tucson water quality voc case history - sahraweb.sahra.arizona.edu/education2/azwater/docs/...water...

Tucson Water Quality VOC case history

Arizona Water Issues © 2010 - The University of Arizona – HWR203 1

Imagine you found out that your new house th it f t li l kwas the site of a recent gas line leak

• What questions might you have?

• Where would you go to find information?

• How would you assess your family’s health risks?


Sources of information


Gasoline Health Risks - ToxFAQ’s

• At high levels, automotive gasoline is irritating to the lungs h h li i if ll dor to the stomach lining, if swallowed.

• Exposure to high levels may also cause harmful effects to the nervous system.the nervous system.

• Gasoline is also a skin irritant.• There is not enough info available to determine if gasoline

causes birth defects or affects reproduction


KM Pipeline Contamination Clean-up UpdateAccording to the latest figures released by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, more than 35,000 gallons of gasoline were released during the pipeline rupture on July 30, 2003. The gasoline at the surface was removed immediately. The remainder has percolated down through the soil, and some has reached the groundwater beneath the spill site.Kinder Morgan has completed the drilling of 25 small groundwater monitoring and/or clean-up wellsin the vicinity of the gasoline spill. The wells are used to monitor the extent of the groundwater contamination in the area and to extract any gasoline products found in the groundwater or the soil beneath the spill site. These wells have helped determine the size of the area where groundwater contamination has occurred. (Note: These wells are not, and will never be, part of our drinking water system.)Since the start of groundwater contamination clean-up, more than 25,000 gallons of gasoline products have been removed from the groundwater in the area. As of the end of April 2004, the closest City of Tucson water monitoring well (WR-070A) continues to test free of any gasoline contamination.Kinder Morgan has installed two “vapor-extraction” wells that are designed to remove gasoline products from the soil beneath the spill site. Because gasoline products evaporate easily, some of the vapors are trapped in the soil between the land surface and the top of the groundwater table. Vapor extraction removes these contaminants by “vacuuming” them from the soil and containing them for later disposal. This process is commonly used to remove contamination from soil and has a good

Arizona Water Issues © 2010 - The University of Arizona – HWR203

record of success.Tucson Water KM Pipeline website, Aug 25, 2004

6

Mayor’s Kinder Morgan Pipeline Task Force

Mission StatementThis citizen's taskforce is charged with theThis citizen s taskforce is charged with the responsibility to:• Monitor the installation of the new twelve inch pipeline to ensure safe construction activities,• Monitor the replacement of desert vegetation confirming that the result meets

Cor surpasses City ordinance,• Explore all options that would allow the pipeline to be moved out of residential areasareas,• Working with the Mayor, keep the community informed regarding all issues listed above


listed above.http://www.tucsonpipeline.org/

7

Hazardous Dumps & Plumes

Arizona Water Issues © 2010 - The University of Arizona – HWR203www.ag.arizona.edu/AZWATER/publications/sustainability

9

Silverbell Jail Annex Landfill Site

• Active 1966-1977• Detected 1985• Remediation 2000-2002

1843 lbs VOC/649 PCE– 1843 lbs VOC/649 PCE

• SVE

Arizona Water Issues © 2010 - The University of Arizona – HWR203/www.cityoftucson.org/ets/Groundwater 10

TCE & PCE Health Risks• Most people begin to smell TCE in air at a

concentration of 100 ppmV (OSHA 8 hr lim)• Breathing small amounts may cause

• High concentrations of PCE (particularly in closed, poorly ventilated areas) can cause dizziness, headache, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, difficulty in speaking and walking, • Breathing small amounts may cause

headaches, lung irritation, dizziness, poor coordination, and difficulty concentrating.

• Breathing large amounts of TCE may cause impaired heart function, unconsciousness,

, y p g g,unconsciousness, and death.

• In industry, most workers are exposed to levels lower than those causing obvious nervous system effects. The health effects of p , ,

and death. Breathing it for long periods may cause nerve, kidney, and liver damage.

