United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5502G)
EPA520-F-92-010
Fall 1992
& EPA Superfund At Work
Hazardous Waste Cleanup Efforts Nationwide
Wide Beach
Site Profilet
Site Description:
A small residential community in
Brant, New York
Site Size: 55 acres
Primary Contaminants:
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Potential Range of Health Risks
Without EPA Cleanup:
Skin rashes, liver damage and
problems of the central nervous
system
Nearby Population Affected:
5,000 within 3 miles
Ecological Concerns:
Small area of wetlands on site
Year Listed on NPL: 1983
EPA Region: II
State: New York
Congressional District: 31
Success In Brief
EPA Uses Innovative Technology to
Eliminate Wide Beach PCB Threat
Wide-spread contamination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
threatened the Wide Beach section of Brant, New York, a popular
vacation resort. EPA's Superfund program effectively completed a
permanent cleanup of Wide Beach in the span of one year.
Other highlights included:
A new and innovative technology to remove PCB contamination;
Reduction of PCBs to one-fifth of acceptable levels;
Temporary relocation of residents who were concerned for their
health while cleanup activities took place;
Newly paved roads and driveways, re-landscaped yards, and
a new storm sewer system; and
Restoration of ecologically sensitive wetlands.
EPA's achievements significantly reduced PCB risks at Wide Beach,
and left a satisfied community in Brant.
A Chronicle of PCB Contamination at Wide Beach
Roadways, storm drains, yards and
homes contaminated
by dirt sprayed with
PCB-tainted oil
Dirt tracked into
homes and living
areas, bringing PCBs
in direct contact with
residents
Traces of
PCBs found
in samples
of well water,
air, and
vacuum
cleaner dust
Contaminated soil used
as fill for community
recreation area,
private yards
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The Site Today
PCB-contaminated soil has
been cleaned up, roads and
driveways paved, a new storm
sewer system installed, and
contaminated soil in neighboring
yards replaced and re-landscaped.
Over 40,000 tons of contaminated
soil have been treated. Construc-
tion designs for cleaning up
affected wetlands are completed
and the area is expected to be
fully restored during the fall of
1992. EPA is pursuing legal action
to recover cleanup costs from
parties believed to be
responsible for contamination.
5 .Library (PL- 12 J)
7 West Jackson Bo&levErd,' 12th Floor
i IL 60604-Wn 00r
-------
Superfund At Work
Wide Beach, Brant, NY
Fall 1992
A Site Snapshot
Wide Beach is a 55-acre
development located on Lake
Erie in Brant, NY. The site was
previously used as a summer
vacation spot, but now has a
year-round population which
includes over 60 homes.
Until 1986, the area was
served by dirt roads. Contami-
nation within the community
occurred from 1968 to 1978,
during which time waste oil
laced with polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) was sprayed
on the dirt roads to control dust.
Driveways, yards, storm
drains, homes, and interiors of
cars were contaminated from
dirt tracked or blown in from
the roads.
Adverse health effects can
result from direct contact with
contaminated soils, drinking
tainted water, or breathing
airborne PCBs. These effects
can range from skin rashes to
liver damage and problems of
the central nervous system.
hi 1980, workers excavated
soil from around the roadways
while installing a sanitary
sewer line in the development.
Unaware that a PCB problem
existed, residents used this
excavated soil as fill for then-
yards and a community
recreation area.
Subsequent sampling
revealed widespread PCBs in
the air, road dust, soil, and
vacuum cleaner dust. Traces of
PCBs were also found in water
samples from private wells.
Lake Erie borders the Wide
Beach development on the
western side. The site drains
through a system of ditches
into a stream and marsh
wetlands south of the develop-
ment. This stream flows into
Lake Erie, as does surface
runoff from the site.
The area around the site is
residential and agricultural.
All residents of the Wide
Beach area receive their water
from private wells.
Approximately 5,000 people
within a three-mile radius of
the site depend on municipal
and private wells for drinking
supplies.
