News Releases from Region 04
EPA Sampling Results announced for Macon Naval Ordnance Plant Superfund site in Macon, Ga.
ATLANTA - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the status of its vapor intrusion sampling conducted at the Macon Naval Ordnance Plant Superfund site in Macon, Ga. Funded by EPA, the sampling focused on the Freudenberg Texbond facility, located down gradient of the Navy's former wastewater treatment plant. During the week of February 23, 2015, EPA activities included:
On April 7, EPA informed Freudenberg Texbond of the sampling results. The company took immediate steps to increase the air exchange rate in the Line 7 Building break room, thereby limiting worker exposures. Subsequently, on April 20th/21st, EPA collected two additional 24-hour indoor air samples in the break room.
Next Steps
Additional air sampling will be conducted at the site using EPA's Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) mobile lab. The TAGA can analyze air samples in real time, without waiting on laboratory turnaround times. EPA's TAGA investigation is tentatively scheduled for the week of August 24, 2015.
Using the TAGA, EPA will investigate where the vapors may be entering the Line 7 Building break room. Using historical groundwater data, the TAGA will also sample indoor air in other buildings located on Bibb County's Allied Industrial Park, to ensure there are no other vapor intrusion issues.
Background
The US Navy and its contractors produced ordnance at the site Plant from before World War II until approximately 1973. The ordnance manufactured included flares, small primers, detonators, and other triggering mechanisms. The site is currently operated by Bibb County as Allied Industrial Park and was placed on Superfund's National Priorities List in May 2013. Groundwater at the site is contaminated with TCE from the Navy's former waste water treatment plant. TCE is one of the most common contaminants found on Superfund sites across the country. TCE is a volatile organic compound that can volatize from contaminated groundwater and seep through foundations to contaminate indoor air at levels of concern. This process is known as vapor intrusion. EPA's knowledge of and experience with assessment and mitigation of the vapor intrusion pathway has increased considerably in recent years. EPA's VI guidance was finalized in June 2015 and can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/vaporintrusion/.
For more information about the site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region4/superfund/sites/fedfacs/maconnavalga.html
Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast