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Fact Sheet
March 2012
Compass Plaza Well Trichloroethylene (TCE) Site, Rogersville, Missouri, Added to National Priorities List
NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST
In September 2011, EPA proposed to list the Compass Plaza Well TCE Site on the National Priorities List (NPL). On March 15, 2012, EPA finalized the addition of the Compass Plaza Well TCE Site to the NPL.
THE CONTAMINATION
TCE is a chemical which is used as a solvent to remove oils and grease from metal products. TCE is a colorless liquid with an odor similar to ether, and is a manufactured substance which does not occur naturally in the environment. Long-term exposure to this chemical at elevated levels is suspected of causing cancer, as well as problems of the liver and weakening of the immune system.
It is unknown how long TCE contamination has been present at the site. Response actions are being conducted in the area to address the potential for exposure and to determine the source of the contamination.
Although TCE has been detected in 13 of the 350 wells sampled, TCE has not been detected in the municipal wells belonging to the city of Rogersville.
BACKGROUND
In March 2010, the MDNR Public Drinking Water Branch (PDWB) found TCE in two non-community wells and one irrigation well on the western edge of Rogersville, Missouri. In response to these detections, MDNR’s Superfund Section initiated a combined Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI) and started coordination with EPA and Greene County Resource Management. Ongoing sampling by all three agencies has found detectable concentrations of TCE in 13 of the 350 wells sampled. Out of the 13 wells with detections, five drinking water wells had TCE concentrations above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 5 parts per billion (ppb).
- The MCL is the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any user of a public water system.
- A way to visualize five ppb in water is to think of it as five drops in one billion drops of water or about five drops of water in a swimming pool.
In August 2010, EPA installed five water supply treatment systems at the private residences that had TCE contamination above the MCL. All water supply treatment systems have been tested and are effectively removing TCE from these households.
In December 2010, EPA, in cooperation with the MDNR, Greene County Resource Management and the Natural Resource Conservation Service, plugged a well with high concentrations of TCE. Plugging the well helped protect ground water resources by reducing the potential of TCE spreading further into the drinking water aquifer.
These same agencies also oversaw the construction of a new drinking water well at the same location. The newly installed well was designed and constructed to prevent TCE contamination from having a direct pathway from the upper aquifer to the lower aquifer. Reducing contaminant movement between the upper and lower aquifer is particularly important at sites with underlying, complex geology.
ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS
Investigations to identify possible source areas and exposure pathways for TCE are currently being conducted by MDNR, EPA and Greene County Resource Management.
In addition, EPA plans to continue sampling private drinking water wells at no cost to the well owner. Well owners may be approached by EPA sampling contractors, or they may contact EPA to request that their well be sampled.
Whole-house carbon filtration systems are available at no cost to the residential well owners that have been identified as having TCE contamination above the MCL, and for those residents that may be impacted in the future.
If you are interested in having your well sampled, please have details regarding the well construction (well depth, casing depth, pump depth, date of construction, etc.) available when you call:
Doug Ferguson
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7221
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
ferguson.doug@epa.gov
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Detailed site information is available at the following locations during regular business hours:
Rogersville City Hall
211 East Center Street
Rogersville, Missouri 65742
Rogersville Public Library
100 West Clinton Street
Rogersville, Missouri 65742
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
A Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides money for activities that help your community participate in decision making at eligible Superfund sites. An initial grant up to $50,000 is available to qualified community groups so they can contract with independent technical advisors to interpret and help the community understand technical information about their site.
For more information regarding Technical Assistance Grants or general site information, please contact:
Benjamin Washburn
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7364
Toll-free: 800-223-0425
washburn.ben@epa.gov