Page 2 ~~"'~^~
QuickResponse
by EPA
Removes
Immediate
Threats to
Community
In June and July 1985, in re-
sponse to the unsafe levels of
PCBs found in Wide Beach
homes, EPA acted quickly to
Emergency actions
mitigated immediate
health threats
protect residents from contami-
nated run-off and dust until a
long-term solution could be
implemented. This emergency
action involved:
Paving over the PCB-contami-
nated dirt roadways, drive-
ways and drainage ditches;
Decontaminating homes by
vacuuming, rug shampooing,
and replacing air conditioner
and furnace filters;
Installing filters on individual
wells to protect the populatior
from traces of PCB contamina-
tion found in the ground
water; and
Repairing a storm drain to
alleviate flooding problems.
These actions, conducted in
only two months, mitigated the
immediate threats to human
health posed by PCB contamina-
tion in the Wide Beach develop-
ment. EPA activities also effec-
tively stopped the further spread
of contamination to the rest of th<
nearby community.
-------
Superfund At Work
Wide Beach,Brant, NY
Fall 1992
Wide Beach Site
Brant, NY
Wide Beach From The Air
This aerial photograph of a section of
the Wide Beach community shows the
layout of homes and roadways, and
includes both dirt and paved roads.
The former summer community operated
without paved roads until recently. Dust
from the community's dirt roads led to oil
spraying, which in turn distributed poly-
chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the
community. Contaminated soils exca-
vated from the roadsides were later used
as fill for community recreation areas and
private yards.
At the same time EPA was
eliminating the immediate threats
posed by PCB-contaminated dust,
a plan for permanent cleanup and
removal of the PCB threat was
being developed. In September
1985, EPA selected a plan to treat
the contaminated soil through an
innovative technology, known as
Anaerobic Thermal Process
(ATP).
This technology chemically
destroys PCB molecules and
breaks them down into harmless
components. The paving that
was temporarily laid on the roads
to prevent further contact with
PCB-contaminated dirt would be
removed, and the soil underneath
excavated and treated, along with
soil removed from yards and
driveways. The treated soil
would be used as backfill to the
extent possible and the roads
would then be repaved.
To implement the cleanup plan
for the site, EPA conducted
bench- and pilot-scale studies to
determine the feasibility of chemi-
cally treating the PCB-contami-
nated soils. Both studies pro-
duced positive results, indicating
that 20,000 tons of soil could be
excavated and processed in an
on-site reactor.
Soils treated by this pilot
process would reduce harmful
PCB contamination from more
than 1,000 parts per million (ppm)
to less than 10 ppm. Based on the
success of this study, EPA pre-
pared a design which accommo-
dated a commercially available
unit.
After bids were received from
contractors to build the unit and
complete the cleanup, a contract
was awarded. The contractor
that was selected submitted a
continued on page 4
Page 3
-------
Superfund At Work Wide Beach, Brant, New York Fall 1992
continued from page 3
proposal for an alternative technol-
ogy that allowed for soils to be
cleaned to a target level of 2 ppm.
Upon seeing its effectiveness,
EPA approved this technology and
moved forward with site cleanup.
Using the technology resulted in
significant community benefits and
the advancement of hazardous
waste cleanup practices.
The innovative technology to
chemically treat the PCB-contami-
nated soil also resulted in the fol-
lowing benefits:
Risks Reduced It was
possible to lower the final level
of contamination from 10 ppm
to less than 2 ppm;
Quick Cleanup of all soils on
the site lasted only 12 months,
from September 1990 to Septem-
ber 1991;
Thorough Twice as much soil
was processed than was origi-
nally planned, increasing the
amount of treated soil from
20,000 tons to 40,000 tons;
It was possible to
lower the final
contamination level
from 10 ppm to
less than 2 ppm
Cost Effective The new
technology was more cost effec-
tive because it allowed for more
soil to be treated in a shorter
period of time;
Permanent Rather than
contain the waste on the sit
transport it to another disp
facility, EPA chose a cleanu
plan that destroyed the PC]
Safer The need for costly
dangerous transportation c
hazardous materials was el
nated because processing o
curred on the site itself. By-
products of the treatment t(
nology are also harmless.
