NIBW Update: another likely carcinogen in Scottsdale's drinking water

This is going to be a Scottsdale-focused non-political post, but since I live in the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund (NIBW) site, it kind of grabbed my attention.  So I'm exercising a little blogger's privilege here... :)

Earlier today, the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator for the NIBW sent out an email to the members of the Community Involvement Group of the NIBW. 

From that email (their emphasis) -

We are issuing this update as part of EPA’s regular practice to keep the community informed of EPA’s ongoing oversight of the North Indian Bend Wash (NIBW) Superfund Site remedy.  This update addresses the recent finding of low levels of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater within the NIBW Superfund site.  Although 1,4-dioxane is detected in groundwater, tap water remains safe to drink.

{snip}

The City’s data indicates 1,4-dioxane was detected within the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund site.  In all previous sampling, 1,4-dioxane had not been detected or was detected below health-based screening levels in effect at the time of sampling. 

At the NIBW site, air stripping and liquid phase granular activated carbon treatment are used to treat trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), which are the NIBW primary chemicals of concern.  These systems do not effectively remove 1,4-dioxane.

Because health-based screening levels have changed and the treatment systems in place at NIBW are not effective at removing 1,4-dioxane, EPA asked the City to remove one well from its groundwater pumping system while EPA, ADEQ, the City, and NIBW Participating Companies evaluate the data. 

{snip}

As noted above, at EPA’s request the City of Scottsdale has stopped extracting water from well 75A, pending further investigation.  At this time, the suspension of pumping from this well can be sustained without jeopardizing the continuing success of the NIBW Site remedy.

In addition to the samples collected in January 2015, groundwater samples will be collected throughout the NIBW Superfund site to determine if 1,4-dioxane is detected other than in the area of well 75A, and, if so, at what depths and concentrations.

When the additional sample results are available, EPA toxicologists will review all of the data and provide recommendations for appropriate next steps.

  

EPA will provide updates to the CIG as new NIBW information and data are available.  In the meantime, please feel free to contact us if there are questions.

Background on 1,4-dioxane - 

EPA information here.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (part of the US Department of Health and Human Services) info here.

FDA info here.

California State Water Resources Control Board info here.

Summary:  It's toxic, and it may cause cancer.  While the assurances regarding the level of dioxane contamination seem genuine, the fact that current remediation efforts in the NIBW are ineffective in regard to it is worrisome.  This is a situation worth keeping an eye on.


Background on the NIBW -

The history of the site began with the discovery of groundwater and soil contamination in 1981, mostly of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) attributed to the disposal of industrial waste. 

The entire site covers approximately 13 square miles of Tempe and South Scottsdale, with Pima/Price Road serving as the eastern border, Scottsdale/Rural Road as the western border, Apache Boulevard as the southern border, and Chaparral Road as the northern border.  The NIBW/SIBW split occurs at the Salt River, north of Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.

EPA's North Indian Bend Wash Superfund (NIBW) site info page

City of Scottsdale's NIBW page

A National Academies of Science report on the human health risks of TCE here (there are a *lot* of reports on this; just type "TCE" into any search engine)

NIBW event: New treatment facility open house

A note from the new Community Involvement Coordinator for the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Area (that's basically all of south Scottsdale):

Indian Bend Wash Community Involvement Group –

 

We are pleased to invite you to an Open House and tour of the new NIBW Granular Activated Carbon Treatment Facility (NGTF), a new groundwater treatment facility for the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund site.  As many of you may recall, the NGFT is the long term remedy for well PCX-1.  It is located directly adjacent to the NIBW Miller Road Treatment Facility.   Event details are below and we hope you can join us on March 13th. 

           

Carlin D. Hafiz
Community Involvement Coordinator
Southern California Field Office
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
P: (213)-244-1814  F: (213)-244-1850
hafiz.carlin@epa.gov

NIBW details and history here.

Reminder: North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Area CIG meeting tonight

Just a quick reminder -

Tonight, Wednesday December 7, 2011, the Community Involvement Group (CIG) of the North Indian Bend Wash (NIBW) Superfund Area will meet.

Details:

Time - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Place - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (Stage 2, Main Floor), 7380 E. Second Street

Agenda:

Results of Indian Bend Wash Five-Year Review

Overview of NIBW Groundwater Data

Well PCX-1 Long-Term Measures Schedule & Implementation

Questions & Answers

Later...

Tempe firm among three Arizona companies fined by EPA for hazardous waste violations

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that three Phoenix-area companies have been fined a total of $131,000 for various violations related to the handling and disposal of hazardous waste products.

“We impose strict environmental controls to make sure hazardous waste is properly handled,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.

Acme Aerospace, located in Tempe, was fined $31K.  It is a subsidiary of North Carolina-based Acme Electric, which is in turn a subsidiary of Key Components, Inc. of Tarrytown, NY (no website available, but some info here from the State of New York).

The other companies fined by the EPA:

AZZ Galvanizing Services of Goodyear - $79,700

Hexcel Corporation of Casa Grande - $20,000


While one can make a strong argument for Goodyear being considered a "Phoenix area" location, most Arizonans wouldn't consider Casa Grande to be part of the Phoenix metro area.

Especially residents of Casa Grande.  :)


Related info:

Acme Aerospace, while in Tempe, is located outside of area of the South Indian Bend Wash NPL (National Priorities List) site in Tempe (ADEQ map here; informational overview here).

