Whirlpool submits revised TCE mitigation plan

Whirlpool has submitted a revised remediation plan for the company's former Fort Smith manufacturing site and surrounding areas contaminated by trichloroethylene (TCE), a potentially cancer causing chemical that Whirlpool has admitted leaked from its facility on the city's south side.

In a document provided to The City Wire by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Whirlpool's environmental consultant, ENVIRON,  says it will participate in an "active site remedy."

The site Whirlpool says is polluted is an area of impacted soil and groundwater approximately 50 by 250-feet, located west of the company's former degreasing facility where TCE was used to degrease equipment until the 1980s.

"The groundwater plume extends approximately 1,000 feet to the south southwest from the source," ENVIRON said in the document.

In the new remediation plan, ENVIRON details Whirlpool's goals with the remediation plan submitted today (April 8):
• Eliminate or reduce the lateral extent or concentration of the groundwater plume both off-site and on-site;
• Eliminate or reduce the potential for unacceptable risk that may result if there are future changes in land or groundwater uses either off-site or on-site; and
• Eliminate or reduce to acceptable levels the risk from certain potential on-site groundwater contact exposures identified in the HHRA which could pose an unacceptable risk.

SOIL GAS MONITORING
In order to meet these objectives, Whirlpool has proposed on-site and off-site controls.

The on-site controls include "Groundwater In-situ Treatment via Chemical Oxidation (treatment of groundwater) and Institutional Controls."

Off-site controls include institutional controls and "monitored natural attenuation (MNA)."

The solution, ENVIRON said, have proven effective in other cleanups and should work in Fort Smith.

Included in the remediation plan, Whirlpool's consulting firm also said it would begin soil gas monitoring, which many members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors and residents of the contaminated neighborhood north of the facility have demanded.

"Whirlpool will implement a program of soil gas monitoring for a three-year period on an annual basis to monitor the soil gas concentrations to confirm that groundwater derived vapors are not migrating and that vapor intrusion continues to be an incomplete pathway," the document said.

According to a timeline included in the document, a public involvement plan could take place between June 1 and September 30. Preparation and submission of a final remedy work plan to ADEQ could also happen between May 1 and August 15.

DIRECTOR RESPONSE
When reached for comment, Fort Smith City Directors Keith Lau and Mike Lorenz said they had not received a copy of the remediation plan prior to being provided a copy by The City Wire.

Prior to reviewing the 134-page document, Lau said he wanted to see an active plan to remove TCE pollution.

"If it doesn't involve some sort of active remediation, I'm going to be irritated," Lau said.

Lorenz said after a quick review of the plan, he was happy to see what appeared to be a plan to treat contaminated soil and water in the area along with other controls, but he said he wished the company had been more forthcoming on solutions from the time Whirlpool officials first asked the city for a groundwater well drilling ban in the area, which was eventually defeated by the board on March 27.

"It's interesting that they (said) it's nearly impossible to remove it from this type of soil but this clearly says it's a viable option and a fairly easy option," he said. "The most frustrating thing for me is we're being presented with this now instead of in the beginning."

TRANSPARENCY, COMMUNICATION ISSUE
After forwarding the document to the rest of the Board and the city administration, Lorenz said he would continue pushing, along with the Board, for more transparency and improved communication between both ADEQ and Whirlpool with the city of Fort Smith, something the city has previously requested after passing a resolution that they hoped would compel both entities to include city officials in communications.

"It is concerning to me that we weren't included in the first e-mail when it was sent out," he said. "That will be a process we continue to work through."

City Administrator Ray Gosack said he also had not seen the document.

"It doesn't say much for communication," he said.

Gosack said he could not provide additional comment before reviewing the plan.

"(The next step for the city of Fort Smith will) be to ask ADEQ for a copy of the plan so we can take a look at it and see how far it goes."

Link here for a PDF (large file) of Whirlpool's revised plan.