A Hazardous Waste SiteA Hazardous Waste Site

PCB Contamination

Polychlorinated Biphenyls Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)(PCBs)

Man-made class of oil-like Man-made class of oil-like chemicals used in the chemicals used in the manufacture of electrical manufacture of electrical equipment due to the equipment due to the molecules’ insulating molecules’ insulating properties.properties.

Banned from manufacture Banned from manufacture in the US in 1977.in the US in 1977.

      

PCBs in the EnvironmentPCBs in the Environment

Do not readily break down and thus Do not readily break down and thus persist in the environmentpersist in the environment

Stick to particles and bottom sediments Stick to particles and bottom sediments in water in water

Build up in fatty tissues of animals due Build up in fatty tissues of animals due to their fat-soluble (lipophilic) to their fat-soluble (lipophilic) properties (properties (bioaccumulationbioaccumulation))

Ingested by aquatic organisms and Ingested by aquatic organisms and increase in concentration through food increase in concentration through food chain (chain (biomagnificationbiomagnification) )

Hazardous Waste:Hazardous Waste:How did it get there?How did it get there?

NPL Site: Ward NPL Site: Ward TransformerTransformer

late 1980’s about 1966

Ward Transformer in Morrisville, NC Ward Transformer in Morrisville, NC reconditioned electrical transformers reconditioned electrical transformers from 1964-2006. from 1964-2006.

Added to EPA’s National Priority List in Added to EPA’s National Priority List in 2003 due to discovery of PCB 2003 due to discovery of PCB contaminated fish tissue, sediment and contaminated fish tissue, sediment and soil resulting from facility operations. soil resulting from facility operations.

Emergency Removal Action completed Emergency Removal Action completed in 2011; approximately in 2011; approximately 420,000420,000 tons of tons of PCB contaminated soil was treated or PCB contaminated soil was treated or removed.removed.

NPL Site: Ward NPL Site: Ward TransformerTransformer

Excavation and Testing of Soils at the Ward NPL site

Soil for stockpiled for thermal desorption unit ([PCB] > 50 ppm)

420,000 tons of soil treated or removed 420,000 tons of soil treated or removed from the Ward site.from the Ward site.

Golder Associates

One Site: Two Remediation One Site: Two Remediation AreasAreas

Removal Action AreaRemoval Action Area includes the includes the Ward Transformer facility and Ward Transformer facility and immediate surrounding areas (OU-2).immediate surrounding areas (OU-2). Emergency Removal Action completed in 2011.Emergency Removal Action completed in 2011. EPA is conducting a feasibility study for OU-2.EPA is conducting a feasibility study for OU-2.

Areas down gradientAreas down gradient from the Ward from the Ward Transformer facility (OU-1).Transformer facility (OU-1). The remedial design for OU-1 is ongoing. The remedial design for OU-1 is ongoing.

Down Gradient Down Gradient ContaminationContamination

Down Gradient Down Gradient ContaminationContamination

EPA proposed remediation EPA proposed remediation alternatives in August 2007.alternatives in August 2007.

Public comments were accepted Public comments were accepted through early October 2007.through early October 2007.

In Sept 2008, the EPA selected a In Sept 2008, the EPA selected a clean up plan.clean up plan.

Pre-Clean UpPre-Clean Up Sampling of sediment and soil prior to digging.Sampling of sediment and soil prior to digging. Doing an endangered mussel evaluation study.Doing an endangered mussel evaluation study.

Clean Up PlanClean Up Plan Digging up sediment and soil from Reaches B, C Digging up sediment and soil from Reaches B, C

and D and lower Brier Creek.and D and lower Brier Creek. Disposing of dug-up materials at an off-site Disposing of dug-up materials at an off-site

facility. facility. Restoring the site and streams to their original Restoring the site and streams to their original

states.states. Using monitored natural attenuation for Brier Using monitored natural attenuation for Brier

Creek Reservoir, Lake Crabtree and Lower Creek Reservoir, Lake Crabtree and Lower Crabtree Creek.Crabtree Creek.

Clean Up Plan: EducationClean Up Plan: Education Continuing or enhancing existing North Carolina Continuing or enhancing existing North Carolina

fish consumption advisories and signs.fish consumption advisories and signs. Starting educational and community outreach Starting educational and community outreach

programs.programs.

Also…Also… Monitoring of sediment and aquatic plants and Monitoring of sediment and aquatic plants and

animals.animals. Putting institutional controls in place. Putting institutional controls in place. Conducting Conducting Five-Year Reviews..

Protecting Our Protecting Our Water: Water:

PCB Contamination PCB Contamination at Ward Transformerat Ward Transformer

Watch documentary