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Chem Fab Corporation

 
Site Contact:
Eduardo Rovira, Jr.
OSC

(rovira.eduardo@epa.gov)

Site Location:
300 N. Broad Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
 epaosc.org/ChemFab

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Site Update - Tuesday, December 22, 2015
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A sub-contractor installed a depressurization system (consisting of a total of nine suction fans) at the main building at the Site. The purpose of the system is to keep the indoor TCE levels in the main building at acceptable levels. The system was designed based on the results of a study of the air movement under the building. The system is fully operational. Sub-slab and indoor air samples will be collected in January 2016.

As of October 2, 2015, we have spent approximately $905,051 . . . that figure is only Removal contractors time and materials, it does not include EPA personnel or Remedial contractors time and materials.

The home which well had been impacted by the plume from the Site was connected to the public water supply system during the week of September 22nd. The residents at the home had been receiving bottled water since June 2014.

During the week of October 12th, a sub-contractor milled and resurfaced the area of the road where the main had to be extended in order to reach the home.

Pictures of recent activates can be found by going to the "images" section above.

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The Site, located in a mixed residential, commercial and industrial area, was operated as a metals plating facility from 1965 to approximately 1994. On 1995 EPA removed more than 100 drums of hazardous substances and more than 8,000 gallons of chromic acid waste that had been left on the site. The Site was then referred to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). Since then PADEP has continued testing the groundwater. Their findings show groundwater contamination around the source. Trichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethene and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) are some of the contaminants present in the groundwater. A municipal well was closed to avoid the use of it as a drinking water source and nearby residences and businesses were connected to Doylestown's public water system. On 2010 PADAEP turned the site over to the EPA.

