Perkasie TCE Assessment
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Indoor Vapor Intrusion Removal Action -
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Example of a ventilation system. EPA may use a
similar system for the TCE vapor intrusion
removal action.
and wall
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Groundwater Monitoring
EPA is also testing groundwater quality due to the
frequent link between soil-gas or "vapors." Over time,
contaminated groundwater can often cause the vapors
within the surrounding soil to also become contaminated.
EPA installed approximately 26 groundwater monitoring
wells throughout the Borough. To date, monitoring
results have detected levels of TCE-contamination
ranging from five to 11,000 parts per billion (ppb).
The next round of sampling will be in January 2007.
Unless sampling results dictate otherwise, EPA's
Removal Program will end quarterly sampling by June
2007. EPA and/or the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (PADEP) long-term Remedial
Programs will evaluate the Site for further actions.
Should new information arise warranting additional
removal actions, EPA's Removal Program will remain
available.
One part per billion (ppb) equals
one penny out of 10 million dollars.
The Borough's drinking water supply ("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 sampling services.
For more information on private residential well testing,
contact the PADEP Southeast Regional Office,
Environmental Cleanup Program, at (484) 250-5960.
Groundwater is the supply of
water under the earth's
surface.
Groundwater travels along
slopes, 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 through fractures in rock.
Depending on the
hydrogeology of the area, it
can sometimes take
groundwater up to 15 years to
move one mile.
Looking for the Source
EPA investigated for possible sources of the TCE
contamination. Although EPA had been able to
eliminate several areas as the potential source, the exact
point of origin has not been identified. It is often
difficult to find one point-source for TCE
contamination, especially in historically industrial
communities.
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Background
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 is a potential
risk to human health.
EPA has been studying the Perkasie area for TCE
contamination by collecting various types of samples,
including:
Soil Vapor from randomly selected residential
yards and businesses,
Sub-Slab Soil Vapor from a hole drilled on an
angle to reach underneath homes,
Indoor Air from basements and/or first floors,
Surface Water from the creek,
Groundwater from various depths below the
surface, and
Creek Sediment along the edge of the creek.
These samples were collected, with the property owners'
permission, every three months (quarterly), to account for
seasonal differences that may exist.
Results of this assessment indicated the need for an
indoor air vapor intrusion removal action. The
assessment report will be available for public review once
finalized.
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If you have health-related questions about TCE,
please contact:
Karl Marciewicz
ATSDR Regional Representative
(215)814-3149
Or visit the website: www.atsdr.cdc.gov
For More Information...
Online Resources:
To read Site-related documents, visit EPA's
website at:
www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/sites/PAN00
0306027/index.htm
Or visit the Administrative Record file at:
www.epa.gov./arweb
Information Repository Resources:
This and previous fact sheets are available for
review at:
Bucks County Public Library
Samuel Pierce Branch
491 Arther Avenue
Perkasie, PA
EPA Contacts:
If you have questions about this project, please
call one of the following EPA representatives:
Trish Taylor
EPA Community Involvement Coordinator
(215)814-5539
tavlor.trish@epa.gov
Rich Fetzer
EPA On-Scene Coordinator
(215)341-6307
fetzer.richard@epa.gov
Ruth Scharr
EPA On-Scene Coordinator
(215) 814-3191
scharr.ruth@epa.gov
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Perkasie TCE Vapor Intrusion Assessment Site: Removal Action Begins
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Attn: Trish Taylor
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