1 Construction of air stripper treatment plant complete and in operation United States Environmental Protection Agency Fruit Avenue Plume Site Albuquerque, New Mexico November 2005 This fact sheet will tell you about... • Construction of the ground water pump and treat system • What happens next? • Site background • Information resources for the Site Site background The Site is an area of ground water, also known as a ground water plume, contaminated with chlori- nated solvents, commonly used in dry cleaning and degreasing operations. The contamination is primarily found in an aquifer underlying a portion of downtown Albuquerque, predominantly in the central business district. The suspected primary source of the contamination is a defunct dry cleaning operation, “Elite Clean- ers,” which operated from approximately 1940- 1970. The main contaminant of concern at the Site is trichloroethene. The area of contamination includes only the subsurface soils and ground water. Therefore, the ground surface conditions are safe for people who live, work, and visit the area in the immediate vicinity of the Site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in coordination with the New Mexico Environment De- partment (NMED), is progressing with implementa- tion of Phase I of the remedial action for the Fruit Avenue Plume Superfund Site in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Phase I calls for treating ground water in the eastern portion of the plume. This action will protect the City of Albuquerque’s drinking water well fields located about one mile east of the Site boundary. Ongoing Phase I Construction and Operation Construction and operation of the ground water pump and treat system is proceeding on schedule. An ex- traction well, three injection wells, subsurface piping and an air stripper treatment plant are the main com- ponents of the system. Construction was completed in late December 2004; testing was completed in early January 2005. Once online, the air stripper is used to remove chlorinated solvents, including trichloroethene, from the ground water. This cleanup technology works by forcing a stream of air through the ground water causing the compounds to evapo- rate. The treated water is then piped back into the aquifer. The air stripper treatment plant is located at the dead end portion of Marquette Street, east of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. After initial operations, the EPA uncovered a problem of "scaling" in the air stripper system. Scaling is a fairly common problem with air strippers, and is the results of the formation of iron oxyhydroxide depos- its. These deposits or sediments may clog and damage the filters and the injection wells. To solve the prob- lem, a sulfuric acid pre-treatment system was in- stalled. Addition of a small amount of acid will change the natural acidity of the ground water, will prevent the formation of these deposits and will result in the protection of the injection wells. This will not affect the safety or quality of the drinking water supply. With the construction of the pre-treatment system a group of safety and security measures were provided. For safety we are using a double wall storage tank, in- stalled outside, surrounded by a secondary contain- ment wall, protected from the sun, from lightning, and provided with other additional safety features. For se- curity, existing fences were upgraded or repaired, a 004391
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Construction of air stripper treatmentplant complete and in operationUnited States
Environmental ProtectionAgency
Fruit Avenue Plume SiteAlbuquerque, New Mexico November 2005
This fact sheet will tell you about...• Construction of the ground water pump and
treat system• What happens next?• Site background• Information resources for the Site
Site backgroundThe Site is an area of ground water, also known asa ground water plume, contaminated with chlori-nated solvents, commonly used in dry cleaning anddegreasing operations. The contamination isprimarily found in an aquifer underlying a portionof downtown Albuquerque, predominantly in thecentral business district.
The suspected primary source of the contaminationis a defunct dry cleaning operation, “Elite Clean-ers,” which operated from approximately 1940-1970. The main contaminant of concern at the Siteis trichloroethene. The area of contaminationincludes only the subsurface soils and groundwater. Therefore, the ground surface conditions aresafe for people who live, work, and visit the area inthe immediate vicinity of the Site.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), incoordination with the New Mexico Environment De-partment (NMED), is progressing with implementa-tion of Phase I of the remedial action for the FruitAvenue Plume Superfund Site in Albuquerque, NewMexico. Phase I calls for treating ground water in theeastern portion of the plume. This action will protectthe City of Albuquerque’s drinking water well fieldslocated about one mile east of the Site boundary.
