At a Glance EPA Activities Provide Limited Assurance of the Extent of Contamination and Risk at a North Carolina Hazardous Waste Site


^60srx
o
w
\ tf
PRO"^
Z
LU
0
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
At a Glance
10-P-0130
May 17, 2010
Catalyst for Improving the Environment
Why We Did This Review
In response to a congressional
request, the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Office of
Inspector General (OIG)
opened a Hotline case to
examine the quality of recent
EPA water and air sampling at
the Mills Gap Site (Site)
located in Asheville, North
Carolina. We also reviewed
whether EPA clearly
communicated sampling
results to residents.
Background
The Site has been in the State
of North Carolina's hazardous
waste clean-up program since
1993. EPA Region 4 has
carried out emergency
response actions at the Site
since 1999. These actions
included providing an
alternative drinking water
source for residents with
unsafe levels of the chemical
trichloroethylene, or TCE, in
their drinking water. EPA's
current role is to ensure
compliance with clean-up
agreements and assess the
extent of Site contamination.
For further information,
contact our Office of
Congressional, Public Affairs
and Management at
(202) 566-2391.
To view the full report,
click on the following link:
www.epa.aov/oia/reports/2010/
20100517-10-P-0130.pdf
EPA Activities Provide Limited Assurance of
the Extent of Contamination and Risk at a North
Carolina Hazardous Waste Site
What We Found
The water and air quality sampling conducted at the Mills Gap Site has provided
limited assurance of the extent of water and air contamination and risk at the Site.
Within the records OIG reviewed, Region 4 adhered to accepted standards and
practices in conducting its drinking water sampling in 2008 and 2009. However,
the limited scope of Region 4's past sampling activities and oversight kept the
Region from detecting groundwater contamination in drinking water wells.
Region 4 also adhered to accepted standards and practices in conducting its 2007-
2008 air sampling. However, an ineffective response action has not addressed the
potential air quality risk that remains.
Region 4's letters to affected residents communicating water and air sample
results contained jargon and technical language, did not clearly communicate
safety issues, and could have been misleading to some. Although there have been
some improvements in communications, Region 4's drinking water letters did not
disclose that water samples were only tested for site-related contaminants and the
results do not indicate the overall safety of the water.
Region 4"s Community Involvement Plan did not reflect all Site activities and did
not include a communication strategy. Region 4 staff have not always
documented conversations with residents or Site visits. These shortcomings
impede Region 4"s ability to effectively manage community concerns and
relationships. This complex site is of great interest to the community and poses
public health risks. Region 4 must take into account these issues as it completes
its response work and transitions the Site to the State.
What We Recommend
We recommend that Region 4 develop a plan for Site transition to the State, clarify
resident communications, update the Community Involvement Plan, and improve
recordkeeping. Region 4 generally agreed with five of our six recommendations.
The remaining recommendation is under further review by the Region. The
Acting Regional Administrator said the Region "will do everything within our
authority to ensure the safety of the residents in the Mills Gap area."

-------