CBS Vanport HSCA Response

Background

The Vanport Township Municipal Authority (VTMA) owns and operates a water supply system that serves the residents of Vanport Township, Brighton Township, and Ohioville Borough in Beaver County. In January 1988, samples from various points in the VTMA water supply system indicated the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial solvent commonly used as a degreaser for metal parts. TCE is a carcinogen with significant health risks. For that reason, state and federal regulations limit the maximum concentration of TCE in drinking water to 5 parts per billion (ppb).Sample results from groundwater wells upgradient of the VTMA water supply system showed TCE levels above 100 ppb.

A former Westinghouse facility is located in Vanport approximately 1,500 feet north of the Ohio River and the VTMA water supply system. Between 1947 and 1987, Westinghouse used TCE at the facility for degreasing metal parts and components. In 1988 and 1989, investigations by both DEP and Westinghouse found TCE in the groundwater including the aquifer used by VTMA to supply water to the residents of Vanport Township, Brighton Township, and Ohioville Borough.

In June 1989, Westinghouse entered into a Consent Order and Agreement (COA) with DEP requiring Westinghouse to do the following:

• Install air stripping towers at the VTMA to treat the water as necessary to ensure that TCE in the water provided to residents is below the Safe Drinking Water standard of 5 ppb.
• Sample the raw water from the VTMA pumping wells and groundwater monitoring wells in the VTMA aquifer and submit monthly progress reports to DEP.
• Reimburse VTMA for the costs of operation and maintenance of the air stripping towers.
• Continue paying for the stripping towers until, for 15 consecutive monthly monitoring periods, the raw water entering the towers shows TCE at less than 5 ppb.
• Reinstate payments for operation and maintenance of the air stripping towers if future sampling shows that TCE in the raw water entering the towers is 5 ppb or greater.

In 1995, CBS Corporation merged with Westinghouse and became responsible for Westinghouse’s environmental liabilities.

CBS continued its payment for the air stripping towers at the VTMA until June 2016. In June 2016, CBS advised DEP that sample results showed that TCE in the raw, untreated water entering the air stripping towers had been below 5 ppb since October 2012. CBS advised that, consistent with the 1989 COA, it would no longer pay to sample the raw water entering the towers. CBS advised it was stopping payments for the operation and maintenance costs of the towers. CBS advised that while it would no longer sample the raw water entering the towers, it would sample select groundwater wells until sometime in June 2017. It should be emphasized that the raw water entering the air stripping towers at the VTMA currently meets the TCE Safe Drinking Water standard of 5 ppb. Nonetheless, elevated levels of TCE in upgradient groundwater wells indicates that contamination of the aquifer in the area still exists and its proximity to the VTMA drinking water wells remains a concern. Although CBS believes that operation of the air strippers is not currently necessary given the sampling data it has collected and having met the requirements stipulated in the 1989 COA, VTMA continues to operate the stripping towers through its own funds to safeguard against any future threat of unsafe levels of TCE in drinking water provided to its customers.

Information Sheet (PDF)

What's New

In August and October 2024, DEP’s contractor submitted final reports. These documents can be found in the Interim Response section below.

Interim Response

DEP took a limited interim response under the Pennsylvania Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act to address the TCE in the upgradient groundwater and the potential for unsafe levels of TCE to migrate to the VTMA water supply system.

DEP evaluated three alternatives to address the ongoing threat of TCE:

1. Take no action;
2. Subsidize monthly sampling of the raw water entering VTMA’s air stripping towers, as well as select groundwater wells in the VTMA aquifer; or
3. Continue monthly sampling of raw water entering the towers and of groundwater wells in the VTMA aquifer; undertake fate and transport modeling of the TCE groundwater plume using existing groundwater data and additional data as needed, to better understand the direction and strength of groundwater flow; collect soil and surface water samples to better define areas that might be feeding TCE into the groundwater; and assess the efficiency, future viability, and alternatives to the VTMA air stripping towers and the pump and treat system operating at the Westinghouse facility.

DEP selected the third alternative, which will cost approximately $600,000. This alternative is cost-effective and protective, as it should:

• Provide DEP a better basis to assess the TCE threat to the VTMA water supply system and steps needed to address that threat; and
• Assure that the air stripping towers and pump and treat system are operating with optimal efficiency and with the least risk of breakdown.

On January 24, 2018, DEP’s contractor submitted a final work plan for the site.

• Final Work Plan (PDF)

In August and October 2024, DEP’s contractor submitted final reports.

Site Investigation – Groundwater Evaluation Final Report (PDF)

VTMA Water Treatment System Evaluation Final Report (PDF)

Public Participation

Public Comment Period on Administrative Record:

DEP accepted public comments on the administrative record until April 14, 2017.

Public Hearing:

DEP held a public hearing to receive oral comments for inclusion in the administrative record on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Prior to taking public testimony, DEP presented information on the site and its proposed response.

More Information on the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) Program

Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program page