• Drinking large amounts of TCE may cause nausea, liver damage, unconsciousness,

breathing in air or drinking water with low levels of PCE are not known.

• Results of animal studies, show that PCE can cause liver and kidney damage. Exposure to

hi h l l f PCE b t i t llimpaired heart function, or death.• Drinking small amounts of TCE for long

periods may cause liver and kidney damage, impaired immune system function, and i i d f t l d l t i t

very high levels of PCE can be toxic to small unborn rodents and can cause behavioral changes in pups of mothers that breathed high levels of the chemical while pregnant.

• Skin irritation may result from repeated orimpaired fetal development in pregnant women, although the extent of some of these effects is not yet clear.

• TCE is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen ”

• Skin irritation may result from repeated or extended skin contact with it. These symptoms occur almost entirely … in groups that used PCE to get a "high."

• PCE is “reasonably anticipated to be a human


carcinogen. y pcarcinogen.”

11

What is the role of the press?


Arizona Daily Star• Testing of soil to begin Monday

October 3, 2004 •• 769 words CORRECTION RAN OCTOBER 4, 2004 A2 The names of the subdivisions where low levels of PCE and TCE have been found are f f fSilver Creek I and II. The names were wrong Sunday in a story on B1. ///// No health threat, official tells West Side residents ///// Testing to determine the extent of gaseous contaminants present in the soil of two West Side subdivisions will begin Monday, though state officials said the levels do not constitute a health threat.

• Pollutants found near pipeline break siteSeptember 25, 2004 •• 1107 wordsTCE, PCE in soil below houses not believed to be from rupture ///// Low levels of PCE and TCE have been found in the ground beneath the 400 homes in two West Side subdivisions

h li i li d l h ADEQ l d F id Thwhere a gasoline pipeline ruptured last year, the ADEQ revealed Friday. The contamination was discovered by Kinder Morgan workers during testing for the cleanup of the gas-line break near Grant and Silverbell roads, said David Esposito

• Pipeline safety remains a concern - July 31, 2004 •• 1079 words • Kinder Morgan faces $325K fine for upkeep issues - July 16, 2004 •• 855 wd• Pipeline owner still doesn't know how much gas got spilled in break

May 11, 2004 •• 438 words • Pipeline rupture woes grow - November 14 2003 •• 567 words


• Pipeline rupture woes grow - November 14, 2003 •• 567 words • Mayor seeks pipeline task force - October 28, 2003 •• 163 words

13

Tucson Citizen• Chemicals detected on W. Side strike fears

October 2, 2004 •• 1045 words •• By BRAD BRANANJ A L i l h h h b d d b h Sh hi k h i dJoeAnn Lanier lost her parents, her husband and a brother to cancer. She thinks they were poisoned by TCE (TCE), which contaminated South Side water for more than 30 years until the early 1980s, according to one government estimate. Officials took too long to respond to the tainted water, she said. "Imagine going home and your family is gone. That's what it's been like," said Lanier

W t Sid il t t b i M d• West Side soil tests begin MondayOctober 2, 2004 •• 563 words •• By TEYA VITUThe state will start taking soil samples Monday near the Silver Creek I and II subdivisions on the

West Side to see whether the ground is contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality could confirm March and July findings of low levels of the chemicals by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. The company tested in the North Silverbell-West Grant roads area to establish how far gasoline from its 2003 pipeline

• Gas spill revisited - Residents split on whether firm deserves fine July 16, 2004 •• 838 words •• By LARRY COPENHAVER

• OUR OPINIONJanuary 29, 2004 •• 722 words


Questions

• Who is responsible for this cleaning this up?Ki d M– Kinder Morgan

– City, ADEQ, Tucson Water

• What role should local papers play in this drama?

• What information should be made available to the public?What information should be made available to the public?

• What are the relative dangers poised by the gasoline and h C / C ?the TCE/PCE?

• How likely are we to clean up this site?


How likely are we to clean up this site?