Arizona-located NPL sites are here and here.


Note:  I live in the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Area (NIBW), hence the reason that the Tempe location of one of the companies caught my eye. :)

Later...

North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Area: Community Involvement Group Meeting

The Community Involvement Group (CIG) for the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site (NIBW) will hold a meeting next week in Scottsdale to discuss ongoing cleanup activities related to the groundwater contamination in the NIBW (roughly, the borders are the Salt River on the south, Chaparral Road on the north, Pima Road on the east, and Scottsdale Road on the west).

Participants will include representatives of the EPA, ADEQ, City of Scottsdale, SRP, Arizona American Water, the "participating" companies (aka - the companies responsible for the contamination and its clean up) and concerned members of the community.

Meeting details:

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (Stage 2 – Main Floor)

7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale
 
Agenda: 
 
Indian Bend Wash Five-Year Review Status

Overview of NIBW Groundwater Data
Miller Road Treatment Facility Long-Term Measures Workplan & Schedule
Questions & Answers
 
For more information contact

Vicki Rosen, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator
(415) 972-3244 or rosen.vicki@epa.gov

Or

Felicia Calderon, ADEQ Community Involvement Coordinator
(602) 771-4167 or calderon.felicia@adeq.gov

 
Background on the NIBW can be found here and here.
 
Later!
 

North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site Update: Community Meeting In February

Just received an email from Vicki Rosen, the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator for the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site (NIBW) -

Hello everyone and Happy Holidays!


We've got our next CIG meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 9, 2011. It will be held at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts--Stage 2 on the Main Floor. The Center is located at 7380 E. Second Street. The meeting will start at 5:30 pm and last until about 7:30.

Specific agenda items will be sent out in advance as we get closer to the meeting date. I will also send out a printed flyer on the meeting by mail to our site mailing list.

Looking forward to seeing everyone. Have a wonderful holiday and a very Happy New Year.

Vicki

As we get closer to February 9, more info on the meeting will be posted, but until then, background and history of the NIBW can be found here.

Public comment submitted to the Scottsdale City Council on Arizona American Water agenda item

The following comment was submitted to the Scottsdale City Council regarding item number 22 of Tuesday's agenda, consideration of options regarding the operations and facilities of Arizona American Water (see this earlier post for more info).

The comment -

Mayor Lane and members of the Council,


By now, you are familiar with the history behind item 22 of this week's agenda - the discovery of contaminated groundwater in south Scottsdale, the clean up efforts, and particularly, the failures of Arizona American Water (AAW) to perform its duties in this regard.

Failures that exposed thousands of Scottsdale residents to contaminated drinking water.

On Tuesday, October 19, you will be considering two possible options for dealing with those failures.

One option is to engage in a "Treat and Transport" agreement with Arizona American Water. The City would handle the "treatment" (cleanup) of AAW water before forwarding it to AAW's system so that AAW could then deliver it to their customers.

The second option would be to acquire AAW's assets in the affected area through a condemnation proceeding and to bring those customers into the municipal water delivery system.

The report from City Staff cites low short-term costs and resource consumption as advantages of the "Treat and Transport" option while citing the opposite as among the disadvantages of the "condemnation" option.

City Staff favors the "Treat and Transport" approach (http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2010/10/15/20101015sr-azwater1016.html), however, I am urging you to give serious consideration to acquiring AAW's Scottsdale assets through condemnation.

To be certain, condemnation of private property is a serious issue and not something to be undertaken on a whim or lark. However, in this case it is wholly appropriate.

With its failures, AAW's operation has become a public health risk, one that merits the removal of AAW from Scottsdale (at a fair price, of course.)

The draft agreement included in the Council Report on this item does include insurance provisions, but those provisions do not cover liability incurred for failure to properly treat contaminated water.

The very reason that this item is before you.

Either option would result in the City assuming that liability. However, the "Treat and Transport" option would cause the City to incur that risk while AAW would retain the profit from the City's efforts to clean the contaminated water.

Much like the federal bailout of Wall Street, that kind of socialization of risk and privatization of profit hurts the public interest far more than it helps it.

Inevitably, a number of lobbyists for AAW will decry any move to condemn AAW's Scottsdale operation as an inappropriate interference with the "free market" and an improper abrogation of "private property rights."

And if the issue at hand concerned a Brown Avenue retailer selling overpriced yet substandard trinkets to tourists, I would agree with them. While sales to tourists are important to Scottsdale's economy, they aren't a matter of life or death.

However, the matter at hand it water, something we all need to survive. "Substandard" isn't good enough.


Those lobbyists will be looking to safeguard AAW's short-term interests, and that is their job.

Your job is to look after the long-term interests of the residents of Scottsdale.


Thank your for your time.


Regards,

[cpmaz]

The above comment is sure to annoy certain people (such as regular reader Thane :) ), but while I would strongly oppose a move to take property from one private owner in order to transfer it to another, more politically-favored, private owner (see Kelo v. New London), this truly is a matter of the public good.

Scottsdale considering condemnation of AZAmWater assets within Scottsdale area

...and a astroturf "grassroots" private property rights group is mobilizing to stop it.

