[Durham INC] FW: Clarification: Contaminated Dry-Cleaning Sites

Thu Jun 25 15:23:05 EDT 2009

for what it's worth, i have received a couple of emails from John Powers at NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources in response to my query about participation in the program. They are copied below, in reverse chronological order. 

I don't think anyone is overreacting to this, Bill. Just asking for clarification about a potential carcinogen in our drinking water, and the programs that are currently in place to remediate this situation, which i think it's fair to say, virtually no one on the list knew about before this week. I am so far satisfied with the level of communication from the state.

Barry Ragin

===============

Mr. Ragin, 

The site is called Model Laundry (032-0007).  I am checking with the Inactive 
Hazardous Sites Program to see if they have assigned it a priority ranking and 
will get back to you on that this afternoon. 

Thanks, 
John 

-----Original Message----- 
From: bragin at nc.rr.com [bragin at nc.rr.com] 
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:21 AM 
To: Powers, John 
Subject: RE: [Durham INC] FW: Clarification: Contaminated Dry-Cleaning Sites 

Thanks for the response. Can you clarify which site is not participating in the 
voluntary program, and where they stand on the "priority list for cleanup"? 

thanks, 
Barry Ragin 
---- "Powers wrote: 

============= 
Mr. Ragin, 

The Dry-Cleaning Solvent Cleanup Program that I oversee is a voluntary program 
that persons responsible for dry-cleaning contamination can participate in.  If 
they elect not to volunteer or withdraw from the program, their site is referred 
to the Inactive Hazardous Sites Program within the Division of Waste Management 
where they will be placed on a priority list for cleanup.  Here, they will be 
required to clean up the site at their own expense.  The site may also be 
screened by the Federal Superfund Program if significant threat is posed to 
human health or the environment and the responsible party will also be required 
to pay for cleanup if it qualifies for that program. 

Thanks for your question. 

John Powers 

---- TheOcean1 at aol.com wrote: 

=============

There is a need for quick reaction, but not to dig up parking lots.

Definitely think we should NOT over react to this.
Rather doubt folks standing at the bus stop next to the Trinity  
Park/Northgate Site, are in any danger, any more than the employees of the  Bank were 
long ago, and then a Men's clothing store for many years, and  later a 
church, all operated on that site without much difficulty. 

But we do have a right to know, and we've asked for information, and  
answers seem to be forthcoming.

Transparency is the objective, but I don't see too much urgency in the need 
 to react to the 12 sites in question, specifically. 

What requires our instant attention is a movement underway from the dry  
cleaning industry, to shorten the notification time. I'm speaking from a great 
 lack of information, don't know what the current "notification period" is, 
but  doubt we'll be served well by shortening it.

Just don't think we need to worry about the kids playing near the old  
Scott's and Robert's site off Washington, after all, the site that brought this  
into focus was a dry cleaning establishment that operated 35 years ago.

The urgency as I see it, is not permitting any changes in this particular  
law until we better understand the problem at hand. (and remaining calm 
while we  do that)

Just my two cents,

Bill Anderson

In a message dated 6/24/2009 10:44:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
forchange at earthlink.net writes:

Thanks  for the information from all. 

To add to Barry's concerns which I  share, it seems from the map that the 
'certified' site right across from   Central Park School for Children may be 
'decertified' if the owners don't sign  on. 

"DSCA Site ID 320011Scott And Roberts Dry Cleaners Site Status: On  
HoldProject Manager: Dianne ThomasThis site is on hold. It will be decertified  if 
petitioner refuses to sign new Assessment and Remediation  Agreement."

Clarification of what makes a 'certified' vs not  'certified' site more or 
less active--or toxic for that matter--would be  welcome. 

There's a couple hundred children within that potential plume  
range--certified or not.

Thanks,
Mary Wible-Brennan  

-----Original Message-----
>From: Barry Ragin  <bragin at nc.rr.com>
>Sent: Jun 24, 2009 10:22 PM
>To: INC INC  <inc-list at durhaminc.org>, john.powers at ncdenr.gov
>Subject: Re:  [Durham INC] FW: Clarification: Contaminated Dry-Cleaning  
Sites
>
>"Just to clarify (as stated in the site update) one of  the 13 sites 
>(032-0007) _was_ in our cleanup program but was removed  when the 
>property owner refused to cooperate with the  program."
>
>I confess that i don't always get it when people talk  about property 
>rights, but how is it possible that a property owner  can opt out of a 
>program like this? Doesn't this kind of   contamination often extend 
>beyond the property line to affect  groundwater that other property 
>owners draw from their own wells? Is  it just a coin toss whether you 
>live next to someone who chooses to  participate or not when it comes to 
>having con-carcinogenic  groundwater?
>
>Barry Ragin
>
>Hester, Rick  wrote:
>>
>> Here is the website that Burt received that  shows you all of the sites 
>> in North Carolina.  The  interactive map is very easy to use.  Please 
>> read the  response from John Powers.
>>
>>   
>>
>> http://www.ncdsca.org/welcome.htm 
>>  
<https://exchange.ci.durham.nc.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ncdsca.org/welcome.htm>
>>
>>   
>> */Rick Hester/*
>> *NIS Manager*
>>  *Neighborhood Improvement Services*
>> *560-1647 x 236  Office*
>> *730-6349 Mobile* 
>>
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>   
>>
>> *From:* Powers, John  [mailto:john.powers at ncdenr.gov]
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 24, 2009  4:11 PM
>> *To:* Rauch, Burton
>> *Cc:* Meyer, Billy;  Butler, Jack
>> *Subject:* Clarification: Contaminated Dry-Cleaning  Sites
>>
>>  
>>
>>  Burt,
>>
>>  
>>
>> Just to clarify  (as stated in the site update) one of the 13 sites 
>> (032-0007)  _was_ in our cleanup program but was removed when the 
>> property  owner refused to cooperate with the program.  There is a 
>>  chance it will come back in if property ownership changes and the new  
>> owner wants to participate.  So technically, there are 12  sites that 
>> are now in the program.
>>
>>   
>>
>> John
>>
>>   
>>
>> *From:* Powers, John
>> *Sent:* Wednesday,  June 24, 2009 3:48 PM
>> *To:* Burt Rauch  (Burton.Rauch at durhamnc.gov)
>> *Cc:* Meyer, Billy; Butler,  Jack
>> *Subject:* Contaminated Dry-Cleaning  Sites
>>
>>  
>>
>>  Burt,
>>
>>  
>>
>> Attached is the  site status update.  Annual reports for our program 
>> can be  viewed at the following link:
>>
>>   
>>
>>  http://www.ncdsca.org/welcome.htm
>>
>>   
>>
>> There are actually 13 contaminated sites in Durham  County that are now 
>> in our cleanup program.  Please let me  know if you have any questions.
>>
>>   
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>  John
>>
>>  
>>
>> /John Powers  <John.Powers at ncdenr.gov  <mailto:John.Powers at ncmail.net>>/
>>
>> /Head,  Special Remediation Branch/
>>
>> /NC DENR - Div. of Waste  Management - Superfund Section/
>>
>> /(919)  508-8470/
>>
>> // 
>>
>> /E-mail  correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the 
>>  North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third  
parties./
>>
>>  
>>
>>   
>>
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>  Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C.  
>> Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third  parties.
>>
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>> Durham INC Mailing  List
>> list at durham-inc.org
>>  http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
>>    
>_______________________________________________
>Durham INC  Mailing  List
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