2007 CPEO Brownfields List Archive

From: Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>
Date: 10 Jan 2007 20:00:40 -0000
Reply: cpeo-brownfields
Subject: [CPEO-BIF] Perkasie (PA) vapor intrusion systems
 
Three Perkasie homes get new systems for removal of TCE

By: Emily Morris
Perkasie News Herald (PA)
January 10, 2007

As part of the ongoing presence of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Perkasie to monitor the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE), three Perkasie homes will have vapor removal systems installed. The homes, located in the area of Fifth Street in Perkasie, are just a few of the homes in the area sampled for vapor intrusion. TCE is typically linked to past industrial activities and was also a common ingredient in adhesive, paint removers, typewriter correction fluids and spot removers in the past, according to EPA materials. Because long-term exposure to TCE- contaminated vapors is seen as a risk to human health, EPA has been studying a section of Perkasie in depth, using several methods.

EPA has been sampling the groundwater at various depths in a set study area in the borough over the past three years, as well as creek sediment and surface creek water in the area. In addition, samples have been taken from soil vapor from randomly selected business and residential yards. When samples turn up positive, EPA will then do a sub-slab soil vapor sample. That test is done by drilling a hole at an angle underneath the home to access vapors beneath the homes.

Five homes in the EPA's current area of investigation were deemed to have TCE vapors in the sub-slab test of more than 4.1 parts per billion - the screening level selected by the EPA for this test based on consultation with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The area of investigation currently extends from South Third Street to South Ninth Street roughly between Park Avenue and just beyond Walnut Street. EPA sampled the indoor air of those five homes, and found that three of the homes had TCE vapors present indoors. Working closely with the ATSDR, EPA deemed it was necessary to install vapor removal systems in those homes, similar to removal systems used for radon, said David Sternberg of the EPA.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17693278&BRD=1306&PAG=461&dept_id=187826&rfi=6

--


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


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