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View of suction fan (and gauge) #8. View of suction fans (and gauges) #6 & #7. Magnehelic gauges for fans #2, #3, #4, & #5. Crew installing suction fan #4 on the roof. Suction fan #1. Suction point (pipe) of extraction fan #1. View of the vapor suction fans of the depressurization system to be installed at the site. Completed road resurfacing of the areas disturbed during the water main extension and connection to the affected house. Getting the roadway ready (milling it) for the final resurface coat over the area disturbed from the water main install. View of new water line connection and disconnect from the well pump. View of the new water line pipe and respective fittings. Testing residual chlorine in new water main section. Flushing water main and new fire hydrant through dechlorinator. New shutoff valve on water main extension. Crew installing line stop valve on active drinking water main. Section of water main and new fire hydrant installed along N. West Street. Trenching along N. West Street for drinking water main extension. Evergreens planted along the Evergreens planted along the Planted sod along the Green space after sod was installed. Top soil spread in the back (southern) part of the site along the main building to create a green space. French drain installed coming out from the VE system to keep water away from the back corner of the building. VE systen installed along the southern part of the main building. VE systen installed along the southern part of the main building. Soils removed from the area adjacent to the building, where the slab was removed by the property owner. Soils removed from the area adjacent to the building, where the slab was removed by the property owner. Plantings & mulch replaced along the eastern walkway. Additional stone placed in the western parking lot was rolled out/compacted. Large pipe found at the corner of the main building, thought to be a compressor overflow. Large pipe found at the corner of the main building, thought to be a compressor overflow. Soils and stone around the wells were compacted. The space between the outer casing and inner well was packed with sand. The 2 The shallow/temporary well further from the building was removed and is being replaced. An outer PVC casing with holes at the bottom covered with fabric was dropped into the hole dug to bedrock. Contractor loading the concrete debris into a roll-off. A suspected additional underground tank was discovered in the southern corner of the main building under the removed concrete. View of the other section where the remaining concrete (along the wall of the building) and the VE system, were removed by the property owner. The remaining concrete (along the wall of the building) and the VE system, were removed by the property owner. Contractors compacting the stone to sub grade elevations, marked by the stakes. View of UST #5 after filled with concrete. View of the east side (300 side of the main building) of the site after back filling and compaction were completed. View of the installed sump pump in front of the architect's office. View of the broken phone line in pit dug for the soil sample #20. View of soil pit #20. View of back filled area with a base coat of crushed rock. View of walkway after the shrubs were removed. View of walkway before the shrubs were removed for the walkway during excavation. View of broken sump pump in front of the Architect's office. View of back filled area. Contractor loading the totes containing hazardous waste. There were a total of 8 boxes, 16 drums and 4 totes. Contractor loading the drums containing hazardous waste. There were a total of 8 boxes, 16 drums and 4 totes. Contractor loading the boxes containing hazardous waste. There were a total of 8 boxes, 16 drums and 4 totes. View of a tote containing hazardous waste. There were a total of 8 boxes, 16 drums and 4 totes. View of a drum containing hazardous waste. There were a total of 8 boxes, 16 drums and 4 totes. View of boxes containing hazardous waste. There were a total of 8 boxes, 16 drums and 4 totes. Totes marked with stickers for disposal. Drums marked with stickers for disposal. View of the southeastern part of the site after being graded. Another view of the third test pit dug on the western side of the site. View of the third test pit dug on the western side of the site, approximately, 12 feet deep. Another view of the second test pit dug on the western side of the site. View of the second test pit dug on the western side of the site, approximately 12 feet deep. Another view of the first test pit dug on the western side of the site. View of first test pit dug on the western side of the site (approximately 11 feet deep). Groundwater was encountered at about 8 ft. Shows the area around tank 11, after it was demolished. Sample soil-14 pit location. Sample soil-13 pit location. Sample soil-12 pit location. Sample soil-11 pit location. Sample soil-10 pit location. Trench dividing clean fill from the area yet to be excavated. Inside of tank 11 after contents was removed. Sample soil-09 pit location. Sample soil-08 pit location. Excavation progress. Roll-off with the contents of Tank 9. Contractor removing the contents of Tank 9. New longer pipe installed where the pipe did not extend past the slab. No evidence of a pipe extending below the slab. No evidence of pipe extending below the slab. Excavation around the vapor extraction system to verify the length of the pipe(s) under the slab. Excavation progress. Back area once it was backfilled with gravel. Material from tank 4, on top of tank 9. Tank 4 after content (and front section of the tank) was removed. Tank 9 (closest) and tank 11 (farther back). Yellow(ish) material from tank 11. Tank 9. Tank 10. Tank 4 after vac truck removed loose contents. Tanks closest to the building were filled with concrete. Hydraulic auger being used to break up the contents of tank 4. Plywood was used to form the inside of tank 5, to help keep the structural integrity of the tank while it is filled with concrete. Plywood was used to form the inside of tank 1, while it is filled with concrete. Tank 5 after its content was removed. Tank 1 after its content was removed. PVC pipes installed for future injections along the back of the eastern half of the main building. Excavation progress and tanks 1, 4, and 5. Installation of a 2 Excavation progress. Excavation progress. Tank 6, which contained gravel inside it. Contractor collecting a sample from location soil 7. Inside of tank 5. Inside of tank 1. Material from tank 5 . . . contractor checking for vapor readings with a four gas meter. Contractor removing the content of tank 1. Top view of tank 4. Contractor removing tank 2 and loading it into a roll-off container. Heavily stained, strong smelling soils near tank 1. Heavily stained, strong smelling soils along with possible tank fragments near tank 1. Stockpiled soils covered with plastic sheeting from the area excavated near tank 1. These soils had a strong odor , dark staining, large areas of yellow soils and high VOC readings. Shows the edge of excavated soils near the first tank found. These soils have a strong odor, dark staining, large areas of yellow soils and high VOC readings. View of shallow groundwater well and uncovered tank visible in the background. View of the excavation following the addition the amendment products (ZVI and ABC+). A tank was discovered near the monitoring wells. Contractor adding the liquid amendment product (ABC+). Contractor adding the solid amendment product (zero valent iron - ZVI). View of underground tank found during concrete removal. View of the location of the strong smelling soils and water from the excavation. View of water in the excavation area . . . View of the geotextile fabric laid on the excavation before back filling with clean material. View of excavation. Fencing was removed from behind the main building and a temporary fence was installed, along with erosion and sedimentation controls.
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.