U.S. Army Corps to probe Tanapag groundwater

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will install a groundwater well in Cemetery 2 early next year to collect samples of groundwater for testing in connection with polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.

While the U.S. Army Corps and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency believe that the groundwater is not contaminated with PCB, the concerns raised by residents of Tanapag village prompted them to conduct a thorough groundwater investigation.

“If there was problem with groundwater, we would find it in Cemetery 2 which has the highest level of PCB contamination,” said Brad Shipley, on- scene coordinator of U.S. EPA.

Groundwater to be collected will be analyzed in a laboratory in the U.S. mainland.

An administrative order issued by EPA Region IX to the US Department of Army last month noted the need for investigation of groundwater at the site. Groundwater contamination in the village has not been fully investigated since early findings during the Army’s remediation efforts in 1992 showed that seven samples of what was characterized as “water” and “infiltration” were taken.

The results of samples taken showed PCB levels ranging from .002 to .009 ppm while the maximum contaminant level for PCB in drinking water is 0.0005 mg/l.

This developed as EPA has agreed with the community on the need for additional sampling of food sources. Preliminary results of the initial testing conducted on food samples indicate that clams, yams, taro root and chicken eggs showed no levels of concern for PCBs.

However, some land crabs gathered from the vicinity of Cemetery 2 did contain PCBs. EPA will gather a number of experts that will help conduct thorough testing on food.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is preparing a “public health assessment” report for release later this year or early 2001 after reviewing the exposure history and PCB blood sampling data to be provided by the Department of Public Health. ATSDR has been assisting DPH in addressing concerns about exposure to the highly toxic chemical.

Meanwhile, the Army Corps expects the excavation of PCB contaminated soil in Cemetery 2 and 18 other sites in the village to be finished by mid-December.

Frank Ono, Army Corps representative, said the Environmental Chemical Corp. which has been contracted to carry out the cleanup expects to remove some 10,000 tons of contaminated soil.