was occupied by Powdered Metal Products (PMP) between 1980 and 1995, has been determined by the EPA to contain a trichloroethene (TCE) dip-vat, which the company used as part of its manufacturing process. It is one of six hazardous waste sites to be proposed for addition to the EPA's National Priorities List.
The levels of trichloroethene (TCE) dip-vat found in water samples exceeded the federal Safe Drinking Water Act's maximum contaminant level.
"Those affected were taken off wells and put on water from the city of Aberdeen to ensure that the area was protective of human health," said Dawn Harris-Young, a spokeswoman for the EPA. "No one has access to that ground water at this time."
The EPA's Web site, www.epa. gov/superfund/sites/npl/current .htm, reports that the town has taken the two wells offline, but is now currently blending water from these wells with water from other wells to reduce the TCE levels to below maximum contaminant levels of five parts per billion.
Aberdeen Town Manager Bill Zell and Public Works Director Ricky Monroe have both said that this claim is inaccurate, as is the claim that those in the area have been taken off that water.
"This story has gotten out and been twisted three or four different ways," Zell said. "Right now we are following exactly what the Department of Natural Resources has directed."
The town has been instructed for several years to monitor TCE levels quarterly. Readings go back to 1998.
"After we started showing traces of TCE, the North Carolina EPA was notified to look into it and help us find where the problem was coming from," Monroe said. "Here it is eight or nine years later. Our last quarterly analysis was on Jan. 8, 2008."
He said the results were less than "half of the allowable limit."
Trichloroethene, also known as Triclene and Vitran, is now mainly used as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts. It can also be found in some household products, including typewriter correction fluid, paint removers, adhesives, and spot removers.
During the investigation of ground water at the Geigy Chemical Corp. site in 1990, TCE, lead and pesticide contamination was found in several private wells along Crestline Lane and N.C. 211. That site is located across the highway from PMP. Investigations have identified contaminated soils in the vicinity of the former precision machine parts manufacturing business.
With all Superfund sites, the EPA tries to locate the parties potentially responsible for the contamination. Through its enforcement program, about 70 percent of Superfund cleanups have been performed by the parties responsible for site contamination. If PMP cannot be located to pay for the cleanup itself, the work will be funded by the federal Superfund, Harris-Young said. The fund was created to pay for cleaning up hazardous waste sites around the country.
A determination as to the site's designation as a Superfund site could be made as early as September.
"It will depend on the findings of the potentially responsible party, whether there are any issues with them, issues with the state, and any other problems that may pop up," Harris-Young said.
Once a site is put on the National Priorities List, it's because a long-term clean up is expected. A time frame for cleanup will depend on initial remedial and feasibility studies, Harris-Young said.
There were five pesticide dump sites within two-miles of each other in Aberdeen, affecting ground water, soil and surface water. They were known as the Farm Chemicals area, Twin Sites, Faiway Six, MicIver Dump Area and Route 211 Area. Physical cleanup was completed in March 1989.
Mary Griffin can be reached via e-mail at mgriffin@thepilot .com.