One of the items on Tuesday's agenda for the Scottsdale City Council has to do with "Arizona American Water Company Delivery Service Options." (warning: large .pdf.  It make take a while to download, even with a high speed connection)

Arizona American Water provides water service to a small portion of Scottsdale, but one that is the source of problems out of all proportion to its size. 

The affected area is part of the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site.  It covers a section of south Scottsdale where industrial concerns disposed of waste in a way that contaminated the groundwater in the area.

Arizona American Water (AAW) operates one of the facilities built to treat (clean) the contaminated water, the Miller Road Treatment Facility (MRTF).

AAW would treat contaminated water and then mix it with the drinking water that they sell to portions of Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

in 2007 and 2008, there were incidents at the MRTF that resulted in a significant quantity of un- and undertreated being pumped to residential customers in AAW's service area. (Info on the incidents here, here, here, and here.)

After the second incident, there was a lot of pressure on the Scottsdale City Council to look at acquiring the Scottsdale part of AAW's service area and to fold the customers into the City's water delivery system.

AAW and its parent company, American Waterworks (corporate headquarters in New Jersey), immediately objected and loudly proclaimed that the affected area wasn't for sale.

The Council at the time directed City sfaff to study the matter and to get back to them about it.

That's happening Tuesday, when City staff will present its report, evaluation, and recommendation that the Council choose one of two possible options.

1. Direct staff to bring forward a resolution authorizing a Treat and Transport Agreement with Arizona American Water Company “the Company” whereby the City will receive and treat the Company’s Central Arizona Project raw water allotment and deliver the finished water to the Company’s system at a metered Point of Delivery; OR

2. Direct staff to bring forward a resolution whereby the Council will authorize a condemnation proceeding to acquire all or a portion of Arizona American Water Company assets located within the Paradise Valley Water District and make appropriate findings of public use and necessity.

In the interim, an astroturf group (aka - a fake grassroots group) called the ORANGE Coalition (an acronym for "Organized Residents Against Needless Government Encroachment) was established, to fight all government uses of eminent domain and similar acquisitions of property.  The group was formed as a non-profit corporation, effectively shielding its financing from public scrutiny, with its "domestic address" listed with the AZ Corporation Commission as "1025 LAUREL OAK RD., VOORHEES, NJ 08043" (since updated to a mail drop in Scottsdale).

That address is significant because it is the address of American Waterworks' corporate headquarters.  And while the group's address has since been updated, one of the directors of the group, Daniel Kelleher, still lists his address as that of the corporate HQ.  Kelleher is a "retired" executive of American Waterworks who has been retained by the company to fight efforts by local governments to acquire any of its "problem" operations in order to protect the affected residents/customers.

More background on the ORANGE Coalition here and here.

The ORANGE Coalition has put out a few email blasts, exhorting members of the community to come to the defense of AAW and protect it from condemnation proceedings, all in the name of private property rights.

None of their email messages mention AAW's penchant for pumping poison into its customers' homes.

In addition to the efforts of AAW/ORANGE to fill the City Hall Kiva with supporters on Tuesday night, there has been a media push - the Arizona Republic published an unsigned editorial criticizing the "condemnation" option and praise the "treat and transport" option, while KTVK (Channel 3) will be running a report on a "government takeover" of private property in Scottsdale a day or so before the Council meeting (based on a promo during Friday's late newscast).  A more neutral (at least, a less obviously slanted) AZRep article on the matter is here.

Tuesday should be interesting in an "election year gymnastics" sort of way - Council members Wayne Ecton and Bob Littlefield are up for reelection in just a few weeks, and while they probably don't want to tick off their business community supporters by arguing and voting for condemnation, they also don't want to be seen as throwing thousands of Scottsdale residents under the corporate bus in the name of ever-greater profits.

Council member Ron McCullagh was/is one of AAW's customers and was the moving force behind consideration, and I expect that he will support the condemnation option.

Mayor Jim Lane will oppose condemnation, and Council member Lisa Borowsky will follow his lead, as will Council member Marg Nelssen.

That leaves Council member Suzanne Klapp, and I don't have a read on her on this matter.

Prediction time:  A 4-3 or 5-2 vote in favor of the "treat and transport" option - it's got that mix of being seen as "doing something" while "not being too rash." 

The perfect two-step for an election year.

Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site Five-Year Review Process starting

This week, I (and presumably, most of the other households in south Scottsdale and north Tempe) received a notice from the EPA announcing the start of a Five-Year Review (FYR) of the remediation efforts in the Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site.  For most purposes, that areas has been divided into the North Indian Bend Wash (NIBW) site and the South Indian Bend Wash Site (SIBW).

A .pdf version of the FYR announcement is here.

The history of the site began with the discovery of groundwater and soil contamination in 1981, mostly of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) attributed to the disposal of industrial waste.  (more info available at the EPA's pages on the site, linked above).

The entire site covers approximately 13 square miles of Tempe and South Scottsdale, with Pima/Price Road serving as the eastern border, Scottsdale/Rural Road as the western border, Apache Boulevard as the southern border, and Chaparral Road as the northern border.  The NIBW/SIBW split occurs at the Salt River, north of Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.

Anyway, the purpose of the FYR is to evaluate the effectiveness of the remediation efforts in the Indian Bend Wash site.  It is expected to be completed by September of next year (2011), and the EPA is looking for input from both people who have knowledge of the cleanup operations and members of the general public who have information and/or concerns regarding cleanup activities in the area.

