Date : Mon, 5 Dec 2016 17:18:41 -0500
EPA Holds Meeting on Additional 1,4 Dioxane at Ringwood Ford Superfund Site
Report Shows More 1,4 Dioxane Spread in New Areas
The EPA will hold a Public Information Meeting on the October findings of groundwater contamination at the Ford Superfund Site tomorrow in Ringwood. They have released findings that showing high levels of 1,4 dioxane and other toxins that are spreading into new areas. In Peters Mine Pit AOC, groundwater samples found 1,4-dioxane above its New Jersey Interim Generic Groundwater Quality Criterion (NJISGWQC) of 0.4 ug/L in 17 samples. 1,4-dioxane comes from the paint sludge Ford dumped at the site in the 1960s and 1970s. This discovery is only part of the on-going battle against the toxic site that the EPA refuses to clean up properly. By failing to clean-up this site, the EPA has been doing what’s wrong for the Ramapough people for more than 40 years. The meeting will take place tomorrow at 7pm at Ryerson Middle School, 130 Valley Road, Ringwood, New Jersey.
“The findings of 1,4 dioxane at the Ringwood Ford Superfund site is another terrible blow to the Ramapough community who have suffered from Ford’s contamination for far too long. Now that the EPA has issued this report, we need to know what they are going to do to address all of this toxic contamination. For the past 40 years, EPA has looked the other way instead of protecting public health and the environment. This report is the final straw that must force Ford to completely remove the 166,000 tons of paint sludge and other toxics instead of letting them off the hook for millions of dollars,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “It is shameful that the EPA said recently said they will leave the clean-up plan up to Ringwood who may build a Recycling Center that leaves all of Ford’s pollution in the ground. We must stand together with the Ramapough to fight for a real clean-up that the people of Upper Ringwood deserve.”
The findings of 1,4 dioxane at Peters Mine Pit include higher concentrations reported at RW-11D at (73.4 ug/l), which is greater than previously reported concentrations of 26J and 17.9 ugL. At well RW-3DD a concentration of 152 ugL was reported which is higher than the historically reported concentrations of 20 and 8.95 ug/L at this bedrock well location. Pace Analytical also reported 1,4-dioxane concentrations for RW-11D and RW-3DD of 54.4 and 20.9 ug/L, respectively via carbon isotope analysis. The EPA found that 1,4-dioxane is more likely to cause cancer than previously thought: Cancer could occur in one person out of 1 million exposed to 0.35 milligrams per liter of the chemical over a lifetime. However, the federal government has yet to develop a national standard for the chemical in water supplies.
“EPA’s findings of 1,4 dioxane in 17 samples of groundwater at Peter’s Mine is an alarm bell going off that immediate action must take place to clean-up Ford’s toxic legacy. We are very concerned that this pollution is continuing to spread into new areas, further risking public health and the environment,” said Jeff Tittel. “Not only are the Ramapough people suffering from Ford’s contamination, toxins from this site could potentially leach into the Wanaque Reservoir, which provides drinking water for three million people.”
At Peters Mine, the Groundwater was tested above its respective New Jersey Groundwater Quality Standard (NJGWQS) for benzene, a known carcinogen and above its NJIGGWQC for chloroethane. 1,4 dioxane levels were also reported above the NJISGWQC at one location in groundwater at the O’Connor Disposal Area AOC. On August 8th 2016, the EPA wrote a letter stating that they must decide whether to continue with the Recycling Center or not by November 22nd. If they decided against it, then EPA would plan to go back to the original Record of Decision that called for a full clean-up instead of capping the site. The EPA has said that if Ringwood didn’t decide by November 22nd they will enforce a full clean-up.
“EPA needs follow through with their original clean-up plan now that the Nov. 22nd deadline has passed for the Borough of Ringwood to move forward with the Recycling Center. The Record of Decision states that if a Recycling Center is not built Ford will have to clean-up the entire site rather than cap it. The capping plan was a way to save Ford $40 million. Since this plan isn’t moving forward, Ford should pay to clean up the site,” said Jeff Tittel. “Ringwood should not be allowed to cap the site since the deadline has passed. The capping plan is basically placing an asphalt overtop the hazardous materials and will eventually fail. Caps can be cracked and destroyed by buildings or sewer lines; unleashing toxic materials and gases. Metals can leach from the contaminated site and end up in our drinking water.”
In the Sally’s Pond Area 1,4-dioxane was found poradically in overburden groundwater at generally low levels with some variability indicated at certain PMP Area bedrock well locations, with the distribution generally consistent with prior sampling results. The only metals detected above their respective NJGWQS are aluminum, arsenic, iron, and sodium.
“The recent finding of the toxin 1,4 Dioxane in the town’s groundwater and brooks nearby is an alarm bell that we need a full and complete clean-up, not a cap that will keep toxins in the ground,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “These results show that the EPA must act immediately to re-open the Record of Decision. We need to help the Ramapough people get the clean-up they deserve and that means the EPA must re-open the Record of Decision and completely removing this contamination.”
The Cornerstone Environmental report can be found attached (in google document form). Analysis from the press released was sited from pages 5-15.
The report can be found here or attached: https://semspub.epa.
Ringwood Ford Superfund Site Testing by Corners... --
Toni Granato Administrative Assistant New Jersey Sierra Club office:(609) 656-7612 https://www.facebook.com/NJSierraClub @NJSierraClub and @StopPilgrimNYNJ on Twitter
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Received on 2016-12-05 14:18:41