Ongoing Phase I Construction andOperation
Construction and operation of the ground water pumpand treat system is proceeding on schedule. An ex-traction well, three injection wells, subsurface pipingand an air stripper treatment plant are the main com-ponents of the system. Construction was completed inlate December 2004; testing was completed in earlyJanuary 2005. Once online, the air stripper is used toremove chlorinated solvents, includingtrichloroethene, from the ground water. This cleanuptechnology works by forcing a stream of air throughthe ground water causing the compounds to evapo-rate. The treated water is then piped back into theaquifer. The air stripper treatment plant is located atthe dead end portion of Marquette Street, east of theBurlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.
After initial operations, the EPA uncovered a problemof "scaling" in the air stripper system. Scaling is afairly common problem with air strippers, and is theresults of the formation of iron oxyhydroxide depos-its. These deposits or sediments may clog and damagethe filters and the injection wells. To solve the prob-lem, a sulfuric acid pre-treatment system was in-stalled. Addition of a small amount of acid willchange the natural acidity of the ground water, willprevent the formation of these deposits and will resultin the protection of the injection wells. This will notaffect the safety or quality of the drinking water supply.
With the construction of the pre-treatment system agroup of safety and security measures were provided.For safety we are using a double wall storage tank, in-stalled outside, surrounded by a secondary contain-ment wall, protected from the sun, from lightning, andprovided with other additional safety features. For se-curity, existing fences were upgraded or repaired, a
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Do you need more information?The following EPA, NMED and City of Albuquerque staff are available to answer your questions about the FruitAvenue Plume Site:
Bart CanellasRemedial Project ManagerU.S. EPA Region 61445 Ross Avenue (6SF-LP)Dallas, TX 75202(214) 665-6662 or1-800-533-3508 (toll-free)[email protected]
On the Web....
Information about the Fruit Avenue Plume Site is available on EPA’s webpage at www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/pdffiles/fruitavenue.pdf. The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Site can be found at www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/pdffiles/fruit_rod.pdf. The ROD documents the decision-making process for the selection of the Site remedy.
Duke DucoteCommunity InvolvementCoordinator/S.E.E.U.S. EPA Region 61445 Ross Avenue (6SF-PO)Dallas, TX 75202(214) 665-6658 or1-800-533-3508 (toll-free)[email protected]
Sabino RiveraNew Mexico Environment DepartmentGround Water Quality Bureau1190 St. Francis DriveSanta Fe, NM 87502(505) 827-0387
Meg Randall, MPACity of AlbuquerqueEnvironmental Health DepartmentP.O. Box 1293Albuquerque, NM 87103(505) 768-2706
Eileen L. ShannonCity of AlbuquerqueEnvironmental Health DepartmentP.O. Box 1293Albuquerque, NM 87103(505) 768-2669
Members of the news media shouldcontact Dave Bary, U.S. EPA Region 6Press Office, at (214) 665-2200.
Information Repositories, which contain information about Site activities, have been established at the followinglocations:
Albuquerque Public Library501 Copper Avenue, NWAlbuquerque, NM 87102(505) 768-5140
NMEDHarold Runnels Bldg.1190 St. Francis DriveSanta Fe, NM 87505(505) 827 2855 ortoll-free 1-800-879-3421
U.S. EPA Region 61445 Ross Avenue, Suite 12D137th Floor Reception AreaDallas, TX 75202(214) 665-6424
secondary fence was installed around the acid storagetank, extra signs were added, extra lighting was in-stalled, and the facility was provided with other secu-rity features.
What happens next?
The air stripper was tested in early January 2005 withfull time operation initiated by the end of January2005. Initially, EPA monitored the contaminatedground water and air stripper off-gas to make surethat they meet appropriate health standards, as well asto confirm that the air stripper is performing properly.After EPA assured that no harmful emissions werecoming from the air stripper treatment plant, air moni-
toring stopped. Ground water and treated water willbe monitored monthly. If ground water contaminationchanges significantly, EPA will re-institute air moni-toring and take appropriate corrective measures.
Additional monitor well installations are planned forlate 2005 or early 2006. The new wells will be in-stalled on the eastern end of the current plume bound-ary, an area previously identified as not having beenfully characterized. Sampling of all new and existingwells is planned for 2006. Data from the samplingwill be used to assess the extent of contamination andevaluate the use of monitored natural attenuation tocomplement the existing remedy.
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United StatesEnvironmental ProtectionAgency
Sitio de la Fuente de Contaminación de Fruit AvenueAlbuquerque, Nuevo México noviembre del 2005
Esta hoja de datos le contará sobre...
La construcción del sistema detratamiento del separador de aire está terminada y en operación
• La construcción del sistema de bombear ytratar el agua subterránea
• ¿Que será lo próximo que pasará?
• Los antecedentes del Sitio
• Depósitos de información sobre el Sitio
Antecedentes del SitioEl sitio es un área de agua subterránea, tambiénconocida como una fuente de contaminación de aguasubterránea, contaminada con solventes clorinados quetípicamente se usan en instalaciones de desengrase ytintorerías. La contaminación principal esta en elacuífero debajo de áreas del centro de la ciudad deAlbuquerque, principalmente en el distrito central denegocios.
Se sospecha que la fuente principal de contaminaciónproviene de las operaciones de tintorería del ya cerradoElite Cleaners, que operó desde aproximadamente 1940al 1970. El contaminante de preocupación principal enel sitio es tricloroetileno. El área de contaminaciónsolamente incluye el suelo y agua subterránea. Por lotanto, las condiciones de la superficie son seguras paralas personas que viven, trabajan y visitan el área en lasinmediaciones del sitio.
La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los EstadosUnidos (EPA por sus siglas en inglés) en colaboración conel Departamento de Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México(NMED por sus siglas en inglés) está llevando a cabo la 1ra
Fase de la acción correctiva del Sitio de la Fuente de
Contaminación de Fruit Avenue. La 1ra Fase incluye trataragua subterránea ubicada en el área este de la fuente decontaminación. Esta acción protegerá los pozos de aguapotable de la Ciudad de Albuquerque ubicadosaproximadamente una milla al este del límite del Sitio.
Construcción y Operación Actual de la 1ra
FaseLa construcción y operación del sistema de bombear ytratar el agua subterránea procede según planeado. Unpozo de extracción, tres pozos de inyección, una tuberíasubterránea, y el sistema de tratamiento de separador deaire forman los componentes principales del sistema. Laconstrucción se terminó a fines de diciembre del 2004; elsistema se probo a principio de enero 2005. A la vez queesté operando, el separador de aire es utilizado pararemover solventes clorinados del agua subterránea,incluyendo tricloroetileno. Esta tecnología de limpiezafuerza una corriente de aire a través del agua subterráneacausando la evaporación de las sustancias. Entonces elagua ya tratada es transportada por una tubería al acuífero.El sistema de tratamiento de agua subterránea está ubicadoal final de la porción sin salida de Marquette Street, al estedel ferrocarril Burlington Northern Santa Fe.
Luego de iniciar operaciones, la EPA descubrió unproblema de “escamas” o costra en el sistema de separador
de aire. Esta costra o sedimento es muy común en losseparadores de aire y es el resultado de la formación dedepósitos de óxidos de hierro y sedimentos. Los mismospueden dañar los filtros y pozos de inyección. Pararesolver el problema, se instaló un sistema de pre-tratamiento con ácido sulfúrico. El añadir una pequeñacantidad de este ácido altera la acidez natural del aguasubterránea, evita la formación de costra o sedimentos yresulta en la protección de los pozos de inyección. Esto noafectara la calidad ni seguridad del suministro de aguapotable para la ciudad.