If you are interested in participating in this process, contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator for the site, Vicki Rosen, at 415-972-3244 or toll-free at 1-800-231-3075.  Her email is Rosen.Vicki@epamail.epa.gov.

Another point of contact regarding this site (for those who are interested) is Felicia Calderon, State Community Involvement Coordinator, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. She can be reached at 602-771-4167 or calderon.felicia@azdeq.gov.

More information on both the NIBW and SIBW can be found locally at Tempe Public Library, 3500 South Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 (SIBW) and Scottsdale Public Library Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (NIBW).



Have a good weekend!

North Indian Bend Wash - Community Involvement Group meeting

From an email from Vicki Rosen, the EPA's community involvement coordinator for the NIBW -

Hi all,

Just a reminder that we'll meet on Wednesday, February 17, 5:30 pm at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (enter at 7380 Second St.). Our meeting room will be on the main floor, Stage 2.

Attached is the agenda which will also be going out by mail to our site mailing list.

Looking forward to seeing all of you.

Best,

Vicki

The agenda mentioned in the email -

NORTH INDIAN BEND WASH SUPERFUND SITE
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT GROUP
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
7380 E. SECOND ST.
STAGE 2 – MAIN FLOOR

AGENDA

1. Welcome and Introductions
Vicki Rosen, Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA

2. Recent Valve Incidents at Various Locations and Status of Miller Road Treatment Facility (MRTF) Workplan
Rachel Loftin, Project Manager, U.S. EPA

3. Water Sustainability in Scottsdale
Marshall Brown, Executive Director, Water Resources, City of Scottsdale

4. Update on MRTF Rehabilitation Program
Jim Lutton, Consultant to Participating Companies

5. Upcoming Five-Year Review
Rachel Loftin and Vicki Rosen

6. Questions & Answers

Because of my work schedule, I may not be able to attend this particular meeting. However, it should be well-attended because many of the residents of the NIBW are *very* interested in what is going on here.

More updates as they become available.

Further update - NIBW

Yeah, it's just a "copy and paste" post, but the info is important to the residents of South Scottsdale.

From an email from Rachel Loftin, a Project Manager with the EPA -

Dear NIBW Community Involvement Group -

I am sending this additional information as an update to last Friday's e-mail about a release of untreated water which occurred on Monday, November 23rd, from a drain pipe which is connected to the groundwater extraction and treatment system of the Central Groundwater Treatment Facility (CGTF).

Here's the additional information EPA has learned from the City of Scottsdale:

Again, and most importantly, we want to emphasize that this release did not impact the drinking water supplied by the Central Groundwater Treatment Facility (CGTF).

On Monday, November 23rd, a release of untreated water occurred when Well 75 was turned back on after being off for a couple of weeks while construction work was being conducted. The release was observed by operations staff within 10 minutes of turning Well 75 back on. There was not an alarm or electronic system notification, however CGTF personnel are always onsite during the start-up of the facility to handle any problems or emergency events. The well and CGTF were shut down within 10 minutes of the release.

The release originated at a drain pipe resulting in an overflow of between 500-900 gallons of water onto a grassy area in front of the south gate of the CGTF. The City cordoned off the spill area and collected a soil and groundwater sample. The soil results indicate non-detectable concentrations of TCE and PCE, and the groundwater results from the spill area are 9 micrograms per liter (ug/l) of TCE and 1 ug/l of PCE. These concentrations are quite low.

The data indicate that the public was not impacted by the release because of the short duration of the spill, low volume of water released, and the low detections of TCE and PCE in the spill area. The City returned the CGTF to service last Wednesday, November 25th, after repairs were made and the soil sample results were received.

The City found that 3 automatic valves which were supposed to be closed, were improperly wired and left in the open position. The staff then tried to close the drain pipe using the manual valves, but the manual valves would not shut properly. The personnel on-site shut down the well and the CGTF to stop the spill. As of last Monday (Nov. 23), the City fixed the automatic valve wiring and is in the process of replacing the manual valves.

The City responded promptly to:

- Shut off the well and CGTF to stop the spill;
- Cordon off the spill area in the park;
- Collect a water and soil sample at the spill location;
- Obtain expedited sampling results,
- Wire the automatic valves properly, and
- Replace the 2 manual valves that would not shut/seal properly. This work is in progress.

What Happens Next?

The City is compiling an incident report with photo documentation and recommendations for next steps which will be submitted to EPA by the end of this week. I will share this report with all of you when I receive it.

Vicki, ADEQ, and I will be contacting you in early January to being planning for the annual community meeting to be held early next year.

Please contact me at 415/972-3253 or by e-mail if you have any questions regarding this information. Enjoy the holiday season! I look forward to meeting you all in person early next year.

Best,

Rachel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel Loftin
Remedial Project Manager
U.S. EPA, Region 9
Superfund Division, SFD-6-2
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
E-mail: Loftin.Rachel@epa.gov
Phone: 415/972-3253
Fax: 415/947-3528

As more info becomes available, including the time and location of the next meeting of the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site Community Involvement Group, I'll post it here.

Later...

North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site update: small spill

From an email from Rachel Loftin, the EPA's Project Manager -

Dear NIBW Community Involvement Group -

I am sending this to let you know of a release of untreated water which occurred on Monday, November 23rd, from a drain pipe which is connected to the groundwater extraction and treatment system of the Central Groundwater Treatment Facility (CGTF).

