by Alex Brooks
The EPA has declared the sports fields in Hoosick Falls safe for recreational use, after finding very low levels of PFOA in the soil there. A “Community Update” released by EPA on April 4 said, “Based on the data, the EPA does not plan any further actions at either the ballfields along Waterworks Road or at the Athletic Field on Barton Avenue. The EPA does not see a need for any closure or restriction of any of the fields, which were thoroughly sampled. Therefore, additional investigation is not needed in any of the areas sampled. EPA considers the soil at the fields to be acceptable for recreational use.”
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In February 2016, EPA sampled soil at the ballfields and park areas along Waterworks Road as well as throughout the Athletic Field to determine if past releases from local manufacturing facilities had contaminated the fields. Samples of soil were collected in the upper three inches and at a depth from three to twelve inches below the ground surface at 55 locations. Several samples were also collected from depths between 1.5 and 20 feet below the ground surface. Samples were analyzed for a wide range of contaminants, including PFOA and related compounds, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals.
Levels of PFOA and related compounds found in the soil ranged from non-detect to 0.021 parts per million (ppm), as compared with the EPA’s action level for PFOA in soil, which is currently 15.6 ppm. EPA said, “These levels will not necessitate any need for cleanup work in any of the areas sampled. The highest concentrations of PFOA and related compounds were generally found deeper than three inches under the surface.”
The EPA also tested for an entire suite of other contaminants, including volatile and semi- volatile compounds, PCBs and metals. Many of the compounds were not detected, and others were found at levels well below EPA action levels.
More Information
The analytical results are available on EPA’s webpage for Hoosick Falls: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/hoosick-falls-water-contamination. The EPA may participate in a public session in the future to explain the results and answer questions.
Further Soil Testing Planned
In the next phase of the EPA’s soil testing, samples will be collected from approximately 19 locations at 12 to 13 residential properties on Carey Avenue between Waterworks Road and the west end of Carey Avenue. In addition, approximately five soil and/or sediment sampling locations within the swampy area southeast of the McCaffrey Street facility, and approximately nine locations on the football field and picnic area at the end of Waterworks Road, will be sampled. A total of approximately 33 locations will be sampled. At every sampling location, samples will be collected from two shallow depths (0-3 inches and 3-12 inches below the ground surface). At approximately a third of these locations, additional samples will be collected from several deeper intervals reaching down to the water table.
The samples will be analyzed for PFOA and related chemicals, as well as volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals. Sampling results are expected to be available by mid summer. These results will be evaluated to determine whether a cleanup is needed and/or more comprehensive sampling is necessary.
The residential properties along the portion of Carey Street closest to the McCaffrey Street facility that will be sampled are considered representative of the surrounding areas and will be used to determine if an area-wide impact exists. Not all properties in the McCaffrey Street facility area will be sampled. EPA will contact residents over the next few weeks to request access for the sampling. If results indicate that more testing is necessary, additional locations may be sampled in the future.[/private]