Whirlpool says TCE pollution plume reduced up to 80% in some areas

Whirlpool claimed in a Nov. 17 letter to Fort Smith City Administrator that levels of toxic potentially cancer causing trichloroethylene (TCE) hasv been reduced by as much as 80% in some areas impacted by the plume.

In making the claim that TCE concentrations have been reduced by as much as 80% following chemical oxidation treatments, Whirlpool Vice President Jeff Noel told Gosack the drop is representative of all but two areas of the plume.

"Natural attenuation of TCE is also occurring in both onsite and offsite groundwater," Noel said. "The success of the second oxidant injection effort is anticipated to be further evident after receipt and assessment of the 4th Quarter groundwater monitoring data."

The information was included in the company's 2014 third quarter progress report and comes just months after a Sept. 29 memo from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality that indicated the TCE plume was spreading. Whirlpool disputed the finding late last month.

Noel said data continues to support Whirlpool's assertions that the TCE plume is not growing but in some cases decreasing, as noted above.

"Data from both the south plume beneath the Whirlpool property and the north plume extending past Ingersoll Avenue indicate that both plumes were stable to decreasing, though the expected seasonal variability of plume boundaries was evident at select locations."

He said the total amount of TCE pollution could be limited to just a few gallons of the chemical in the groundwater below the Whirlpool plant and homes in the area.

"To supplement the tools for measuring the impact of our remediation efforts, an analysis of the third quarter groundwater data was conducted to provide an estimate of the amount of TCE in the groundwater," he wrote. "This analysis determined that the total quantity of the TCE distributed throughout the north groundwater plume is between less than 1 gallon and a maximum of 2 gallons, and between 2 gallons and a maximum of 8 gallons are present in the south plume beneath the Whirlpool property. These conservative estimates provide further confirmation that TCE in the groundwater is limited and contained."

According to Noel, an investigation was initiated by the company to determine any movement of the plume, adding that the results found "no TCE impacts are migrating beyond the property boundaries, except at the locations previously investigated at the northwest and northeast corners of the former manufacturing building property."

Any risks from vapor containing TCE as well as groundwater are below ADEQ-set limits, he added, adding that there are no changes to health risks. To deal with a discovery of additional TCE near the northwest corner of the Whirlpool site, ADEQ did recommend soil removal, which Whirlpool has fought vigorously, having only removed about 300 cubic yards of soil.

Environmental consultant Michael Ellis, a principal at ENVIRON – Whirlpool's agent in dealing with the pollution problem caused by the use of a degreasing agent until the 1980s at its now-shuttered facility – said removing additional soil would be pointless and would create "significant additional complications that would negatively affect the progress of onsite and offsite remediation, as well as the redevelopment of the overall site."

Ellis also noted that remediation plan calls for "capping" the site, which would mean a concrete or asphalt layer would be placed on the soil to prevent digging and any soil vapor rising from the contaminated site. The plan calls for the capping in addition to chemical oxidation treatments.

"The selected management method of onsite impacted soils under the RADD (remediation plan) is capping and containment, not removal of soil below the RAL. This method was chosen precisely because soil removal would neither reduce the risk of exposure to onsite workers or area residents not would it materially impact the offsite groundwater contamination."

Ellis also said soil removal above what has already been completed would present "several engineering and operational setbacks."

"Substantial additional soil removal would threaten the structural integrity of the former manufacturing building and stability of the electrical substation," he said. "It would also require de-watering operations. These issues would likely complicate and delay completion of the remediation activities required under the RADD and the ongoing redevelopment of the property."

The quarterly update provided on Nov. 17 was requested by the Fort Smith Board of Directors in addition to reporting required by the ADEQ.