Here's what EPA has learned from the City of Scottsdale:

First, and most importantly, we want you to know that the release did not impact the drinking water supplied by the Central Groundwater Treatment Facility (CGTF).

On Monday, November 23rd, a release of untreated water was noticed within 10 minutes of turning on well 75. The well and CGTF were shut down as quickly as possible. The release originated at a drain pipe. Between 500-1000 gallons of water was released resulting in an overflow into a retention basin at the adjacent park. The City cordoned off the spill area in the park and collected a soil and groundwater sample. Preliminary groundwater results are 9 micrograms per liter (ug/l) of TCE and 1 ug/l of PCE. These concentrations are quite low.

Because of the short duration of the spill, low volume of water released, and the low detections of TCE and PCE in the spill area, the preliminary data indicates that the public was not impacted by the release.


What happens next?

The City is gathering additional facts and sampling results, and will provide them to EPA early next week. In turn, I will provide the additional information to all of you early next week as well. The City is also developing an incident report with recommendations for next steps which I will pass on to all of you when I receive it.

Please contact me at 415/972-3253 or by e-mail if you should have any questions. In the meantime, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Best,

Rachel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel Loftin
Remedial Project Manager
U.S. EPA, Region 9 Superfund Division, SFD-6-2
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
E-mail: Loftin.Rachel@epa.gov
Phone: 415/972-3253
Fax: 415/947-3528

Because the email came through so late on a Friday, I won't be able to follow up on this until Monday at the earliest, and since I have stuff on my schedule already, perhaps not even then.

Anyway, have a good weekend...

NIBW Update - contaminated water release on September 23, 2009

From an email from Rachel Loftin, project manager for the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund area, to the NIBW Community Involvement Group -

Dear NIBW Community Involvement Group:

I am Rachel Loftin, the new EPA Project Manager for the Indian Bend Wash site, and I'd like to share information with you regarding a release that occurred yesterday, September 23, 2009, at Well PCX-1, a groundwater extraction well that pumps water to be treated at the Miller Road Treatment Facility (MRTF).

Here's what EPA has learned from the Salt River Project:

First, and most importantly, we want you to know that the spill did not impact the drinking water supplied by the Miller Road Treatment Facility.

Between approximately 6:00 am and 7:00 am yesterday (September 23, 2009), a release from Well PCX-1 occurred. The spill lasted a little over 40 minutes. The SRP reports that a valve at Well PCX-1 failed, leading to the spill of untreated water. It appears from photographs taken immediately after the incident, as well information from witnesses of the actual spill and the visual evidence regarding the slope of the surrounding terrain, that most of the spilled water flowed away from the canal and on to Miller Road. A small portion of the spill appears to have leaked into the Arizona Canal adjacent to the well. The spill contained up to 75 ug/l (micrograms per liter) of trichloroethelyene (TCE) and the volume of water spilled is estimated to be less than 20,000 gallons.

The Arizona Canal provides water to downstream water purveyors, including the cities of Tempe, Phoenix, Glendale, and Peoria. The closest downstream plant is the City of Tempe's Johnny G. Martinez Water Treatment Plant (JGMWTP), which is roughly 5 miles downstream. The next closest downstream plant is City of Phoenix 24th Street Plant, which is roughly 7 miles downstream.

We believe, and the preliminary data indicates, these water purveyors were not impacted by the release because of their distance from the PCX-1 location, the fact that the released water became mixed with water that was already in the canal thereby reducing the concentration of TCE, and the fact that TCE tends to dissipate rapidly. SRP notified both water purveyors immediately. At EPA's request, and as a precaution, the City of Tempe's JGMWTP and the City of Phoenix 24th Street Plant sampled for TCE to be sure the water meets the safe drinking water standard for TCE which is 5 ug/l. Expedited results from water samples taken in the Arizona Canal at a location about 50 feet downstream from PCX-1 well, at Chaparral Road, and at Camelback Road indicate no detectable concentration of TCE in the canal. Preliminary sampling results taken at the City of Tempe's plant also indicate no detections of TCE. We expect to receive results from the City of Phoenix plant in a day or so.

The SRP acted very quickly to:

1. Determine what and where the problem was;
2. Stop the spill by turning off the well;
3. Obtain samples of the spilled water on Miller Road, in the canal, and downstream of the release;
4. Vacuum the spilled water along Miller Road;
5. Sample the soil on the canal bank and Miller Road; and
6. Contact appropriate parties including EPA, ADEQ, the Cities of Phoenix and Tempe water utility districts, and the City of Scottsdale where the MRTF is located.

What happens next?

•The SRP is gathering additional information and will provide it along with sampling results to EPA in the next day or so.
•The Cities of Phoenix and Tempe will also provide sampling data for the 24th Street Plant and the JGMWTP.
•The SRP will provide a report on the incident within seven days.
•I will share the sampling data and incident report with all of you when I receive them.

I look forward to planning the upcoming annual meeting with you in the short term, and meeting you all in a few weeks. In the interim, please contact me at 415/972-3253 or by e-mail if you have any questions.

Regards,

Rachel

My work week has started, so I won't be able to follow up on this until next week at the earliest. For more information, please contact Ms. Loftin at the above number.

Later...

Scottsdale water update for NIBW residents

For those of you who don't know - NIBW is the acronym for the "North Indian Bend Wash" Superfund site. Info at the link.

