Vermont Business Magazine USEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) and theVermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC)are beginning an environmental investigation to determine the presence and extent of underground chemical vapors in an area along Elmwood Avenue in Burlington, including near the local elementary school. The joint EPA and VT DEC effort is being performed in coordination with the Vermont Department of Health, City of Burlington and the Burlington School District.
In July, the VT DEC received information documenting the presence of chemicals in the soil gas along Elmwood Avenue in Burlington. The information shared by VT DEC indicates that soil gas concentrations of perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) from sampling suggest that these contaminants may also be present in indoor air in the surrounding buildings. On July 19, 2018, VT DEC requested EPA assistance conducting a preliminary assessment to further define the environmental conditions and then determine if they warrant performance of a removal action under EPA’s authority.
The Burlington School District (BSD) released the following statement on August 8, 2018, regarding EPA testing at the Integrated Arts Academy:
“Today we have received many phone calls regarding the testing that the EPA is conducting inside of our school, the Integrated Arts Academy, as well as in other homes and businesses in Burlington’s Old North End.
"The EPA recently contacted BSD following their discovery of contaminants at a property in the neighborhood of our school. The school’s proximity to the property and believed contaminant source prompted the EPA to inquire about testing. We have cooperated thoroughly with the EPA, and they began testing on Tuesday and expect to finish tomorrow, Thursday, August 9.
"At this time, we view this testing to be a proactive measure. We have been told that we can expect to receive the results before school starts and our team is prepared for any scenario the EPA may present.
"We want to reiterate that there is no cause for alarm, Integrated Arts Academy was not the source of this contaminant, and that we have been cooperating to make sure this testing is done in a timely manner. We will update our community as more information becomes available.”
EPA and their contractors began preliminary assessment work on Monday, August 6. Work began at the Integrated Arts Academy elementary school located at6 Archibald Street, and at a residence located near the northern end of Elmwood Avenue. At these locations, EPA and their contractors will conduct indoor air sampling and soil gas sampling. EPA will also install sub-slab wells (via small holes drilled through the basement or slab floor) within previously identified buildings, including at a business located on Elmwood Avenue. Additionally, soil gas samples will be collected in outside areas around the neighborhood, including from roadway areas along Elmwood Avenue, Spring Street, Lafountain Street, and in sections of Intervale Avenue, Archibald Street, and Walnut Street.
During these sampling activities, EPA will coordinate with local authorities to make sure samples are obtained safely and with minimal disruption to local traffic.
Over the month of August, EPA will conduct air and soil-vapor sampling to see whether vapors are seeping into indoor air, and will be preparing an informational update and establishing a webpage to provide further information to residents and businesses.
More information about the chemicals:
PCE and TCE are often associated with dry cleaning and degreasing solvents. PCE and TCE are part of a group of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can transfer from groundwater into a gas and move through the tiny open spaces between soil particles. Soil gas can enter structures through a basement or crawl space, walls or floors, particularly when holes or cracks are present. Once in a structure, the colorless and often odorless gas, may collect in the basement or move to upper levels. The movement of VOCs from groundwater into a structure is referred to as vapor intrusion.
Source:(BOSTON August 7, 2018)— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency