Location: Abbeville, Louisiana
Site History: The Ceramic Shop site is one of Broussard Chemical Company (BCC) tank farms located on the east side of the Vermilion River. A discharge was reported at the facility in the early to mid 1990s after strong odors were noticed in the vicinity of one of the tanks. Following the discharge, all hazardous wastes were removed, tanks were emptied and cleaned, and samples were collected and analyzed. Several site inspections/assessments were completed between 1996 and 2016.
Objective: Leaaf was contracted by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to perform various work orders at Ceramic Shop Tank Farm, a site formerly used by BCC. Leaaf obtained access agreements and prepared two Additional Work Plans, Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs), Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Plans, and Health and Safety Plans (HASPs). The plans were executed in two events. The site investigation involved installation of soil borings, temporary and permanent monitoring wells; soil, groundwater, air, and waste characterization sampling, and disposal of hazardous wastes.
Groundwater Sampling: Leaaf sampled previously-established MW-1, MW-2, and MW-3. Results were reported to LDEQ in a Groundwater Monitoring Report. All three wells contained one or more Constituents of Concern (COCs) including several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), two semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), arsenic, and volatile petroleum hydrocarbons (VPH) that exceeded Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Program (RECAP) screening standards. Glycols were not detected, but the detection limit exceeded the applicable RECAP standards. Periodic groundwater monitoring continues as requested by LDEQ on an annual basis.
RECAP Site Investigation: A RECAP site investigation was performed by Leaaf during which eight boreholes were advanced and sampled (LB1 through LB7 were advanced to 36 feet [ft.] below ground service [bgs], and SS1 was advanced to three ft bgs). Three monitor wells and three temporary wells were installed and sampled for VOCs, SVOCs, pesticides/herbicides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals, VPH and extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH), and glycols. Groundwater exceeded RECAP screening standards for VOCs, SVOCs, metals, and VPH; surface soils exceeded RECAP screening standards for VOCs, SVOCs, metals, PCBs, EPH, and VPH; and subsurface soils exceeded RECAP screening standards for VOCs and VPH. Concentrations of VOCs exceeded RECAP enclosed space standards in surface soils; therefore, indoor air sampling was recommended.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Investigation: Leaaf conducted indoor air sampling for VOCs and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) at the on-site warehouse and adjacent hardware store. Analytical results obtained from site investigation activities confirmed an impact to the indoor air. Indoor air analytical results indicated elevated concentrations of COCs in excess of the RECAP Standard. COCs detected in excess of the RECAP Standard included: acetone, benzene, toluene, and TPH (C6-C10).