The following is an email from Vicki Rosen, the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator for NIBW -

Dear NIBW CIG,

This note is to let you all know about an external water leak that occurred last Thursday, August 20, at the Scottsdale Central Groundwater Treatment Facility (CGTF). As you know, the facility uses a "pump and treat" system to treat groundwater contaminated primarily with trichloroethylene (TCE) from the NIBW site. The CGTF is operated by the City of Scottsdale, including its four extraction wells.

Here's what happened according to a phone call we received from the City of Scottsdale:

First, and most importantly, the City reported that the leak was not associated with the drinking water system.

At approximately 7:00 am on August 20, an employee at the Coronado Golf Course noticed a water leak and advised the City. When City employees arrived at 8:00 am, they found that it was coming from an air release valve on a water line connected to one of the extraction wells (S71). City staff immediately shut down valves upstream from the leak to stop the flow of water in addition to the associated well. The leak originated at a coupling between the water line and the air release valve. The water flowed into an irrigation ditch which feeds into a lake on the golf course.

Here's what the City reported was done to address the leak:

- The City followed the EPA-approved Contingency and Emergency Response Plan

- The coupling between the air release valve and the water line was repaired and back in operation by 10:00 am the same day

- The City inspected all air release valves on all the pipelines as a preventative measure and repaired any that were of concern

- Water samples were collected at several locations including the point where the leak originated, a ditch that received the runoff and two locations at the lake on the golf course (where water enters the lake and where it exits)

- A soil sample was taken at the location of the leak

Here's what else the City reported to us:

- It's estimated that 200,000 gallons of groundwater leaked onto the ground

- Initial sampling results show TCE at 65 parts per billion at the point of the leak and non-detect at the ditch and the lake

- The City initially cordoned off the area of the spill to discourage public access until there was no concern

What happens next?

The City is in the process of preparing a report detailing the incident and corrective actions. I will share this report with all of you after we receive it.

Again, please note this leak occurred on the delivery side of the system conveying untreated water to the treatment facility and had no impact on the drinking water system.

I've attached a flyer from the City that is going to residents adjacent to the golf course where the leak occurred.

On another note, I know we haven't met in quite a while.

There are several reasons for this, one being that we've been waiting for the most current information on site activities that would be of interest to the community. Due to a very full schedule I have for the next few weeks, we may not be able to get together before November but we'll do the best we can. Our dear project manager, Jamey Watt, is on a detail in Honolulu (poor guy). Taking over for him at the NIBW site is Rachel Loftin, a very experienced remedial project manager. We're looking forward to getting together with all of you.

Best,

Vicki

I've got to head downtown for the legislative session, so I won't be able to look into this until later today or sometime tomorrow.

BTW - Arizona American Water, the company that has had so many problems with the facility that they operate to treat a portion of the contaminated groundwater before selling it to users in parts of Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, is under investigation by ADEQ for the way that it has handled drinking water supplies in western AZ.

Later...

Scottsdale TCE update - permit renewal? for General Dynamics

Earlier today, I took a walk near my home in south Scottsdale. During that walk, I happened to pass by a post with an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper attached to it. Curious, I approached it.

Turns out it was a public notice of a permit/permit renewal (it's not really made clear in the notice) for the emission of "Volatile Organic Compounds, Products of Combustion" at the General Dynamics facility at 8201 E. McDowell Rd. in Scottsdale (south side of McDowell between Hayden and Granite Reef).

TCE is a 'Volatile Organic Compound' and in fact, TCE contamination in the groundwater of south Scottsdale emanating from the GD (formerly Motorola) site is the main reason the that North Indian Bend Superfund site exists.

This notice is not an exact copy of the one posted, but the information is basically the same.

The notice calls for public comment due within 30 days of the first day of publication of the notice, which is either November 6th (the date at the top of the linked notice) or November 12th (listed as the "Public Notice Start Date").

I don't have enough information at this time to support or oppose the permit/permit renewal, so I'll contact the Maricopa County Air Quality Department tomorrow to gather more info.

However, what I found interesting was the apparent attempt to low-profile this - not only was the so-called "public posting" almost inconspicuous (I've driven by that spot dozens of times over the past few weeks and never seen the notice), the legal notice of this permit process was published in two outlets that most people in the affected area don't read, The Record Reporter (page 26 here) and the Arizona Business Gazette (couldn't locate the notice in their online archive). In addition, I haven't seen any neighborhood outreach (door hangers, etc.) from the applicant (General Dynamics) or the County on this matter.

In addition to contacting the County tomorrow and doing some research on whether or not other, more locally-oriented, community activists were aware of the permit, I'll upload some pics of the posted public notice that so piqued my interest.

This may be much ado about nothing, but one would think that in an area that is already a Superfund site, both the County and GD would show a little more concern for keeping the residents in the area more "in the loop" instead of trying to sneak this past people while they are preoccupied with the aftermath of the November elections and preparations for the holiday season.

After all, it's only been a year since the contentious meeting of the NIBW's Community Involvement Group when attendees were informed of a failure at one of the treatment facilities (which upset people) and that Arizona American Water took a month to start telling people about it (which really pissed off people).

More tomorrow...

Edit on 12/2 to add pics...

The pic at the top of the post is a close up of the public notice. Click on it to make it readable.