Because EPA was able to a]
an innovative technology to tl
treatment of the Wide Beach s
cleanup was achieved faster a
more efficiently. Not only die
community benefit from this
cleanup method, but a new pi
was identified and tested for \
other PCB sites across the cou
Wide Beach
Timeline
Site added to NPL
Contamination discovered
Site proposed for National Priorities List
Sanitary sewer line installed ^
Contaminated soil used in residential yards,
public recreation areas
Superfund legislation enacted
PCB-contaminated waste oil used
to control dust on roads
1968
Page 4
-------
Superfund At Work
Wide Beach, Brant, New York
Fall 1992
EPA Provides
During
While $ie dangers posed by PCB
eonfmninatiom during EPA cleanup
activities were minimal, some homes
became inaccessible for periods of
time, due to the feet that roads and
driveways were being excavated and
rebuilt.
For those who remained
convinced mat their health would
be compromised, and for those who
would not have access to their
homes during cleanup actions, EPA
provided fhe option of temporary
relocation.
Thirteen families chose this option
and were relocated to nearby hotels
for periods ranging from 4 weeks to 2
months.
/> Roads paved to prevent contact, spread of PCB dust
Cleanup plan selected
m Cleanup design begins
1985 1986
Engineering designs
for cleanup complete
Temporary paving removed
Soil treatment begins
Some residents temporarily relocated
1 Cleanup design for wetlano areas begins
Soil treatment complete
1 Roads repaved
Wetlands cleanup begins
All site activities complete
(planned)
1989 1990 1991
1993
Page 5
-------
Superfund At Work
Wide Beach, Brant, NY
Fall 1992
Advanced Cleanup Method Provides
Permanent Solution to PCB Problem
The Anaerobic Thermal
Process (ATP), used at the Wide
Beach site, is an innovative
approach to hazardous waste
cleanup that provides a safe,
economically effective alternative
to traditional methods of cleanup,
such as incineration.
Originally developed to pro-
duce crude oil from tar sands and
oil shales, this "transfer technol-
ogy" is intended to recover reus-
able by-products. Heat is used to
vaporize organic contaminants
from mixtures of solids and
water. This is ideal for Superfund
sites where wastes consist of soils,
sludges, and sediments. Contami-
nants that can be vaporized
include: polychlorinated biphe-
nyls (PCBs), oil refinery waste,
Contaminants
recovered through
the process
can be recycled
municipal waste, and tires. Sepa-
rated contaminants form an oily
liquid which can be recycled or
disposed appropriately. Other
products can be disposed as
non-hazardous waste.
The process is fairly simple.
The first part of the process is
conducted in an initial preheat
zone that evaporates moisture
and light oily materials from the
contaminated solids. Next, the
system moves the contaminated
solids into an air-free, high tem-
perature zone where contami-
nated media are raised to tem-
peratures of approximately
950ฐ-1150ฐF.
Under these temperatures, the
solids become fully decontami-
nated. Vapors are removed from
both heating zones using a
continued on page 7
Innovative Technology At Wide Beach
Dwarfing the chain link fence which surrounds it, the large tubular structure of treatment
chambers is visible in the processing plant at the Wide Beach site. A technique
originally developed to extract crude oil heats soil to trap contaminants and extracts
recyclable materials.
-------
Superfund At Work Wide Beach,Brant, NY Fall 1992
Lines of
p|tihe dfeanijp of title Wide Beach site and interacted dosely with the Wide Beadi
: during tiie Homeowners' Association. The contractors who
m*m*m*mmmmmmmmmmm*mm were actually cleaning the site and
treating the contaminated soil also
attended the pufo&i meeting^ to gjve
presentations and answer tedsnical
questions rafeed by the coinmttnity.
TiHwig^ithesซ Meetings and an
on-site demonstration of tiie soil
vEPA lllllllll"^^'fw^<^^ deanupprocess^EPAworicedto
js^s. wem excavated'
t> iซd Some residents
EPA interacted
closely with the
WW@ Beach
Homeowners'
Association
s1ieetstokeef>resi- abate citizen concerns by reinainmg accessible
and responsive to public questions.