15

ADEQ to Conduct Soil Vapor Testing in Silver Creek Community in Tucson

PHOENIX (Sept. 24, 2004) -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Steve Owens announced today that ADEQ will conduct environmental testing of soil vapor within the Silver Creek I and II subdivisions in Tucson to assess the extent to which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may be present in the soil in the area. The sampling will begin on p ( ) y p p g gOctober 4 and will take approximately 10 working days to complete.

ADEQ decided to conduct this sampling after VOCs were found in soil vapor samples taken by Kinder Morgan over the summer. Soil vapors are the gaseous elements and compounds y g p g pthat fill the small spaces between soil particles. Owens said that ADEQ believes the soil vapors are unrelated to the Kinder Morgan pipeline rupture that occurred last year which contaminated soil and groundwater elsewhere in the area. "We are taking these samples to verify and expand upon the Kinder Morgan data so we can evaluate the extent to which VOCs may be present, determine the reason they may be there, and, if necessary, develop an appropriate cleanup plan," Owens said. Owens stressed that there is no immediate risk to the residents in the area and that the sampling is being conducted simply as a precaution at this time.

ADEQ will hold an informational meeting about the planned soil vapor testing on Saturday, October 2, at the El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 W. Speedway Blvd. in Tucson from


, g , p y10:30 a.m. to noon. The public is invited.

http://www.azdeq.gov/function/news/2004/sept.html#092416

ADEQ to Conduct Soil Vapor Testing in Silver Creek Community in Tucson

TO: The Residents of the Silver Creek I and II Subdivisions, Tucson, ArizonaRE: Environmental Testing Planned by ADEQ in the NeighborhoodDear Resident:The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) plans to conduct environmental testing of soil p Q y ( Q) p gvapor within the Silver Creek I and II subdivisions. During October 2004, ADEQ will undertake this shallow soil vapor assessment to confirm and expand upon findings of soil vapor sampling performed by Kinder Morgan in March and July 2004.

Why Is ADEQ Testing Soil Vapors In the Silver Creek Subdivisions?Why Is ADEQ Testing Soil Vapors In the Silver Creek Subdivisions?During site characterization studies of the gasoline spill, Kinder Morgan identified the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the soil vapors. Soil vapors are the gaseous elements and compounds that fill the small spaces between soil particles. VOCs were detected five feet below ground surface and also found through the sampling of groundwater monitor wells at approximately 130-145 feet below ground surface. ADEQ believes that the soil vapors are unrelated to the pipeline rupture, but these compounds are of concern to ADEQ. ADEQ’s investigation will better define the extent of the VOC detections and will help provide the basis for a cleanup plan, if it is determined that the vapors pose a health risk.

What Can the Neighborhood Expect During Testing?What Can the Neighborhood Expect During Testing?The soil vapor testing should not produce significant noise or dust, and will take place on rights-of-way, not on residential property. The sampling equipment will be removed as soon as testing is completed. Any areas of pavement or walkways disturbed by this work will be repaired. Utilities will not be interrupted during the soil testing. There may be some disruption to street traffic or parking. Barricades and signs will be present to guide

id t I d f d ti li ADEQ l t h ld i f ti l ti S t d


residents. In advance of conducting sampling, ADEQ plans to hold an informational meeting Saturday, October 2 to answer questions about the planned soil vapor testing. The meeting will be held at the El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 W. Speedway Blvd. in Tucson from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. The public is invited.

