(UPDATE: Though we’ve not yet had a chance to review it, here is a PDF copy of the official complaint – not yet including exhibits.)

(UPDATE II: Complaint now also available for download with exhibits)

While we’re working to obtain a copy of the official complaint, here’s what we know so far:

The available scientific information does not provide a sufficient basis for determining whether the population at Camp Lejeune has, in fact, suffered adverse health effects as a result of exposure to contaminants [...] No related posts.]]> A report by the National Research Council, Contaminated Water Supplies at Camp Lejeune – Assessing Potential Health Effects, was released yesterday. Money quote:

The available scientific information does not provide a sufficient basis for determining whether the population at Camp Lejeune has, in fact, suffered adverse health effects as a result of exposure to contaminants in the water supplies.

[...]

[T]hese limitations cannot be overcome with additional study. Thus, the committee concludes that there is no scientific justification for the Navy and Marine Corps to wait for the results of additional health studies before making decisions about how to follow up on the evident solvent exposures on the base and their possible health consequences.

Though we’re not yet through the whole thing, the report appears to raise more questions than it answers — not so much about the exposed poisoned population at CL, but about the mindset, approach and conclusions of the NRC.

Andrea over at The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten has posted the the full report (PDF), as well as the report brief (PDF) and the executive summary (PDF).

We’ll be back with thoughts and questions once we trudge through the full report…stay tuned.

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The Aberdeen Contaminated Ground Water site in Aberdeen, North Carolina has been proposed for addition to EPA’s National Priorities List (NPL) of hazardous waste sites. It is one of six hazardous waste sites to be proposed for addition to the NPL, while twelve sites nationally are being added to [...] No related posts.]]> According to this recent EPA press release:

The Aberdeen Contaminated Ground Water site in Aberdeen, North Carolina has been proposed for addition to EPA’s National Priorities List (NPL) of hazardous waste sites. It is one of six hazardous waste sites to be proposed for addition to the NPL, while twelve sites nationally are being added to the list.

The Aberdeen Contaminated Ground Water site is about 1 acre in size and located on highway Route 211 in Aberdeen, Moore County, N.C. Powdered Metal Products (PMP) manufactured precision machine parts at the facility from 1980 until 1995. The operation utilized a trichloroethene (TCE) dip-vat as part of the manufacturing process. During the investigation of ground water contamination at the Geigy Chemical Corporation NPL site in 1990, which is located just on the other side of State Route 211, TCE, lead and pesticide contamination was detected in numerous private wells along Crestline Lane and Route 211. Investigations have identified contaminated soils in the vicinity of the former TCE dip-vat utilized by PMP as the source of TCE contamination in the ground water.

In a follow-up article in The Fayettville Observer (NC), we learn:

Trichloroethene also was detected in the town’s municipal water supply wells No. 5 and No. 9, according to an EPA report [PDF]. The level of the chemical exceeded the federal Safe Drinking Water Act maximum contaminant level.

The report said the town took the wells offline for some time and is now blending water from those wells with water from other municipal wells to reduce the trichloroethene levels.

The EPA provided municipal water supplies to 56 residences and businesses in the area, according to the agency.

Read the EPA press release here. For the full Fayetville Observer article, see here.

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There is “no apparent public health risk” at the North Brunswick Township High [...] No related posts.]]> The ATSDR has delivered yet another report concluding that a contamination site poses “no apparent public health risk.” Just toss it in the pile. Feel free to roll your eyes. (For those who don’t know, ATSDR is notorious for producing these reports)

There is “no apparent public health risk” at the North Brunswick Township High School and its surrounding areas associated with the soil contamination found in 2003, according to a preliminary public health assessment.

Last Thursday, township officials and representatives from the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services and the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry held a meeting to discuss the remediation project that resulted from the expansion of the high school in 2003. The primary concern for the school, Veterans Park, Judd Elementary School, a PSE&G easement and six nearby residences was arsenic in surface soil, lead in settled dust and tetrachloroethylene (TCE) [sic] in groundwater.

In July 2003, waste material consisting of pharmaceutical and laboratory wastes, glass vials, bottles and an unidentified dark brown material were uncovered near and within the Oval area of the high school, which is where the current auditorium sits. It is believed that the site was used as a municipal dump between the 1940s and 1960s. Approximately 9,200 cubic yards of waste materials and soil were excavated and removed, according to the report.

Since that time, officials said 54 soil samples and 18 interior surface samples were taken from the high school, and 10 interior surface samples were collected from Judd, with follow-up tests conducted. The high school perimeter and football field, as well as the neighboring park and residences at block 143, lots 94.01 and 95.01 were also examined.

Although remediation is still needed at Veterans Park and efforts will continue to oversee and limit any possible groundwater and vapor contamination, the report states that there are no cancer or noncancer health risks associated with the project.

