Transcript www.tceq.com

West County Road 112
Groundwater Plume Site
Community Meeting
Midland County Horseshoe Event Center
Midland, Texas
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
28 May 2009
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How the TCEQ Became Involved
• March 30, 2009 – TCEQ Regional Office received a call
from a resident indicating that their water was green.
• April 9, 2009 - Received analytical results indicating the
water well was impacted with hexavalent chromium at
5,250 parts per billion (ppb) as compared to the
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 100 ppb set by
the EPA.
• April 14-15, 2009 – County Judge and Health Officials
were notified and letters were sent to the well owners
within a quarter-mile of the impacted well pursuant to
TWC 26.408 and 5.236
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What is Chromium
• Chromium is considered a naturally occurring element
found in rocks, animals, plants, and soil.
• Most common forms are chromium (0), chromium (III),
and chromium (VI).
– Chromium (VI) is also known as hexavalent chromium.
• Hexavalent chromium is released into the environment
from the manufacture, use, and disposal of chromiumbased products.
– chrome plating, dyes and pigments, leather tanning,
and wood preserving
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Health Effects of Cr+6
• Consuming water with Cr+6 (drinking and
cooking)
– Daily consumption of water for years with high levels
(>8,000 ppb) of Cr+6 can cause gastrointestinal
problems and may adversely affect the blood and
liver.
– Consult your doctor for a diagnosis
• Bathing in water with Cr+6
– Skin irritation
– Allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals
– It is possible to breathe in Cr+6 in steam while
showering, but it's unlikely to cause harm
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Health Effects of Cr+6
• Can Cr+6 Cause Cancer?
– Inhalation – occupational exposures to high
concentrations
– Drinking – increased risk of tumors at very high
concentrations
• In animals:
– 84,000 ppb increased incidence of small intestine tumors
– 206,000 ppb increased incidence of mouth tumors
• In humans:
– 20,000 ppb increased mortality rates for stomach and lung
cancer (confounding factors)
– Skin exposure – no information
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Health Effects of Cr+6
• Irrigation of fruits and vegetables
– Limited information available regarding uptake into
fruit and vegetables
– The only way to know the content is to test the fruit or
vegetable
• Effects on animals
– Animals may also experience effects from exposure
to Cr+6
– Veterinarians will be the best resource to determine
toxicity and/or treatment in animals
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Health Effects of Cr+6
• Current EPA MCL or drinking water standard for
chromium is 100 ppb
• Water is safe for household purposes with
respect to Cr+6 when a properly functioning filter
is installed and maintained
• How do I know if I have experienced health
effects from my exposure to Cr+6?
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TCEQ Actions
• As of May 20, 2009, the TCEQ has sampled 80 wells in an effort to
define the groundwater plume in order to protect human health and
the environment.
– Sampling data indicates that 32 wells have hexavalent chromium
levels above the MCL.
• TCEQ has installed anion exchange filtration systems on 31 of the 32
wells
– One of the wells is not currently plumbed to the house. When the
well is plumbed to the house, the TCEQ will install a filter on the well.
• TCEQ has screened area wells for Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs), Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs), and Total
Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH). No other contaminant plumes have
been identified.
– No other contaminants have been identified that would interfere
with the filtration systems.
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Site Map
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Next Steps - Initial Sampling
Schedule
• Continue on-going sampling of wells until the
groundwater plume has been defined
• Continue to sample wells with filters every two weeks to
monitor the filtration systems
• Sample wells outside of the currently established
groundwater plume once per month to monitor plume
movement
Note: The TCEQ may increase or decrease the sampling
frequency depending on the monitoring results.
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Next Steps – Formal Investigation
• Once the groundwater plume has been defined and
the TCEQ can ensure that human health is protected,
the formal investigation may begin.
– Identifying all potential sources of the contamination
and determining if any may be the cause of this
groundwater plume.
• At this time, a source has not been identified.
– More extensive soil and groundwater sampling that
may include installation of soil borings and monitor
wells.
• The TCEQ requires this additional data prior to
determining any clean up methods.
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Sources of Information
• Website:
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/remediation/sites/cr112.html
• Email Bulletin
– Notification of upcoming meetings, new information
about the program, and updates regarding the WCR
112 Groundwater Plume Site.
– Subscribe through the link on the website or via email
to [email protected]
• Community Mailing List
– Site updates will be mailed out through regular mail.
– Sign up by completing the sign-in sheet for this
meeting.
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Contact Information
Project Manager: Dani Sattman Soule
([email protected])
Community Liaison: Kelly Peavler ([email protected])
Toxicologist Lindsey Jones ([email protected])
Superfund Section Manager: Bob Patton, Jr.
([email protected])
Texas Superfund Hot Line and Community Relations phone
number: 1.800.633.9363
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