Virginia DEQ - Current Cases

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Case Summary: A release of an unknown volume of gasoline was discovered at J&J Corner Store in Nov. 2010. Free-phase gasoline was detected in monitoring wells in the tank area and gasoline compounds were detected in the store’s well and another supply well. Trace concentrations of gasoline compounds were later detected in two other nearby supply wells…although detections in the latter 2 wells have been inconsistent. A dual-phase treatment system was installed on the store property and has been extracting free-phase, dissolved-phase, and vapor-phase gasoline since December 2010. The tanks were removed on 2/3/11, revealing a small corrosion hole in the premium tank. No significant volume of gasoline was present in the tank basin, indicating that the product removal operation had been successful. However, significant concentrations of gasoline compounds had already dissolved into the groundwater…including the highest concentrations of ethanol that DEQ had experienced to date. A Site Characterization Report was submitted to DEQ on 1/3/11 demonstrating that groundwater beneath the site flows NE. The treatment system is removing the most highly contaminated water from the leak area and is creating a slight cone-of-depression in the water table in that area. This should help to slow down the migration of contaminants off of the property. Due to rising contaminant levels in the two wells closest to the store, DEQ sent letters to 32 homeowners in the area and held a public meeting on 11/16/11. Health Dept. officials were also present to answer questions. The treatment system continues to operate. Monthly testing of the treatment system’s discharge water is performed, and monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports are submitted to DEQ to demonstrate that the water meets DEQ’s permit requirements. Corrective Action Plan Implementation Monitoring Reports are submitted quarterly and include analytical results of water samples from supply wells and monitoring wells.

Case Status Update 11/12/2012: Triad Engineering, on behalf of the responsible person, submitted a Quarterly Monitoring Report on 11/8/12. Gasoline compounds were detected in water from the new replacement well that serves the store. The initial test detected benzene at 3.1 ppb, dlocalhostopropyl ether at 1.9 ppb, and toluene at 31.7 ppb. A follow-up test (by a different contractor) detected benzene at 9.8 ppb, toluene at 10.7 ppb, and xylenes at 1.8 ppb. Because the benzene concentration was above the EPA drinking water max. contaminant level of 5 ppb, food and beverage preparation services were suspended at the store until a carbon filter was installed several days later. Due to the contamination in the new well, plans to connect the residences at 72 and 94 Shepherds Mill Rd to the store replacement well have been put on hold. To verify quality control, well water samples were collected from 94 Shepherds Mill Rd. by Triad and Culligan at the same time on 10/10/12 and analyzed by different labs. Both samples were free of petroleum compounds except for a very minor concentration of 1.1 ppb dlocalhostopropyl ether in the Triad sample. Household water for that residence, plus 72 and 42 Shepherds Mill Rd., is being treated by carbon. Contaminant concentrations increased slightly in the well at 72 Shepherds Mill Road and in the store’s old well. A very low level of toluene was detected in the well serving 238 Shepherds Mill Rd., but a follow-up test did not detect any contaminants. That well will be sampled again around 11/16/12. Contaminant concentrations have decreased slightly in some of the monitoring wells (particularly in the downgradient/perimeter wells), stayed about the same in some, and increased slightly in a couple. The decrease in concentrations in the perimeter wells is encouraging; but the slight increase in the former store well and the 72 Shepherds Mill well is not. Triad will soon be connecting the former store well and a new recovery well to the remediation system to help prevent further migration of the contaminant plume from the site. The discharge of treated groundwater from the system will be rerouted from the shoulder of Harry Byrd Hwy to a wet-weather farm pond located roughly 900’ NE of the system. Approximately 20,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater was pumped and treated between June and September. The next quarterly report is due 1/10/13. Sampling of drinking water wells and monitoring wells will be performed in the weeks prior to that date.

Case Status Update 12/4/12: Laboratory results received by DEQ on 11/27/12 indicated that four gasoline compounds were detected in the well serving 238 Shepherds Mill Road. The concentration of benzene detected in that sample was 60 ppb (parts per billion). DEQ immediately provided bottled water until a carbon filtration unit (CFU) could be installed (on 11/29/12). Because the well at 280 Shepherds Mill Road is only 300’ away and is in line with the believed contaminant plume migration, a preemptive CFU was also installed there. DEQ has requested the tank owner, through their consultant, to perform monthly monitoring at 238 and 280 Shepherds Mill Road. Additionally, more wells along the west side of Shepherds Mill Road will be added to the quarterly sampling event, which will occur within the next few weeks. DEQ is researching options for the provision of municipal water to at-risk residents.

DEQ Case Manager/Contact Person:
David Forrer
(540) 574-7837