Keith Middle Keith Middle School/New Bedford School/New Bedford High SchoolHigh School

Public Information Plan Public Information Plan MeetingMeeting

May 3, 2007May 3, 2007

THE SCIENCE

COLLABORATIVE

NORTH SHORE

AgendaAgenda

Vent Remediation Status - NBHSVent Remediation Status - NBHS– – D. Sullivan, LSP, CHMMD. Sullivan, LSP, CHMM

NBHS/Area Invest./Remediation StatusNBHS/Area Invest./Remediation Status– D. Sullivan, LSP, CHMMD. Sullivan, LSP, CHMM

TRC Air Monitoring at KMS with TRC Air Monitoring at KMS with PerspectivePerspective– G. Hunt, QEPG. Hunt, QEP

Agenda (cont.)Agenda (cont.)

Slope Failure at KMSSlope Failure at KMS– G. Mischel, PEG. Mischel, PE

Exposure to PCBs and Home Exposure to PCBs and Home GardeningGardening– D. Vorhees, Sc.D.D. Vorhees, Sc.D.

Vent Remediation StatusVent Remediation Status

Tour of facility – October 2006Tour of facility – October 2006

Draft Specs - October 2006Draft Specs - October 2006

Finalized – March 2007Finalized – March 2007

Advertised - March 29, 2007Advertised - March 29, 2007

Bid Walk – April 17, 2007Bid Walk – April 17, 2007

Estimated Schedule - Estimated Schedule - VentsVents Bid Walk – April 17, 2007Bid Walk – April 17, 2007

Bids Due – May 1, 2007Bids Due – May 1, 2007 (To be rescheduled)(To be rescheduled)

Project Award – May 8, Project Award – May 8, 2007 (To be rescheduled)2007 (To be rescheduled)

Project Start – June 2007Project Start – June 2007

NBHS/Area Investigation NBHS/Area Investigation and Remediation Statusand Remediation Status Finalize task order Finalize task order

contract.contract.

Finalize Finalize investigation investigation proposal.proposal.

Obtain Obtain subcontractor subcontractor quotes.quotes.

NBHS/Area Investigation NBHS/Area Investigation ComponentsComponents Over 250 soil borings Over 250 soil borings

(NBHS/Area)(NBHS/Area)– Includes subslab Includes subslab

borings in NBHSborings in NBHS

11 monitoring wells11 monitoring wells– Includes 2 to 3 subslab Includes 2 to 3 subslab

wells in NBHSwells in NBHS

10 surface soil 10 surface soil samples near school samples near school buildingbuilding– Potential deteriorated Potential deteriorated

caulking and sealants.caulking and sealants.

BETA/NBHS BETA/NBHS Sampling PlanSampling Plan

NBHS/Area Investigation – NBHS/Area Investigation – Anticipated Remedial Anticipated Remedial ElementsElements Material removalMaterial removal

Clean soil coverClean soil cover

Excavation and consolidation with Excavation and consolidation with clean coverclean cover

Activity and use limitations (AULs)Activity and use limitations (AULs)

NBHS/Area Time LineNBHS/Area Time Line

Drilling/sampling – May/JuneDrilling/sampling – May/June

Lab analysis – May/June/JulyLab analysis – May/June/July

Remedial analysis/design - OngoingRemedial analysis/design - Ongoing

Public Bidding – AugustPublic Bidding – August

Initiate Remedy – SeptemberInitiate Remedy – September

Gary Hunt, QEPGary Hunt, QEP

BS Chemistry 1974 VillanovaBS Chemistry 1974 Villanova

MS Environmental Sciences 1977 RutgersMS Environmental Sciences 1977 Rutgers

1975-1976 PCBs NJ Fish Population1975-1976 PCBs NJ Fish Population

1976-1977 Research Assistant-WHOI- PCBs New Bedford 1976-1977 Research Assistant-WHOI- PCBs New Bedford MusselsMussels

1982-1984 GCA Technology-Project Mgr EPA OSW PCBs in 1982-1984 GCA Technology-Project Mgr EPA OSW PCBs in New Bedford (ambient air, Acushnet R sediments, POTW New Bedford (ambient air, Acushnet R sediments, POTW and Sullivan’s Ledge)and Sullivan’s Ledge)

Expert Witness for EPA/DOJ US vs Cornell and AerovoxExpert Witness for EPA/DOJ US vs Cornell and Aerovox

30 Years Professional Experience (GCA/ENSR/TRC)30 Years Professional Experience (GCA/ENSR/TRC)

Hudson River PCBs Remediation-2005-PresentHudson River PCBs Remediation-2005-Present