Con la construcción del sistema de pre-tratamiento ungrupo de medidas de seguridad y protección fue provisto.Para seguridad, estamos utilizando un tanque de pareddoble, instalado fuera del edificio, rodeado por un muro decontención secundario, protegido del sol y descargaseléctricas, y con otras medidas de seguridad. Para mayorprotección, se mejoraron o repararon las verjas existentes,una segunda verja fue instalada alrededor del tanque dealmacenaje del ácido, se instalaron letreros adicionales deadvertencia, luces exteriores adicionales mas otras medidas
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¿Necesita información adicional?Las siguientes personas de la EPA, NMED y la Ciudad de Albuquerque están disponibles para responder a suspreguntas sobre el Sitio de la Fuente de Contaminación de Fruit Avenue:
Bart CanellasGerente de Proyectos RemedialesU.S. EPA Region 61445 Ross Avenue (6SF-LP)Dallas, TX 75202(214) 665-6662 o1-800-533-3508 (llamada gratis)[email protected]
Duke DucoteCoordinador de ParticipaciónComunitaria/S.E.E.U.S. EPA Region 61445 Ross Avenue (6SF-PO)Dallas, TX 75202(214) 665-6658 o1-800-533-3508 (llamada gratis)[email protected]
Sabino RiveraNew Mexico EnvironmentDepartmentGround Water Quality Bureau1190 St. Francis DriveSanta Fe, NM 87502(505) 827-0387
Meg Randall, MPACity of AlbuquerqueEnvironmental Health DepartmentP.O. Box 1293Albuquerque, NM 87103(505) 768-2706
Eileen L. ShannonCity of AlbuquerqueEnvironmental Health DepartmentP.O. Box 1293Albuquerque, NM 87103(505) 768-2669
Personal de prensa deben contactar aDave Bary, Oficina de Prensa de laRegión 6 de la EPA (214) 665-2200.
Se han establecido depósitos de información, que contienen información sobre las actividades del sitio, en lossiguientes sitios:
Biblioteca Pública de Albuquerque501 Copper Avenue, NWAlbuquerque, NM 87102(505) 768-5140
NMEDHarold Runnels Bldg.1190 St. Francis DriveSanta Fe, NM 87505(505) 827-2855 o1-800-879-3421(llamada gratis)
Región 6 de la U.S. EPA1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 12D137th Floor Reception AreaDallas, TX 75202(214) 665-6424
En el Internet…
Información sobre el Sitio de la Fuente de Contaminación de Fruit Avenue está disponible en la página de web de laEPA en www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/pdffiles/fruitavenue.pdf. El Record of Decision (ROD, por sus siglas en inglés)para el sitio está en www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/pdffiles/fruit_rod.pdf. Los documentos del ROD contienen el procesode toma de decisiones para la selección del remedio para el sitio.
de protección se proveyerón. El sistema esta ahora enoperación.
¿Que será lo próximo que pasará?El separador de aire se probo a principio de enero 2005, yse inicio su operación completa al final de enero 2005.Inicialmente, la EPA evaluó el agua subterráneacontaminada y el gas del sistema del separador de aire paraasegurar que alcanzarán los estándares apropiados de saludy también confirmar que el separador de aire estabafuncionando correctamente. Después de asegurarse que noexistían escapes dañosos del sistema de separador de aire,la EPA cesó la evaluación. Se seguirán observaciónes
mensuales del agua subterránea y la tratada. Si el nivel decontaminación del agua subterránea cambia de manerasignificativa, la EPA reanudará la evaluación del aire ytomará medidas correctivas.
Se planifica tener pozos adicionales de observación parafinales del 2005 o principios del 2006. Los pozos nuevosserán instalados en el lado este del límite actual de la fuentede contaminación, y áreas que no han sido totalmentecaracterizadas previamente. La toma de muestras de todolos pozos nuevos y existentes se planifica para el 2006. Seutilizarán los resultados de las muestras para evaluar elalcance de la contaminación y evaluar la reducción naturalpara complementar el remedio actual.