These pics illustrate why I thought the notice was almost totally inconspicuous.

From a few feet away at normal magnification, this is the notice at the SE corner of McDowell and 82nd Pl. in Scottsdale.

The above pic was taken at 4X mag, from the SW corner of the intersection.

This pic is of a City of Scottsdale public notice situation on the NW corner of the same intersection, taken from the SW corner at 4X magnification.

After speaking to a couple of people at the Maricopa County Air Quality Department, it seems that the posting of the public notice of the permit renewal/revision is well within the rules.

Legal, but borderline useless.

Also according to those same folks, the requested revisions to the permit are minor, and based on what was described to me over the phone, they are minor. However, I will probably be in downtown Phoenix on Wednesday, and if I have time, I'll stop by their office and look at the actual docs. I'll have to if I want a look - the docs aren't online. :((

More tomorrow!

End edit...

Scottsdale/TCE update - Wednesday's CIG meeting

Warning: lots of acronyms ahead

On Wednesday night, the EPA held a meeting of the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site's (NIBW) Community Involvement Group (CIG) in the auditorium of the Civic Center Branch Library in Scottsdale.

Summary - there was no breaking news tonight, no bombs like the one dropped at November's meeting (the week+ during October of 'incomplete remediation' .)

Of course, there were no 'F-bombs' dropped in return. :))


The longer version of tonight's events isn't actually all that much longer than the summary, and most of the information was made available previously.

A number of officials from EPA, DOJ, ADEQ, ADHS, MCESD, and City of Scottsdale were present, as well as elected officials or their representatives such as Scottsdale City Council members Ron McCullagh and Wayne Ecton, and Robbie Sherwood, District Director for Congressman Harry Mitchell.

The people who were there for professional reasons may have outnumbered the folks who were there as "interested citizens." :))

Both the Participating Companies (PCs) - Motorola, Siemens, and GSK - and the operator of the Miller Road Treatment Facility (MRTF), Arizona American Water Company (AAWC), conducted separate investigations into the incidents (October 2007, January 2008). The end result of those investigations was that the PCs blamed human error on the part of AAWC personnel, and that AAWC blamed the system set up by the PCs.

The EPA had an independent contractor overseeing the investigations; their report isn't complete as yet.

While that report is pending, and long-term solutions are evaluated, the output of the well with the highest concentration of trichloroethylene (TCE), called PCX-1, has been permanently disconnected from AAWC's drinking water system. The facility was shut down after the January incident but is now back online, with the output of PCX-1 discharged into the Arizona Canal.

The PCs have contracted with a new firm to handle the remediation of PCX-1 while the remediation of two other wells, with much lower contamination levels, is still handled by AAWC. The output from those wells is discharged into AAWC's water distribution system.

In addition to the permanent disconnection of PCX-1 from the water distribution system, increased testing of the effluent, 24/7 onsite monitoring, and thrice-daily inspections of all equipment and controls have been implement as interim actions to address the TCE contamination while ensuring that similar failures do not re-occur.

The interim operating plan is available here.

Information regarding long-term measures should be forthcoming during the fall. Possible options in that regard include, but aren't limited to, reinjection, reconfiguring MRTF to add precautions and redundancies, and continuing to treat and discharge the water from PCX-1 into the Arizona Canal.

The EPA's most recent update on the MRTF situation is here.

Other info from the meeting -

...According to Terry Lockwood, representing Motorola (and the other PCs), there is no evidence of northward movement of the contamination plume.

...The money from the $500,000 fine levied against the PCs is going into the Superfund. (AAWC was fined $69K by the State of Arizona.)

...There will probably be another CIG meeting in the fall after the evaluation of options for long-term measures.

...Oh, and even though the majority of people affected by January's incident at the MRTF live in Paradise Valley, which is in his district, no one from Congressman Shadegg's office was present Wednesday night.

Guess he's still MIA when it comes to his constituents.


Other Scottsdale news from the meeting - As of 5:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Councilman Ron McCullagh was the only candidate who has turned in nominating petitions so far. When asked about being first, he stated that he turned them in so early because he had enough to do so, and that he was working on collecting sigs for the state land trust reform initiative and wanted to focus his attention on that.

Later...

Scottsdale/TCE update: Motorola, Siemens, and GSK fined $500,000

From the EV Tribune:

Motorola, Siemens Corp. and GlaxoSmithKline were fined $500,000 Monday for system failures that led to trichloroethylene, or TCE, being released into a private water company’s drinking supply twice in a four-month period.

Motorola, Siemens, and GSK are the companies that were responsible for the TCE contamination in Scottsdale's water supply and are responsible for the cleanup of the affected area, known as the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site (NIBW).

Expect the fine and more to be discussed, at length, during Wednesday's meeting of the Community Involvement Group (CIG) of the NIBW at the Civic Center Branch Library in Scottsdale. The meeting will be held in the library's auditorium from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Expect a 'colorful' meeting. :))

Background on the history of the NIBW, courtesy The Phoenix New Times, here.


A U.S. Department of Justice press release on the fine here.

EPA press release here.


Previous posts - May 2, 2008, April 4, 2008, February 5, 2008, January 19, 2008. January 18, 2008, January 17, 2008, November 17, 2007, November 15, 2008.

The list isn't even close to being a comprehensive one. :)

More on Wednesday...