New Bedford HS/MS- PCBs Schools 2006-PresentNew Bedford HS/MS- PCBs Schools 2006-Present

> 100 Publications/Presentations POPs/Toxics in > 100 Publications/Presentations POPs/Toxics in EnvironmentEnvironment

PCB Measurements PCB Measurements Summary of FindingsSummary of Findings

PCBs Keith MS Indoor Air Equivalent or < PCBs Keith MS Indoor Air Equivalent or < Background AirBackground Air

PCBs Well Below EPA Action Level 0.050 PCBs Well Below EPA Action Level 0.050 ug/m3 ug/m3

PCBs Present in Vent Samples PeriodicallyPCBs Present in Vent Samples Periodically

PCBs in Vents Equivalent to BackgroundPCBs in Vents Equivalent to Background

= Indoor Air Sampling Point

N

Hathaway Boulevard

Building A

Building BGymnasium

Cafeteria Kitchen

B-3 Aud

Faculty Dining

C-3 Faculty Dining

Courtyard

A-3 Hallway

Building CBackground

KMS Indoor Air Sampling KMS Indoor Air Sampling LocationsLocations

March/April 2007 KMS Indoor Air Total PCB Results

0.0015

0.000640.00037

0.0013

0.00031

0.0017

0

0.0005

0.001

0.0015

0.002

0.0025

0.003

Hallway A Auditorium Faculty Dining

ug

/m3

3/31/2007

4/18/2007

EPA Action Level = 0.05 ug/m3

Historical KMS Indoor AirTotal PCB Results (mean)

0.0013

0.0005 0.0005

0.0016

0.0000

0.0005

0.0010

0.0015

0.0020

0.0025

Hallway A Auditorium FacultyDining

Background(Flag Pole)

ug

/m3

MEAN

EPA Action Level = 0.05 ug/m3

KMS Indoor Air PCB ResultsCompared to EPA Action Level

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

Hallway A Auditorium Faculty Dining Background(Flag Pole)

ug

/m3

7/20/2006

8/5/2006

8/19/2006

9/15/2006

10/6/2007

12/1/2006

12/29/2006

1/20/2007

2/21/2007

3/31/2007

4/18/2007

EPA Action Level

= Vent Riser

= Passive Venting and Collection System

Foundation Vent Stack Foundation Vent Stack Sampling LocationsSampling LocationsN

Hathaway Boulevard

Building A Building B

Gymnasium

Cafeteria Kitchen

AuditoriumFaculty Dining

VS-15

VS-1

VS-4

VS-3

VS-2

VS-16

VS-6

VS-7

VS-5

VS-10

VS-8

VS-9

VS-14

VS-11

VS-13

VS-12Background

Historical Total PCB Results From Vent Stacks

0.02

0.0007

0.017 0.016

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

VS-4 VS-11 VS-13 Background(Flag Pole)

Vent Stack ID

ug

/m3

9/15/2006

12/1/2006

3/31/2007

Mean

EPA Action Level

VOC Measurements VOC Measurements Summary of FindingsSummary of Findings

VOCs Present in Vents ConsistentlyVOCs Present in Vents Consistently

VOCs in Vents Decreasing in VOCs in Vents Decreasing in Concentration Over TimeConcentration Over Time

VOCs Keith MS Indoor Air at VOCs Keith MS Indoor Air at Background Concentrations or Background Concentrations or Attributable to Maintenance Attributable to Maintenance ActivitiesActivities

Historical Results Building A Hallway

0

10

20

30

40

50

60Jul-06

Aug-0

6

Sep-0

6

Oct-

06

Nov-0

6

Dec-0

6

Jan-0

7

Feb-0

7

Mar-

07

ug

/m3

2-butanone

THF

toluene

m/p-xylene

Historical Results Auditorium (B)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200Ju

l-06

Aug

-06

Sep

-06

Oct

-06

Nov

-06

Dec

-06

Jan-

07

Feb

-07

Mar

-07

ug

/m3

2-butanone

THF

toluene

m/p-xylene

Historical Results Faculty Dining (C)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140Ju

l-06

Aug

-06

Sep

-06

Oct

-06

Nov

-06

Dec

-06

Jan-

07

Feb

-07

Mar

-07

ug

/m3

2-butanone

THF

toluene

m/p-xylene

Historical Vent Stack (VS-1) Results

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Jul-0

6

Aug

-06

Sep

-06

Oct

-06

Nov

-06

Dec

-06

Jan-

07

Feb

-07

Mar

-07

ug

/m3

2-butanone

THF

toluene

xlyene

Historical Vent Stack (VS-4) Results

0

50

100

150

200

250Ju

l-06

Aug

-06

Sep

-06

Oct

-06

Nov

-06

Dec

-06

Jan-

07

Feb

-07

Mar

-07

ug

/m3

2-butanone

THF

toluene

xlyene

Slope Failure StatusSlope Failure Status

Slope failed April 5, Slope failed April 5, 2007.2007.

Temporary repair Temporary repair completed.completed.

Design change for final Design change for final repair being reviewed.repair being reviewed.

No impacted soil No impacted soil exposed.exposed.

Greg Mischel, P.E.Greg Mischel, P.E.

B.S. Geology 1986, M.S. Geotechnical B.S. Geology 1986, M.S. Geotechnical Engineering 1998Engineering 1998

20 years in business, 10 as engineer 20 years in business, 10 as engineer with TRCwith TRC

Seven Superfund LandfillsSeven Superfund Landfills

Designed four cleanups involving capsDesigned four cleanups involving caps

What HappenedWhat Happened

Shallow slump in Shallow slump in topsoil.topsoil.

Clean granular fill Clean granular fill exposed.exposed.

No impacted soil No impacted soil exposed.exposed.

Excess water likely Excess water likely cause.cause.

Temporary RepairTemporary Repair

Divert storm Divert storm water flow and water flow and prevent erosion.prevent erosion.

Hay bales and silt Hay bales and silt fence.fence.

Geotextile fabric.Geotextile fabric.

Proposed Final RepairProposed Final Repair

Remove excess topsoil and line with Remove excess topsoil and line with geotextile.geotextile.

Replace slumped topsoil with riprap.Replace slumped topsoil with riprap.

Install seed and ECB to stabilize bare Install seed and ECB to stabilize bare soil.soil.

Subject to EPA approval.Subject to EPA approval.

Proposed Repair Proposed Repair DesignDesign

Cap InspectionCap Inspection

Completed 4/17/07.Completed 4/17/07.

Building floor in good shape.Building floor in good shape.

Single slope failure 4/5/07.Single slope failure 4/5/07.

Minor erosion on south slope.Minor erosion on south slope.

Cap inspection report being finalized.Cap inspection report being finalized.

Exposure to PCBs and Exposure to PCBs and Home GardensHome Gardens

Donna J. Vorhees, Sc.D.Donna J. Vorhees, Sc.D.

Question: Is it safe for people to eat fruits and vegetables from home gardens in the New Bedford Area?

Answer: Generally speaking, yes

Basis for this answer: (1) Two studies in which tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes,

and carrots were sampled from New Bedford area farms and gardens and analyzed for PCBs

(2) Scientific literature describing how PCBs move through the environment

Caveat: Answer depends on how closely the two studies and literature reflect actual gardens and vegetable consumption patterns in the New Bedford area

Conclusions from two New Conclusions from two New Bedford area vegetable Bedford area vegetable studiesstudies

EPA studyEPA study – Human health risk from PCBs in tomatoes “well Human health risk from PCBs in tomatoes “well

within the EPA acceptable range.”within the EPA acceptable range.” Harvard studyHarvard study

– Tomato concentrations were lower than those Tomato concentrations were lower than those measured in the EPA studymeasured in the EPA study

– An adult would have to eat about 49 pounds of An adult would have to eat about 49 pounds of tomatoes with the maximum PCB tomatoes with the maximum PCB concentration detected in this study each year concentration detected in this study each year for 30 years to increase the risk of getting for 30 years to increase the risk of getting cancer by 1 in one millioncancer by 1 in one million

People who eat

fruits and vegetable

s from home

gardens

How do PCBs get into garden produce?

Below ground crops

Unprotected above-ground crops

Protected above-ground crops

Soil with PCBs

Air

Distant PCB Sources

How can you reduce exposure How can you reduce exposure to PCBs in food from your to PCBs in food from your garden?garden?

Wash off soil particles with water or Wash off soil particles with water or very mild soap solutionvery mild soap solution

Peel vegetablesPeel vegetables

Keith Middle School/Keith Middle School/

New Bedford High SchoolNew Bedford High School

May 3, 2007 Public May 3, 2007 Public Information Plan (PIP) MeetingInformation Plan (PIP) Meeting

Thank you for coming!Thank you for coming!

Questions are welcome!Questions are welcome!