v>EPA United States Environmental Protectior Agency For more information If you have questions or comments about EPA's cleanup of TCE or about the Galen Myers Dump site, contact one of these EPA team members: For technical questions Margaret Gielniewski Remedial Project Manager 312-886-6244 gielniewski.margaret@epa.gov For general questions Heriberto Leon Community Involvement Coordinator 312-886-6163 leon.heriberto@epa.gov You may call EPA"s Chicago regional office toll-free at 800-621 - 8431, weekdays, 9:30 a.m. - 5: 30 p.m. Additional information is available at www.epa.gov/superfund/galen- myers-dump. EPA Continues Response to Vapor Concerns Galen Myers Dump/Drum Salvage Site Osceola, Indiana August 2016 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigators continue to collect underground soil gas—known as sub-slab gas—and indoor air samples from homes in Osceola this summer. They are checking for an environmental problem called "vapor intrusion." Vapor intrusion can occur when pollutants dissolved in underground water—known as groundwater— or buried in the soil give off harmful vapors. These gases can seep into basement cracks or holes and cause hazardous indoor air pollution. Systems to remove hazardous vapors may be installed in some homes in the target neighborhood. The systems will lower the indoor air concentrations of a hazardous pollutant called trichloroethylene, or TCE. Soil gas levels and indoor air samples taken in and around neighborhood houses last spring found TCE fumes were trapped in the ground at specific locations. Some homes were identified with vapor intrusion issues. There is also the potential for vapor intrusion in homes that have not yet been tested. Michigan Site Location St. Joseph Galen Myers Site Boundary Area of Indoor Air and Subslab Soil Gas Investigation Map shows the site boundary, the area of investigation, and the Administrative Control Area. I ------- TCE is in a family of chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs are derived from petroleum products and can pollute soil and groundwater supplies. Once in the ground or groundwater, VOCs can evaporate and release harmful gases. This TCE came from the nearby Galen Myers Dump/Dram Salvage site (see map P. 1). Indiana Department of Environmental Management is monitoring the groundwater every year to track natural groundwater cleanup. About the Galen Myers site From the 1970s until 1983, Mr. Galen Myers operated a drum recycling business on his property at 11303 Edison Drive, Osceola. The business accepted 55- gallon drums filled with various solid- and liquid- chemical waste materials. The drums were emptied on the ground and then sold as trash containers and burn barrels. The spilled chemicals, including TCE, and other types of VOCs, entered the groundwater at the site. In the 1980s and 1990s, EPA sampled nearby residential wells and found dissolved VOCs at elevated concentrations in the water. By 1996, EPA had provided a public drinking water connection to around 180 Osceola residences affected by the contamination. In 2015, EPA conducted investigations to evaluate the vapor intrusion potential. If gases containing pollutants enter a home, they could be inhaled by occupants over long periods and cause health issues. Photo shows the exterior structure of a typical vapor mitigation system. The system vents harmful gases trapped underneath a house to the atmosphere where they quickly dissipate. What is TCE? Trichloroethylene is a colorless, volatile liquid that evaporates quickly. It is used as a solvent to clean metal parts. Exposure to high concentrations of TCE can cause dizziness, headaches, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, incoordination, unconsciousness, and even death. These symptoms usually occur in environments where people have been exposed to high levels. For more information about the health effects of TCE, visit http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfactsl9.pdf EPA officials plan to sample indoor air and perform sub-slab testing in 30 additional homes this year. See photo on P. 3 for an example of a sub-slab testing canister. How EPA selects properties to be tested EPA will choose houses and businesses to be sampled based on: • Gas levels trapped in nearby outdoor soil, called "soil gas" and the amount of TCE found in groundwater. • Nearness to the suspected source of pollution. • Nearness to properties that tested positive to sub-slab and indoor air contamination If your home is selected to be sampled, EPA representatives will contact you. If EPA officials do not contact you, your property is not among those that will be scheduled for testing at this time. Immediate removal activities In August EPA completed an immediate removal action at homes that tested positive for unsafe levels of harmful gases. The action consisted of the installation of vapor-lowering equipment that is very similar to radon mitigation systems common to many Midwestern houses. The systems remove harmful gases from beneath a structure and vent them into the atmosphere where they are diluted and broken down by sunlight. Recent work and next steps At the beginning of August, EPA sent out requests for access agreements to additional homeowners to sample properties near those already found to have vapor intrusion. This sampling follows the 2015 EPA Vapor Intrusion Guidance. The guidance document helps the 2 ------- Agency continue the progression of sampling until a clear outline of the vapor intrusion area is mapped out. If test results come back below action levels for two consecutive sampling events then no immediate further action is needed at the sampled property. Sampling is generally done six months apart to account for seasonal variation. Sampling is expected to occur this October- November and March-April 2017. EPA officials will determine whether action is needed based on sample results. If vapor intrusion is happening, EPA officials will determine when to offer installation of the mitigation systems based on the health threats inside the house or building. EPA investigators will also check the effectiveness of currently installed mitigation systems and closely study sample results to determine if additional steps are needed. Meanwhile, IDEM will continue to collect annual groundwater samples from the established monitoring well network every June/July. All the vapor intrusion and groundwater sample results will be used to help EPA experts determine whether groundwater cleanup is needed. As mentioned before, pollutants dissolved in underground water are one of the root causes of vapor intrusion. A small hole is drilled in the floor of a basement or slab where a tube is inserted to test for the presence of harmful vapors that may be trapped in the ground. This is called "sub- slab " testing. The canister is removed after a couple of days and then analyzed in a laboratory. How properties are tested Technicians will take one or more air samples from a structure deemed to be at-risk from vapor intrusion. A device may be placed in the basement of the house or building. However, if you only have a crawl space, the device may be placed in a living area of the house such as a family room or kitchen. If you have a basement, technicians may drill a small hole in the floor to install another device that will test the air under your house or building. They will repair the hole when the equipment is removed. Devices used to take indoor air samples are simple canisters that must remain in place for 24 hours. A simple canister is placed on a table or counter for a couple of days to test for indoor air pollution from vapor intrusion. 3 ------- EPA Continues Response to Vapor Concerns EPA officials conduct a time-critical removal action and will sample homes and install vapor removal systems this summer If you have questions, concerns or comments about these activities, contact: Margaret Gielniewski Heriberto Leon Remedial Project Manager Community Involvement Coordinator 312-886-6244 "312-886-6163 gielniewski.margaret@epa.gov leon.henberto@epa.gov Online: www.epa.gov/superfund/galen-myers-duinp jddoj pdpADd}} uo pa.vipojday © u o g 6 |) s e a u | j o d e a senu^uoQ vd3 : 3 ± I 8 dlAina Sd3AIAI N31V9 0698-^0909 "II 'oSeoiMQ pA|a uospep m LL (PZ-IS) uoiSjAja punjjedns 9 uo|60U AoueBy uoiiosiojd leiuauuuojiAug seieis peijun Vd3'cv ------- |