ATLANTA - On September 30, the E.P.A. (EPA) suggested a project to address contamination beneath the former plant at the CTS of Asheville Incorporated Superfund Site. The public is invited to review on the Suggested Plan. E.P.A. is extending the public review period, originally slated to end on Oct. 30, through Nov. 29, 2015.
The majority of the comments received to date encourage E.P.A. to expand the Suggested one-acre treatment area to include additional acreage to the north. Data shows elevated levels of trichloroethene (TCE) in groundwater north of the Suggested one-acre treatment area, near monitoring well clusters MW6 and MW7.
E.P.A. recently discussed the community's comments with representatives of CTS Corporation. As a result, CTS has requested a 30-day extension to the initial review period in order to prepare and submit an Addendum to the Focused Feasibility Study that will evaluate Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) and In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) for the expanded treatment area north near MW6/MW7.
ERH is a technology that heats the ground in order to vaporize contaminants. Contaminated vapor is then recovered using vents and treated above ground before being discharged to the air.
ISCO involves the injection of chemicals into the ground. The chemicals oxidize and break down the contaminants into harmless by-products like carbon dioxide and water. Vent wells and a system to recover and treat vapors are used.
The final, site-wide remedy will address residual contaminants in the subsurface, if any, that is not treated by this interim action, as well as TCE in the deep (bedrock) aquifer.
Written comments on the Suggested Project may be submitted through Nov. 29, either via e-mail to
[email protected] or mailed to: Craig Zeller, U.S. E.P.A. Region 4, Superfund Division - eleven
th Floor, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA.
Upon completion of the review period, E.P.A. will consider all public comments received and evaluate the 2 additional remediation strategies developed for the expanded treatment area. E.P.A. will consult with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to select the final remedy for this interim cleanup action, anticipated in early 2016. EPA's Project will be documented in a Record of Decision document, which will also contain a detailed response to public comments.
The Suggested Project is accessible for review online at:
http://semspub.epa.gov/src/collection/04/AR63944
More information about the CTS Site:
http://www.epa.gov/region4/superfund/sites/npl/northcarolina/millsgapnc.html
Connect with E.P.A. Region four on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/eparegion4
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast
