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Home My WebLink About2012 Nov 08 - Letter from BSC Re: Notice of Down Gradient Property Status [21EiggOMGD BSC HEALTH DEPT. 15 Elkins Street November 8,2012 Boston, MA 02127 Yarmouth Board of Health Tel: 61 8 00 1146 Route 28 7 96 43 South Yarmouth,MA 02664 Soo-288-8123 Fax: 617-896-4301 RETURN RECIEPT REQUESTED www.bscgroup.com SUBJECT: Notice of Down Gradient Property Status 71 Smith's Point Road RTN 4—24073 Release of Ammonia to Groundwater Members of the Board: Pursuant to the requirements of 310 CMR 40.1403 (Massachusetts Contingency Plan)the purpose of this letter is to notify your office of the submission to DEP of a Down Gradient Property Status for property located at 71 Smiths Point Road concluding the source of the release is from 63 Smith's Point Road in Yarmouth,MA. A copy of the report entitled"Supporting Information Relative to Release Notification 71 Smith Point Road Yarmouth,MA Ammonia in Groundwater In Proximity of Potable Well" can be viewed online at DEP's website http://db.state.ma.us/dep/cleanup/sites/search.asp by typing in the site address7l Smith's Point Road.Alternatively you may contact me and I will forward to you. Based on the assessment described the above report and to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty,BSC is of the opinion that earthen filling that occurred at 63 Smiths Point Road (the abutting property)resulted in burying of tree roots, stumps,wood and vegetative organics resulting in an anaerobic condition that resulted in the wood to be decomposing in an anaerobic condition resulting in discharge of ammonia via leaching into the groundwater. The potable well at 71 Smith's Point Road,which is shallow and relies on the freshwater lens that exists in this coastal location,has been impacted with taste and odor. Should you have questions or require additional information regarding this matter,please do not hesitate to call me at(617-896-4451). Sincerely, BSC GROUP,INC. Engineers Environmental Scientists David J. Crispin,LSP Senior Associate GIS Consultants P:\Prj\4958601\ Project Control\Reports\Release Notification form and DGPS\BOH notification.docx Landscape Architects Planners Surveyors PLACE STICKER AT TOP OF ENVELOPE TO THE RIGHT OF THE RETURN ADDRESS,FOLD AT DOTTED LINE CERTIFIED MAIL TM iu;.,!Art. • As the source(anaerobic conditions from buried wood waste on abutting land) is not located on the Nolen Property, and they had no involvement in its becoming buried there, a Down Gradient Property Status will be submitted under 310 CMR 40.0180. 10.0 Conclusion The Nolen family has been detecting periodic odor/taste in their wall water for over a year. The chemical analysis of the potable well completed in October 2011 and June/July 2012 did not detect any significant contamination in the potable well water that would require any reporting to the DEP under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan. Regardless of this fact, the Nolen family continued to detect odor of band aids and cannot use their well. After continue complaints of odors/tastes, BSC installed shallow monitoring wells and collected additional samples including analysis for ammonia. The analysis in the spring and summer of 2012 resulted in detection of elevated ammonia(2.57-6.61 mg/1). These levels are well above the 1 mg/1 reporting concentration for areas relying on private wells. Based on the compilation of various plans and aerial photographs including the septic design plans for the two properties involved and a January 24, 2011 instrument survey of the fill area by Down Cape Engineering, indicted the following: Mihos Land Nolen Land Total (SF/Acres) (SF/Acres) (SF/Acres) Area of 9,700 s.f. 10,200 s.f. 19,900 s.f. clearing/alteration (0.22 acres) (0.23 acres) (0.45 acres) Area of Apparent 9,700 s.f. (0.22 6,600 s.f. 16,300 s.f. filling acres) (0.15 acres) (0.38 acres) Watershed area to 16,500 s.f. 26,500 s.f. 43,000 s.f Nolen well (0.38 acres) (0.60 acres) (0.99 acres) BSC is of the opinion that the odor/taste is from decaying buried wood on the Mihos property which is leaching into the groundwater that the Nolen's potable well is drawing from. The potable well is a shallow well drawing from 7-14 feet below grade. Concentrations likely vary with time as the inflow into the potable well can readily mix with the upper lenses of water that has been impacted by the leaching of wood waste. Varying rainfall and water table depths are likely effect the extent of the impact to the potable well. Based on the understanding that wood, roots, stumps and brush were likely buried in or under the fill on-site and on the adjacent property, it is expected that as the water table either rises into an area of buried wood, or the relatively impervious nature of the compressed former topsoil acts to perch the water resulting in the wood being saturated and becoming anaerobic (oxygen deficient) and thereby releasing materials to the groundwater resulting in the odor/taste in water in the potable well. The lack of detectable contamination in the potable well is explained by the dilution of the water as it Page 25 of 25 Smiths Point Road Yarmouth,MA RTN 4-24073 Initial Site Assessment for Groundwater Contamination • enters the well over the 7 foot long screen(resulting in vertical dilution) and the fact that the well draws horizontally from 360 degrees (including non impacted groundwater from the north and not just water from the south). It is theorized, that the ammonia laden water is floating(as low concentrations of ammonia in water are less than 1 mg/cc, i.e. less dense than water). This floating lense of ammonia ridden water is thus not being consumed by the well in an undiluted fashion. None the less, it is evident from the taste and odor experienced by the Nolen's that ammonia, and possibly other contaminants are entering the well. Based on the information collected to date, in order to remedy the condition of the anaerobic conditions that result in the leaching of the wood waste decomposition, BSC is of the opinion that the recently placed fill must be removed to eliminate the source of decaying organics (wood) and allow the groundwater to return to the condition that existed prior to the taste and odor being detected by the Nolen family and return oxygen levels in the groundwater to that which existed before filling and stop the formation of ammonia. This can be best accomplished by restoring the area of fill to its original grade. Whereas the environmental or health risk associated with the odor or taste in the water is not fully understood, consumption of the water is not advised for drinking or cooking, and as ammonia can volatilize in showering, it is recommended that showering be done outside. Additional assessment, including subsurface investigation on land of Mihos, will be required to define the extent of the release area and complete a Phase I Assessment,however as noted above, the most prudent solution towards restoring the Nolen water supply would, in BSC's opinion,be the immediate removal of the fill and restoration of the disturbed area to its pre-filling condition. The activity warrants Conservation Commission involvement and permitting. Down Gradient Property Status A Down Gradient Property Status is hereby filed by Nolen under 310 CMR 40.0180 of the Massachusetts Contingency Plan. Based on the assessment described the above report and to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, BSC is of the opinion that earthen filling that occurred at 63 Smiths Point Road(the abutting property)resulted in burying of tree roots, stumps, wood and vegetative organics resulting in an anaerobic condition that resulted in the wood to be decomposing in an anaerobic condition resulting in discharge of ammonia via leaching into the groundwater. The potable well at 71 Smith's Point Road, which is shallow and relies on the freshwater lens that exists in this coastal location, has been, in BSC' opinion, impacted with taste and odor from actions that occurred on abutting property. Page 26 of 25 Smiths Point Road Yarmouth,MA RTN 4-24073 Initial Site Assessment for Groundwater Contamination 11.0 CERTIFICATE "I certify that I have personally examined and am familiar with the information contained in this document and all attachments, and based on inquiry of those individuals immediately responsible for obtaining the information,believe that the information is true, accurate and complete." This report is dated November 8, 2012 and is signed by an individual who is duly authorized to do so. BSC GROUP, INC. ,1 1, r' David J. Crispin, LSP, PE Senior Associate Page 27 of 25 Smiths Point Road Yarmouth,MA RTN 4-24073 Initial Site Assessment for Groundwater Contamination