Events Calendar

Monday, May 12 - East Valley Residents are invited to join Governor Napolitano in celebration of Older Americans Month.

Join her to chat over coffee, obtain new resources for senior citizens and mature workers, and to hear about her initiatives for an Aging Arizona.

Place: Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd., Scottsdale.
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Contact: Governor's Office on Aging, 602.542.4710.


Tuesday, May 13 - Monthly meeting of the LD17 Democrats

Join fellow Democrats from the Tempe and south Scottsdale area as we hear from speakers Roberto Reveles of Somos America, Tempe City Councilman Mark Mitchell, and Joel Navarro and Corey Woods, candidates for the Tempe City Council.

Place: Pyle Center, 655 East Southern Avenue. Tempe (SW corner of Southern and Rural)
Time: 6:30 info exchange/meet and greet; 7:00 p.m. meeting start
Contact: Doug Mings, LD17 Chair at dougmings[at]gmail.com or 480.628.2481.


Thursday, May 15 - The LD8 Democrats present a 'meet the candidates' night.

Five candidates have accepted D8’s invitation to participate in this first “Meet the Candidates” program: Kara Kelty, Candidate for Corporation Commission; Joel Sinclaire, Candidate for Maricopa County Supervisor; Dan Saban, Candidate for Maricopa County Sheriff; Gerald Richard, Candidate for Maricopa County Attorney; Stephanie Rimmer, Candidate for the Arizona State Legislature.

Place: Country Inn Suites, 10801 N. 89th Pl., Scottsdale.
Time: Reception at 6:30 p.m.; program starts at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: 480.596.8350


Tuesday, May 20 - Election Day in Tempe!


Wednesday, May 21 - Meeting of the Community Involvement Group (CIG) of the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site (NIBW)

Place: Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N.Drinkwater Blvd.
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Vicki Rosen, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, 415.972.3244, rosen.vicki[at]epa.gov


Later!

Events Calendar

Wednesday, May 7 - The launch party for AZ School Works, Jason Williams' (former candidate for AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction) new PAC.

About the organization: "AZ School Works is a Political Action Committee (PAC) which will promote fiscal responsibility for Arizona’s public schools by informing the electorate of our State’s current priorities, practices and financial management in our public education system. In addition to acting as a community watchdog, the PAC focuses on electing candidates in order to impact local elections."

Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Fair Trafe Café, 1020 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix AZ, (park behind Trinity Cathedral in the parking garage)
Suggested donation: $25


Wednesday and Thursday, May 7 and 8 - Workshops on Southern Scottsdale Community Area Plan

Time (both days): 7:00 p.m.
Places: May 7, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road; May 8, Pueblo Elementary School cafeteria, 6320 N. 82nd St.

The City's Area Plans page here.


Thursday, May 8 - The LD17 Democrats and The Big Picture Film Series present an exclusive screening of the documentary Body of War. This wrenching film chronicles the journey of Tomas Young as he moves from being young soldier, through being wounded and permanently paralyzed less than a week after arriving in Iraq, to becoming a "passionate" opponent of the war.

Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Chandler Cinemas, 2140 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ
Cost: $10 at the door or purchase in advance here.


Thursday, May 8 - Monthly meeting of the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale (COGS)

Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Granite Reef Senior Center, Granite Reef Rd., just north of McDowell.
Guest Speaker: John Little, Scottsdale's Acting City Manager


Wednesday, May 21 - Meeting of the North Indian Bend Wash Community Involvement Group (NIBW CIG)

Time: 5:30 p.m.
Place: the auditorium at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library (3839 N.Drinkwater Blvd.)


Later!

Scottsdale/PV TCE updates

There have been some recent developments to report regarding the situation at the Miller Road Treatment Facility (MRTF) in Scottsdale.

The facility was shut down in January due to a failure that resulted in the introduction of contaminated water into the drinking water supply to nearly 5000 customers of Arizona American Water Company (AAWC) in PV and Scottsdale.

One development was reported in the East Valley Tribune on April 29. While water from the TCE-contaminated well that was subject to 'remediation', named PCX-1, is no longer used for drinking water, as of Sunday the facility is operating; it's output is now pumped into an SRP canal.

The part of the MRTF that treated the water from PCX-1 is no longer operated by AAWC; Motorola, one of the 'participating companies' (PCs, the companies responsible for the contamination in the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund site), has contracted with the firm LFR to operate the facility. (I think this is the company's website)


The other development was reported by the AZ Republic on May 1. Two investigations have been completed into January's incident and reports filed with the EPA.

One investigation, conducted on behalf of the PCs, determined human error on the part of AAWC personnel was the underlying cause of the problem.

The other investigation, conducted on behalf of AAWC "concluded that the plant's systems and components were not designed or operated in an optimal manner."

Yup, the "mutual finger-pointing session" is getting up to speed. :)

...Which should make for an interesting get-together when the NIBW Community Involvement Group (CIG) meets on May 21 at the Civic Center Branch of the Scottsdale Library. From the email from Vicki Rosen, the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator for the NIBW -

We will be holding a CIG meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 and hope many of you can attend. It will be at the usual time of 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm, however, the location this time will be different. We will be using the auditorium at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library (3839 N.Drinkwater Blvd.)...The main topic will be what's gone on since the Miller Road Treatment Facility failures...where we are now and what we're evaluating for the future.

Later!