EPA widens scope of PCB probe

United States Environmental Protection Agency experts are widening the scope of investigation on PCB contamination in Tanapag as contractors propose to include testing of underground waters off Tanapag Bay.

Environmental Chemical Corporation officials are now working on the cost estimate and a project plan that would pave the road for the expanded investigation in order to determine how polychlorinated biphenyl move through the water.

The widened scope of testing would also help identify the extent of possible underwater PCB contamination.

US Army Corps of Engineer on-site representative Franklin A. Ono yesterday disclosed the move has been initiated by ECC in efforts to examine possible deposits of PCB oil off Tanapag waters.

Mr. Ono said EPA officials and the Army Corps of Engineer will study the proposal as soon as ECC completes the project plan.

Based on the Tanapag Phase III Construction Status Summary of EPA Region-9 and ACOE, sampling and excavation activities are ongoing at the Tanapag Village.

So far, Mr. Ono said first round excavations in the coral road were completed on Feb. 3 and contaminated soil was transported to the staging area where it was stockpiled.

Soil samples from Site A which include the old headstart building have been analyzed by the ECC field laboratory and 50 percent of the entire site will undergo a second round of excavation.

Mr. Ono said all ECC field laboratory tests show PCB concentration along the Tanapag Bay is less than one part per million PCB and once EPA samples have been collected and analyzed, back filling will begin the soonest possible time.

The on-site representative explained that berms and fencing of Site A and Site AACC will remain in place until back filling, excavation and restoration of the site are completed.

Because of the continued excavation activities in the coral road, Mr. Ono said it will remain closed to traffic until Feb. 24 while authorization for the demolition of the old headstart building has not been forwarded yet to ECC.

He said ECC has been tasked to ensure that the cleanup goals are clearly followed and expanded areas for excavation have been identified already from current sampling.

And because of the deeper and wider scope of the PCB contamination, Mr. Ono said all village sites will not be back filled until late this month.

The excavation activities received barrage of criticism from Tanapag residents who have been pressing for the shipment of PCB-laced soil out of Saipan to the mainland US. (EGA)