the old West Harwich Schoolhouse. 

...

The plume likely consists of two chemicals: tetrochlorethylene (TCE) and dichlorethylene (PCE). The chemicals are preferred for use as solvents in dry cleaning and degreasing because they are not volatile in heat situations, Champagne explained. It is highly likely that dry cleaning chemicals disposed of through a lagoon and cesspool system at the Dennis Port Automatic Coin Laundry, which was built in 1959. The laundromat also had a dry cleaning business between 1964 and 1997. The spill was found in 1994; DEP closed the business in 1997. It also thought area gas stations contributed to the problem.

...

For the entire article, see
http://harwich.wickedlocal.com/news/20161005/details-emerge-about-toxic-plume

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice/Fax: 650/961-8918 
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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