Remediation Investigations/Feasibility Study and Record of Decision

Groundwater Contamination at Reich Farm

Remediation investigations and feasibility studies were undertaken in 1986 and 1987.  The investigations were done by the Environmental Protection Agency, beginning in May and June of 1986 and completing in April of 1988 (EPA 1988).  Migratory pathways were identified that suggested contaminants could move from the soil to the air and from the soil to the water, although soil to air pathways were found in the PHE to be of no risk to human health due to low levels of volatile organics in surface soils (EPA 1988).  Soil contaminants were deemed unlikely to migrate to surface water but the PHE indicated that it could potentially migrate to groundwater, although a thorough analysis wasn’t done because the semi-volatile showing the highest levels in soil samples was already present in the groundwater in the area

(This lack of analysis would eventually lead to the groundwater being declared safe when it in fact wasn’t.)

Based off the RI/FS, six remedial alternatives were considered for treatment of the soil and four were considered for the groundwater (EPA 1988).  “No remedial action” was suggested for both the contaminated medias but was dismissed as a viable solution, despite the low costs when compared with other remedial actions.  For the soil, placement of a cap upon the soil was considered as well as an idea of transporting the contaminated soils to incinerators at off-site locations (EPA 1988).  Ultimately the EPA determined that “enhanced volatilization” would be the best method for this site, which is a process in which soil is placed in a thermal dryer and then injected with hot air (EPA 1988) (UCC 2003).  The hot air forces organic compounds to volatize, after which they can be combusted (EPA 1988).  Groundwater alternatives included processes such as air stripping, carbon absorption, and granular activated carbon absorptions (EPA 1988).  Air stripping, like the enhanced volatilization used for treating soils, utilizes hot air injections to create “off gases” of volatiles that can be removed from the groundwater by pumping (EPA 1988).