We note that the story seems to confuse TCE and PCE. It is not clear which of these is the contaminant of concern referenced above. No matter which it is, residents were reportedly suspicious of the report’s findings:

One parent claimed his son “lived in the dirt” for 18 years as an athlete and developed a brain tumor, although he is not positive there is a correlation. A student noted that the epidemiology report is only calculated through 2001, but statistics may have changed through 2008. Another person mentioned that the cancer rates should be evaluated specific to the area surrounding the high school and not broadened out to the general population, since any health effects will involve North Brunswick.

Also, residents are concerned that there could have been inhalation of chemicals since the investigation and remediation phase began, and that sites that have not been remediated, such as the high school perimeter, the overused football field and Judd school, could have contaminants in the soil that become disturbed and loosened as time goes on. One parent is concerned that no additional testing was done at Judd before the current expansion and renovation project began.

Read the full story in the North Brunswick Sentinel (NJ).

Update: Strangely, the report above fails to mention that ATSDR conducted a separate public health assessment re: exposure to Arsenic and TCE at 3 nearby residences in 2005 (yeah, we confirmed the contaminant is TCE and not PCE). They reported TCE contamination in groundwater at levels up to 140 ppb, TCE in indoor air in homes at levels of 12μg/m3, and arsenic dust that coated indoor air surfaces. They concluded that past exposure posed a public health hazard and, at the time, ongoing exposure posed an indeterminate public health hazard.

We suspect we’re going to be hearing more on this story. As always, we’ll try to keep you psted.

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In 2007, Toronto Public Health examined a variety [...] No related posts.]]> According to environmental lawyers Willms & Shier’s newsletter, Canada: Environment, Energy & Resources Law (Jan 2008), Toronto Public Health is now seeking comments on a proposal that would require stricter reporting from companies that use and emit TCE and PCE. From the proposal being circulated by TPH:

In 2007, Toronto Public Health examined a variety of chemical substances that may be released from institutional, commercial and industrial operations in Toronto and identified 25 toxic substances of priority health concern. They include carcinogens such as cadmium, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. These substances occur in the Toronto environment at levels that are of concern to health. For Toronto residents, emissions to air are the most important route of exposure to these chemicals, and hence pose the greatest health risk.

Although we know these substances are in our environment at levels that are a concern to health, we are missing important information about how these chemicals get into our environment. To be able to reduce the levels found in our environment we first need to know where they are coming from.

Canada has a pollutant tracking program called the National Pollutant Release Inventory, or “NPRI.” About 300 facilities in Toronto report to the NPRI. The majority of operations in Toronto that may use or emit chemical substances, however, are too small to meet current NPRI reporting requirements. Toronto Public Health estimates that more than 80 per cent of emissions to air of these 25 priority substances are not reported at all. The proposed Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Program would fill this gap in information. It will track the use and release of the priority chemicals from all sizes of operations.

Over the past two years, Toronto Public Health has examined similar programs used in North America and met with businesses, community organizations and other experts to decide what would work best for Toronto.

This document presents an idea about how an Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Program could work. It does not contain the actual text of a bylaw. It identifies elements such as the chemicals to be tracked, the types of businesses affected, what information they would be required to report and how the public could access the data. It also outlines some options for facilities to innovate, prevent pollution and improve competitiveness.

Download the full consultation document/proposal entitled Environmental Reporting and Disclosure from Toronto Public Health. The comment period ends February 6, 2007.

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KB Homes had hoped to build 461 residences in the 1,595-acre canyon, but those plans have been delayed since the summer of 2006 when Southwick and a cadre of residents who [...] No related posts.]]> Investigative journalist Michael Collins alerted us to this news about newly disclosed TCE detects in Runkle Canyon near where KB Homes has plans to build:

KB Homes had hoped to build 461 residences in the 1,595-acre canyon, but those plans have been delayed since the summer of 2006 when Southwick and a cadre of residents who call themselves the “Radiation Rangers” (See: “Dirty Business,” Nov. 1, 2007) questioned the safety of the project.

[…]

The Reporter has obtained a December 2007 study of offsite pollution around SSFL prepared by an Arcadia-based environmental engineering firm MWH for Boeing, NASA and the Department of Energy which shows that TCE has been detected in approximately 10 percent of several dozen groundwater samples collected on Runkle Canyon property.

[…]

Around 1.73 million gallons of TCE were used at [Santa Susana Field Laboratory] as a solvent to hose down rocket engines, as the Reporter first revealed during its investigation of the Runkle Canyon-adjacent Ahmanson Ranch development. That project tanked over toxic troubles in 2003 before becoming state park land (See: “Air Apparent,” Feb.13, 2003). Approximately 530,000 gallons of the carcinogen, which is a volatile organic compound, have seeped into the area’s groundwater. With the current rate of remediating TCE being less than 10 gallons a year at SSFL, it will take more than 50,000 years to clean up.

Read more in Down the Test Tubes at the Ventura County Reporter (CA). For additional documents that Michael uncovered and ongoing developments in the Runkle Canyon story, see his investigative environmental news website at EnviroReporter.com.