Cleanup Method Provides Permanent Solution
continued from page 6 The benefits of this system-
vacuum system. Finally, condens- developed by SoilTech ATP
ers recover reusable oils and
water from the vapor that was
removed from the solids. The
condensed water, which is similar
to wastewater from crude oil
refineries, is treated for reuse or
disposal. Recovered contaminants
can be recycled if, for example,
they originate from petroleum
refinery wastes.
If the recovered contaminants
are unrefinable oils, PCBs, or
dioxins, they are disposed in
a hazardous waste landfill or
sent to a hazardous waste treat-
ment facility.
Furthermore, an optional
process feature used at the site
chemically destroys PCBs and
related compounds, eliminating
the need for off-site disposal in
certain cases. After treatment, the
decontaminated soils can be us^cj Environmental Protection Agency
for backfilling. Regjon 5> Ubrary (PL_12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-^^ Page 7
Systems, Inc. - are significant. The
ATP satisfies four common
guidelines for waste management:
Reduced toxicity: By remov-
ing the contaminants from the
larger solid, the volume of
hazardous waste is reduced;
Reduced mobility: Removal
of hazardous chemicals from
the site prevents further mobi-
lization into ground water, the
atmosphere and the foodchain;
Recycled Materials: Contami-
nants such as petroleum can be
substantially recovered and
reused (from 40 to 80%); and
Reduced volume: Organic
contaminants are separated as
a greatly reduced volume of
liquid for reuse or disposal.
In addition, the system has
shown both short- and long-term
effectiveness. In the short-term,
the decontamination process is
very quickup to 15 tons can be
processed in an hour. This high
rate of operation allows for timely
site cleanup.
The ATP system also offers
long-term protection due to the
rigorous elimination of hazardous
materials from soils, sediments, or
other solids in the environment.
The results of the process are
permanent no post-treatment
is necessary.
In the end, PCB levels were
reduced, on average, to between
one and ten percent of the EPA-
mandated cleanup levels. This
high efficiency is unique among
alternatives to incineration. The
results at this site have proven the
ATP system to be an effective,
reliable, cost-saving alternative to
neutralize PCB-contaminated
soils and sediments.
-------
Superfund At Work
Wide Beach, Brant, NY
Fall 1992'
EPA Restores Natural Resources
Along Wetlands Expanse
In a complicating twist to the
cleanup of the Wide Beach site,
EPA discovered that part of the
area where cleanup activities
were taking place was a wetland.
To be considered a wetland,
the soil in that area must remain
saturated a certain number of
days per year and the area must
support vegetation, plant and
animal nurseries, and endangered
species specific to the area.
Wetlands also provide a
natural filtering action for
pollutants, an added benefit for
habitat and surrounding areas.
Because wetlands play such a
vital role in maintaining our
planefs ecosystem, EPA's plan
calls for complete restoration of
this area.
Final restoration and re-
landscaping activities will be
achieved in March, 1993.
If you wish to be added to our mailing list
or to comment on this bulletin's content,
length or format,
please call (703) 603-8984
or send a letter to
Superfund At Work(5502G),
401 M Street SW,
Washington, DC 20460.
For additional copies of this or other Superfund At Work updates,
contact the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce,
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, telephone (703) 487-4650.
Success at
Wide Beach
EPA activities at the Wide
Beach hazardous waste site
quickly, effectively, and
permanently eliminated the
threats posed to the commu-
nity by widespread PCB
contamination.
Use of an innovative tech-
nology enabled the site to be
cleaned up to maximum
standards in a very short
period of time. EPA involve-
ment at the site also resulted
in several other community
benefits, including the addi-
tion of paved roads and
driveways, a new sewer
system, re-landscaped yards,
and increased property values.
5-EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
5502G
Washington, D.C. 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
First Class Mail
Postage and Fees Paid
EPA
Permit No. G-35
ฎ Printed on recycled paper
------- |