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JOHN DECKER jdecker@leader.net
Wednesday, February 02, 2000 Page: 3A
JACKSON TWP. – Newhart Road resident Grant Cooper Sr. is shocked his
well is contaminated by a chemical not related to last month’s gasoline spill.
Cooper owns three of the six homes contaminated by a manmade, organic
chemical called trichloroethane or TCA, commonly used as a solvent or
degreaser to clean metal parts.
The Department of Environmental Protection does not have definitive proof
of the source of the TCA, but the agency said circumstantial evidence points
to American Asphalt Paving Co. on Chase Road.
All six homes are near the entrance to the plant. Also, DEP has been
evaluating on-site contamination of the plant’s main production well with low
levels of TCA for the last two years.
The TCA contamination was discovered during the department’s investigation
of the Jan. 19 Sun Pipe Line leak. The chemical showed up in samples taken
from private wells.
The wells on Cooper’s two properties on Chase Road and one on Newhart Road
are not among those contaminated by the gas spill.
DEP spokesman Mark Carmon said the agency received the TCA results on
Monday and affected residents were immediately notified. He said DEP officials
will meet with American Asphalt officials within the next few days.
“Anytime you find an organic chemical in drinking water, it’s cause for
concern,” Carmon said.
“It’s upsetting to have something show up in your well. Unfortunately,
these people live in an area that’s part of another investigation.”
It is unknown how long residents have been exposed to the chemical.
Bernard C. Banks, Jr., American Asphalt’s chairman of the board, executive
vice president and treasurer, felt the findings were not significant and are
nothing for nearby residents to be concerned about.
Banks also said, because DEP’s results were well below the maximum
contaminant level of 200 parts per billion, the situation “doesn’t deserve
print.”
Cooper was frantic during a discussion Tuesday and was unclear on the
magnitude of the TCA problem because many of his questions remained
unanswered. He questioned if he could drink the water or even take a shower.
The property owner assumed the worst.
“Everything I’ve been busting my back for is ruined,” he said. “I don’t
want to move. I’m too old to move.”
Carmon said the maximum levels are mandated by the federal government and
are usually conservative “to be on the safe side.” The average of the TCA
level readings was 8 parts per billion, the highest being 40 ppb. Typically,
Carmon said, there will not be a high fluctuation in the results of future
tests in cases like this.
Restrictions on water would not be put in place unless the readings reached
the maximum level.
While tests are being conducted residents affected by TCA can continue to
use bottled water being supplied by the Sun Co. because they remain in the
testing area of the gasoline spill, Carmon said.
If it’s determined American Asphalt is responsible for the contamination,
they will fall under the same rules that Sun Co. now faces, such as providing
residents an alternate source of water and funding the cleanup, Carmon said.
Call Decker at 829-7222.