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Recently, local advocacy group Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (a.k.a. Penn Future) commissioned a report to outline for these manufacturers how they can reduce their use and emission of TCE.

According to the Philadelphia Enquirer [...] No related posts.]]> Readers may recall that there are two narrow-tube manufacturers in Pennsylvania that have caused quite a stir because of their nation-leading TCE emissions.

Recently, local advocacy group Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (a.k.a. Penn Future) commissioned a report to outline for these manufacturers how they can reduce their use and emission of TCE.

According to the Philadelphia Enquirer (PA):

The 15-page technical report, commissioned by the advocacy group Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, outlined changes that it said could reduce emissions by up to 90 percent. It came just days after Superior released a report saying its TCE emissions had been reduced by 60 percent as a result of changes made within the last several months.

Tony Jost, Superior’s president and chief executive officer, said he had not yet read the full report and could not comment on it. But he said the company’s current emissions “show the effectiveness of the voluntary reduction programs we’ve been working on. We’re very happy to have exceeded our 2007 goals, and we’re continuing to work hard on further reductions.”

Accellent spokesman Jeffrey M. Farina was unavailable yesterday.

[...]

Although the plants had largely been operating within their state permits, residents and advocates have argued that with so much at stake – according to the DEP, the increased lifetime cancer risk from the TCE emitted is as high as 1.6 people per 10,000 – the companies and regulators are doing too little.

As outlined in the consultant’s report, Penn Future’s consultant identified several steps the companies could take while cautioning against silver-bullet mentality in recommending wholesale replacement of TCE:

Superior Tube, Company Inc (Superior Tube) and Accellent, Inc. (Accellent), two narrow tube companies in the Collegeville, PA, were ranked #6 and #8 respectively, for TCE emissions in the United States in 2005. Matson & Associates, Inc. (M&A) was asked to analyze the sources of toxic TCE emissions from the two facilities and provide recommendations on ways in which these companies can reduce their TCE emissions. Pursuant to this request, M&A has identified the following three methods that when implemented, in some combination, by Superior Tube and Accellent with significantly reduce TCE emissions at their Collegeville, PA plants:

(1) Route emissions from equipment emitting significant levels of TCE to effective activated carbon (AC) systems;

(2) Install closed-loop, vacuum, or airless vacuum vapor degreasers in place of equipment currently being used to perform degreasing operations.

(3) Switch from TCE to a non-HAP formula (e.g. n-propyl bromide) in equipment currently employing TCE;

Items (1) and (2) are feasible for reducing emissions from both large and small emitters of TCE. Item (3) is best employed for small emitters. nPB is a volatile organic compound (VOC) though it is not classified as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP), as is TCE. As a VOC, it does present some safety and environmental concerns such that its release in large quantities is not desirable.

Read the full Philadelphia Inquirer story here. Or download the full consultant’s report here in PDF format.

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The annual average TCE concentrations in 2005 at the Trappe and Evansburg sites were 0.26 ppbv and 0.14 [...] No related posts.]]> On January 19, 2007, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection released the Collegeville Area Air Monitoring Report (PDF, 592K). Among the highlights of the report was the following finding which put the Collegeville/Trappe community on alert:

The annual average TCE concentrations in 2005 at the Trappe and Evansburg sites were 0.26 ppbv and 0.14 ppbv, respectively. In comparison, most other Pennsylvania sites in 2005 were near or below the 0.04 ppbv detection limit. The excess lifetime cancer risk due to TCE in 2005 was 1.60 in 10,000 at the Trappe site and 0.88 in 10,000 at the Evansburg site.

We’ve realized recently that a number of readers have arrived here in search of more information about TCE in (or because of) Collegeville and Trappe, PA. Through some very minor sleuthing, we’ve realized that at least 3 websites have emerged that are devoted to monitoring the local issue. They are great resources where folks can learn a lot more. And they’ve been kind enough to mention or link to this blog (thank you), sending a number of new readers our way.

• Talk of the Town: Investigative reporter Jon Goodman’s blog, where, “At great risk he has sought to reveal the problem, the cause and the solution.”
• Collegeville TCE Watch: Run by A Concerned Citizen who “decided to setup this blog which will be devoted to gathering information about this important issue, and getting our government representatives to fix this problem quickly.”
• 
  Concerned Citizens of Collegeville, PA: A Yahoo Groups group run by Liz D. from Trappe. She writes: I envision this site to be a place where everyone can post and read information and share their thoughts and ideas about the air quality problem in our area. A place to discuss what they’ve read in the paper, what public officials have told them and what they’ve heard at public meetings they have attended. It is also a place to discuss what progress, if any, has been made and what we can do as a community to make sure that the air quality in Collegeville/Trappe improves for us and our children.

To all who arrived here from those sites above, and to all others in search of info because of or regarding Collegeville/Trappe, welcome. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to be helpful.

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