United States pMQ Environmental Protection Agency Community Update April 2015 Ravenswood PCE Ground Water Plume Superfund Site Ravenswood, Wood County, West Virginia — Work to Begin on Soil Removal — Who: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will start work to remove contaminated soils that have been identified as a potential contributor to the Ravenswood PCE Ground Water Plume Superfund Site. What: Tetrachloroethylene, also called "perc" or PCE, was a commonly used metal de-greaser and dry cleaning solvent. As part of EPA's cleanup for the Site, soils were tested for PCE and other semi- volatile chemical compounds related to the groundwater contamination in the vicinity of Walnut and Washington streets. Long-term exposures to elevated levels of PCE could result in potential health risks. This work is one part of EPA's overall cleanup work at the Site, which also includes expanding the Air Sparging/Soil Vapor Extraction system currently operating near the Ravenswood water plant. Where: An area near the intersection of Walnut and Washington streets showed PCE-contaminated soils that could be impacting the groundwater plume. Contaminated soils will be excavated, back-filled with clean fill and a treatment unit will be installed as part of the existing Air Sparging/Soil Vapor Extraction system. This location is situated above the Site's contaminated groundwater plume. Groundwater at this location is considered "up-gradient" of the groundwater flow direction, which means that contaminants entering the groundwater at this location could potential affect the whole plume. When: Excavation work is estimated to begin late April/early May 2015, depending on weather conditions. Once work begins, the excavation and back-filling project should take about two weeks to complete. The entire construction project will take about four months. Work schedules are subject to weather conditions. Why: Ravenswood residents are not drinking the contaminated groundwater. Public water supplies remain safe and are tested for contaminants on a regular basis. However, for possible future uses, the contaminated groundwater is being treated. In addition, by removing contaminated soils that may be contributing to the groundwater contamination, we decrease the amount of contamination getting into the groundwater which, in turn, decreases the amount of contamination that will need to be treated by the current pump-and-treat system. This will ultimately speed up the time it will take to clean the water and will result in long-term cost savings. Details on the Site's ongoing cleanup activities are available on our website, at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hscd/super/sites/WVSFN0305428/index.htm Next Steps: EPA estimates the Remedial Action phase will be completed by autumn 2015, pending work schedules and weather. EPA will then monitor the plume to test the effectiveness of the remedy. ------- United States Environmental Protection Agency Community Update April 2015 Ravenswood PCE Ground Water Plume Superfund Site Ravenswood, Wood County, West Virginia — Work to Begin on Soil Removal — Who: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will start work to remove contaminated soils that have been identified as a potential contributor to the Ravenswood PCE Ground Water Plume Superfund Site. What: Tetrachloroethylene, also called "perc" or PCE, was a commonly used metal de-greaser and dry cleaning solvent. As part of EPA's cleanup for the Site, soils were tested for PCE and other semi- volatile chemical compounds related to the groundwater contamination in the vicinity of Walnut and Washington streets. Long-term exposures to elevated levels of PCE could result in potential health risks. This work is one part of EPA's overall cleanup work at the Site, which also includes expanding the Air Sparging/Soil Vapor Extraction system currently operating near the Ravenswood water plant. Where: An area near the intersection of Walnut and Washington streets showed PCE-contaminated soils that could be impacting the groundwater plume. Contaminated soils will be excavated, back-filled with clean fill and a treatment unit will be installed as part of the existing Air Sparging/Soil Vapor Extraction system. This location is situated above the Site's contaminated groundwater plume. Groundwater at this location is considered "up-gradient" of the groundwater flow direction, which means that contaminants entering the groundwater at this location could potential affect the whole plume. When: Excavation work is estimated to begin late April/early May 2015, depending on weather conditions. Once work begins, the excavation and back-filling project should take about two weeks to complete. The entire construction project will take about four months. Work schedules are subject to weather conditions. Why: Ravenswood residents are not drinking the contaminated groundwater. Public water supplies remain safe and are tested for contaminants on a regular basis. However, for possible future uses, the contaminated groundwater is being treated. In addition, by removing contaminated soils that may be contributing to the groundwater contamination, we decrease the amount of contamination getting into the groundwater which, in turn, decreases the amount of contamination that will need to be treated by the current pump-and-treat system. This will ultimately speed up the time it will take to clean the water and will result in long-term cost savings. Details on the Site's ongoing cleanup activities are available on our website, at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hscd/super/sites/WVSFN0305428/index.htm Next Steps: EPA estimates the Remedial Action phase will be completed by autumn 2015, pending work schedules and weather. EPA will then monitor the plume to test the effectiveness of the remedy. ------- Brief Site Background: The Ravenswood PCE Ground Water Plume Superfund Site is an on-going cleanup of the groundwater located beneath the downtown area of Ravenswood, WV. The area of concern is approximately three miles long by one mile wide. There is no known point of origin identifying the source of the contamination; it may be a combination of several previous industrial / commercial properties. City of Ravenswood Council Meeting EPA will be part of the City of Ravenswood City Council meeting agenda on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, starting at 7:00 p.m. EPA Remedial Project Manager Anthony lacobone will provide a briefing about the soil excavation work and answer any questions the council and community may have regarding the project or the Ravenswood PCE Ground Water Plume Superfund Site in general. For More Information On-line, go to: EPA's Ravenswood PCE Groundwater Site Webpage at: http://www.eDa.aov/rea3hscd/suDer/sites/WVSFN0305428/index.htm Or contact Anthony lacobone, Remedial Project Manager (215) 814-5237 or email at: iacobone.anthonv(S).eDa.aov Trish Taylor, Community Involvement Coordinator (215) 814-5539 or email at: tavlor.trish(S)eDa.aov Ravenswood PCE Ground Water Plume Superfund Site Community Update April 2015 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 Attn: Trish Taylor 1650 Arch Street (3HS52) Philadelphia, PA 19103 ------- |