뉴저지, 이브스햄 타운십에 위치한 엘리스(Ellis) 공해방지 사업 부지의 토양이 테트라클로로에틸렌(Tetrachloroethylene)과 다른 유해한 환경 화학물들로 인해 오염되어 그 아래 위치한 지하수까지 오염이 확산되고 있는 것으로 드러났다.

 

이에 따라 미국 환경보호협회(EPA)는 근교 농업 용수와 음용수로 사용되었던 위 부지의 지하수를 고려해 해당 지역의 정화 작업에 착수하겠다고 발표하였다.

"깨끗한 음용수는 EPA가 생각하는 최우선 과제입니다. 토양 안에 함유된 독성 화학물질들을 감소시킴으로서, 우리는 지하수의 오염을 막고 공공과 환경의 건강을 지켜낼 것입니다."라고 EPA 뉴저지 광역 지부장, Judith A. Enck.는 밝혔다. "이번 계획은 세심한 정화를 보장할 것입니다. EPA는 이번 계획의 완전한 실행을 위해 공공의 관심과 지원 또한 기다리고 있습니다."

 

NEW YORK, NY, July 12, 2013 -- The soil at the Ellis Property Superfund site in Evesham Township, N.J., is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene and other volatile organic compounds that are polluting groundwater under the site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed plan to clean up the polluted area as groundwater there has historically served as a drinking water source and a source for irrigation of farmland nearby.

"Clean drinking water is a top priority for the EPA. By reducing toxic chemicals in the soil, the EPA will be protecting people's health and the environment by preventing these chemicals from polluting groundwater," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "This plan ensures a thorough cleanup. The EPA encourages public input on the proposed plan."

In this proposed second and final phase of the cleanup, the EPA will excavate 67,500 cubic yards of soil. Clean soil would be used as backfill and contaminated soils would be disposed of at an EPA-approved disposal facility. Although groundwater levels are expected to reach cleanup goals soon after the contaminated soil is removed, the groundwater treatment system will be kept in place for approximately one more year to further reduce groundwater contaminants. The EPA will conduct quarterly groundwater monitoring for the first year following this cleanup, followed by annual groundwater monitoring for the next nine years.

The EPA is requesting public comments on the proposed plan and will hold a public meeting on July 24, 2013 at 6:30 p.m., in the Municipal Courtroom at the Evesham Township Municipal Building at 984 Tuckerton Road, Marlton, N.J. Comments will be accepted until August 9, 2013.

In 1992, the EPA issued its first cleanup plan for the site. During this cleanup, contaminated soil was removed, and a system to extract and treat contaminated ground water was constructed. Tests performed in 2006 and 2007 revealed continued tetrachloroethylene contamination in soil below the water table. Despite the ongoing operation of the ground water treatment system at the site, tetrachloroethylene from the soil continues to contaminate the ground water.

The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs to taxpayers. After sites are placed on the Superfund list of the most contaminated waste sites, the EPA searches for parties responsible for the contamination and holds them accountable for the costs of investigations and cleanups. In this instance, the EPA was unable to identify a viable party to pay the cleanup costs. The EPA estimates the cost of this cleanup will be $13.6 million.

[출처: Waterworld / 2013년 7월 12일]