[CPEO-MEF] VOCs: Bannister Federal Complex vapor intrusion

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Vapor Intrusion Health Risks at Bannister Federal Complex Not a Concern 
for Buildings 50 and 52, Unknown for Other Buildings

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General
11-P-0048
January 5, 2011


Testing at Bannister Federal Complex in February 2010 revealed elevated 
levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the soil vapor beneath 
the foundations of buildings 50 and 52. EPA Region 7 assisted GSA in 
evaluating the vapor intrusion risk for these buildings. Only 
trichloroethylene vapors were observed to be intruding into building 50 
from the contaminated ground water. Building 50 contains office space 
and building 52 has a child care facility.

Region 7 assessed the health risk from inhaling indoor air in the two 
buildings in accordance with EPA risk assessment procedures. The indoor 
air chemical concentrations were below acceptable risk levels for both 
short- and long-term exposure for the 14 VOCs measured and, therefore, 
are not a health concern. As a precaution, Region 7 recommended and 
reviewed the installation of soil vapor removal systems in both 
buildings in February 2010. Subsequent testing in March 2010 showed that 
contaminant levels in the soil vapors beneath both buildings were 
reduced. Trichloroethylene levels in the indoor air of building 50 were 
also reduced.

Although Region 7 conducted its assessment in accordance with 
EPA-approved procedures, additional actions would provide a more 
comprehensive picture of the chemical hazards in the indoor air and 
ground. These actions include testing for additional VOCs and assessing 
total VOC exposure levels in the buildings. Not all of the other 
Bannister Federal Complex buildings with underlying or nearby 
contaminant plumes have been assessed for soil vapor intrusion. As a 
result, the public health risks in those buildings have not been 
determined.


For the entire report, go to 
http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2011/20110105-11-P-0048.pdf





--


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: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



_______________________________________________
Military mailing list
Military@lists.cpeo.org
http://lists.cpeo.org/listinfo.cgi/military-cpeo.org