http://www.azdeq.gov/function/about/download/silverletter.pdf 17

Kinder Morgan Pipeline Release Update - 9/27/04

BackgroundOn July 30, 2003, Kinder Morgan’s 8-inch pipeline from Tucson to Phoenix ruptured, releasing what is currently estimated to be nearly 48,000 gallons of fuel in the Tucson area. The release point was located west of Interstate 10, north of Grant Road and east of Silvercroft Wash. Thepoint was located west of Interstate 10, north of Grant Road and east of Silvercroft Wash. The fuel was released into and around the Silvercroft Wash, and the pressure in the pipe when it ruptured led to five adjacent home sites getting sprayed by fuel.ADEQ issued two Notices of Violation to Kinder Morgan (on Sept. 11, 2003 and Nov. 13, 2003) for violations of environmental laws. Although groundwater in the area is contaminated, nofor violations of environmental laws. Although groundwater in the area is contaminated, no drinking water supply wells have been impacted. ADEQ continues to monitor cleanup activities at the site and will ensure that all steps are taken to ensure that public health is protected.Cleanup Activities (as of September 27, 2004)C e up c v es ( s o Sep e be 7, 00 )1. Homes sprayed with gasoline were condemned and were torn down.2. More than 4,100 cubic yards of contaminated soil were removed from the affected subdivision and from Silvercroft Wash.3. Kinder Morgan currently has 26 groundwater monitoring wells installed. Eleven of these g y g gwells are being used to pump fuel out of the groundwater.4. As of September 16, 2004, approximately 47,916 gallons of fuel have been recovered.5. Kinder Morgan is working with the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) to get the necessary air quality permit to install and operate a Soil Vapor Extraction


( Q) g y q y p p p(SVE) system which will pull additional fuels out of soils further below the surface. The permit application should be submitted to PDEQ in September 2004.

http://www.azdeq.gov/download/kinder.pdf 18

Kinder Morgan pipeline break & clean-up

• 7/30/03 – Break, “10,000 gal”• 1/28/04 ADEQ asks for more drilling “19 000 gal”• 1/28/04 – ADEQ asks for more drilling, 19,000 gal

– Kinder Morgan fined $25,000, drills 18 monitoring wells– 7,700 gal recovered, contamination covers 300 ft x 350 ft (2.4ac)– Monitoring wells show gas floating 3’ above GW at 140’ depthMonitoring wells show gas floating 3 above GW at 140 depth– Other reports cite contamination as little as 5’, as deep as 140’

• 8/25/04 – KM plans two Soil Vapor Extraction systems– Drill 7 more monitoring wells, “35,000 gal”, 25 kgal recoveredg , , g , g

• 9/25/04 – Pollutants (PCE & TCE) found near break site– Area covers 200 acres; spill now thought to be “48,000 gal”– Residents get notice from ADEQ and invitation to public meeting– Gaseous VOC’s: PCE @ 5 ppmV; TCE @ .07 ppmV– MCL’s (liquid): PCE & TCE @ .005 mg/L (5 ppb)– Grijalva & Ibara have pushed public disclosure


JPL Superfund Site Evaluation

• Mixed VOC contamination, mainly TCEmainly TCE

• 17 ug/L to 8.2 ug/L (vapor phase)

• Rate = 300 cfm; ~ .27 lbs/day @ 0.5-3.2 ppmV

• 6 mo net 11 35 lbs VOC; 5 2• 6 mo net = 11.35 lbs VOC; 5.2 lbs TCE; 0.5 lbs PCE

• Radius of Influence = 450 ft• Process 99% destructive


Tucson International Airport Site• 1950’s AFP44/Hughes/Raytheon

– TCE (degreaser), Cr/Cd/Cy – Foul chemical odor reportedFoul chemical odor reported– Storm RO flows onto SanX res.

• 1976 holding ponds lined• 1981 TW shuts down 11 wells• 1982 EPA lists as Superfund site

– TCE listed as probable HC, 5 ppb– PCE listed as possible HC; 1989

Cr listed as human carcinogen 100 ppb– Cr listed as human carcinogen, 100 ppb• 1984 Class-action lawsuit, 1600 plaintiffs

– $130 M settlement; $23M payout 10/04• Clean-up

– GW: pump & treat, 25 klbs VOC, 2025– Soil/ponds, 100 ktons– Vadose: SVE, 100 klbs VOC, 2025

Arizona Water Issues © 2010 - The University of Arizona – HWR203http://yosemite.epa.gov/r9/sfund/overview.nsf/0/e0b741a467f5be0a8825660b007ee678

21

Phoenix TCE Pollution


Typical SVE System


tucson water quality voc case history - sahraweb.sahra.arizona.edu/education2/azwater/docs/...water...

Documents