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- Study Area Gets Smaller as Potential Sources are Eliminated -
Perkasie TCE Assessment
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 3
Community Update
September 2005
The Perkasie TCE Assessment
Why Are We Doing This?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
conducting an investigation into possible soil vapor
contamination in residential areas of Perkasie Borough.
EPA has been collecting samples from various areas of
the Borough to find out if trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors
exist and if they are getting into homes ("vapor
intrusion.")
EPA's mission is to protect human health and the
environment. Our investigation into possible TCE
contaminated vapor intrusion is to help ensure healthy
residential indoor air quality. During the study, EPA
has also been evaluating possible cleanup options to
intercept any contamination before it causes health
concerns at residential homes.
TCE is often linked to past industrial activities and was
also a common ingredient in adhesive, paint removers,
typewriter correction fluids and spot removers. Long-
term exposure to TCE-contaminated vapors are a
potential risk to human health.
The purpose of this fact sheet is to keep the community
informed of the investigation and updated as the study
progresses.
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To date, EPA's study has detected TCE contamination
in some parts of the Borough, but not at levels that pose
immediate health risks. The locations where some
contamination has been detected are located within the
study area shown on Map 1 and warrant further
examination.
If at any point, elevated levels of TCE vapors are found
at concentrations considered to be a potential threat to
human health inside residential homes, EPA will
respond immediately to eliminate exposure and
implement a cleanup plan for impacted homes.
During this investigation, EPA is working with
toxicologists at the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry (ATSDR). ATSDR is an agency of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
that, among other services, provides public health
advice and consultations regarding human health risks
posed by hazardous substances in the environment.
Example of a drill rig used to install
monitoring wells.
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Study Area Getting Smaller
Sampling Results
EPA is investigating areas for possible sources of the
TCE contamination. So far, EPA has been able to
eliminate several areas as the potential source, allowing
the study to become smaller in scope and more focused.
Map 1 shows the new, smaller study area. Within this
area, EPA is collecting quarterly samples from 42
locations. One or more samples are collected at each
location. The results of sampling will help EPA identify
the boundaries of the contamination, or plume. Plumes
are not usually in a neat, uniform shape, like a circle or
oval. They can often zig-zag because of the type of soil,
sand and/or fractured bedrock in the area.

From September 2003, EPA has been studying the
Perkasie area for TCE contamination by collecting
various types of samples, including:
Property Soil Vapor (PSV), collected from
randomly selected residential yards and
businesses;
Sub-Slab Soil Vapor (SS), depending on PSV
samples, vapors are collected from a hole drilled
on an angle to reach underneath homes;
Indoor Air (IA), depending on SS sampling, IA
samples have been collected from a few houses;
Surface Water (SW), collected from the creek;
Groundwater (GW), collected from various
depths below the surface; and
Creek Sediment (SED), collected along the edge
of the creek.
Residential samples are collected every three months
(quarterly), to account for seasonal differences that may
exist. See Table 1 for recent sampling results.
The Perkasie Borough drinking
water supply, sometimes called "town
water," is routinely tested and must
meet federal Safe Drinking Water
Act standards.
Private well owners should have
water quality tests done on a regular
basis. Local health and /or
environmental agencies, as well as
private companies may offer water
Map 1: Study Area
Map not to scale
Study area is approximate

Stream
Culvert
~ Area of investigation
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Table 1: Summary of Recent Samples Collected
Dates of Sampling
Events
PSV
SS
IA
SW
GW
SED
# of results indicating further investigation is needed
10-12/2004 (Event F)
68
22
12



1 SS; 4 PSV; 9 IA
12/2004 (Event G)



12
34
12
8 GW
01/2005 (Event H)
65
18
11



4 PSV; 2 SS; 7 IA
02/2005 (Event SW)
4



13

4 GW
04-05/2005 (Event I)



23
35
23
17 GW
05/2005 (Event J)
40
16
9



5 PSV; 7 IA
Numbers indicate how many samples were collected of each type. More than one sample may be taken at each location.
The previous fact sheet included a similar table with results from Sampling Events A through F. A copy of this and
previous fact sheets are available for review at the Bucks County Public Library, Samuel Pierce Branch, located at 491
Arther Avenue, Perkasie, PA.
Next Steps: Groundwater Monitoring...
EPA is testing groundwater quality due to the possible
link between TCE-contaminated water and TCE-
contaminated soil vapor. Over time, contaminated
groundwater can often cause the vapors within the
surrounding soil to also become contaminated. So as a
measure of safety, EPA is monitoring groundwater
quality, as well as soil vapor, during this investigation.
EPA will be installing about 15 additional groundwater
monitoring wells. This well work is estimated to begin
in late September 2005.
Samples are collected with the permission of the
property owners. Residential participation is voluntary
and at no cost to the property owners. EPA is also
collecting samples at commercial and industrial locations
within the study area.
For More Information...
If you have health-related questions about
TCE, please contact:
Bucky Walters
ATSDR Regional Representative
(215)814-3139
Or visit the website: www.atsdr.cdc.gov
Groundwater is the supply of fresh water
under the earth's surface.
Unlike surface water, such as streams
and rivers, groundwater flows very slowly.
Groundwater tends to move from high to
low points underground along a "hydrologic
gradient," or slope, just like surface water;
however, groundwater does not flow in a
fast, straight line. It has to maneuver its
way between layers of soil particles and
fractures in rock.
Depending on the hydrogeology of the
area, it can sometimes take groundwater
up to 15 years to move one mile.
For More Information...
If you have questions about this
project, please contact:
Trish Taylor
EPA Community Involvement Coordinator
(215)814-5539
tavlor.trish@epa.gov
or
Rich Fetzer
EPA On-Scene Coordinator
(215)814-3263

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If you have question and would like to talk with EPA, PADEP and/or ATSDR, please attend the
Public Briefing and Availability Session
Thursday, September 29, 2005
6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
at the Perkasie Borough Fire Hall
100 North Fifth Street, Perkasie, PA.
There will be a brief update/presentation that should last about 20 minutes starting at 6:15 p.m.
Come with questions.
Representatives will be available to discuss your concerns on a one-on-one basis after the short presentation.
EPA's Update on the Perkasie TCE Vapor Intrusion Assessment
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1650 Arch Street (Mailcode 3HS52)
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attn: Trish Taylor

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