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Green Remediation Focus

Delfasco Forge

Grand Prairie, Texas

Superfund, NPL

Image Gallery

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TAGA Van
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Crawl Space Exhaust System
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Exterior Vent
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Solar Panel


Cleanup Objectives: Mitigate offsite trichlorothene (TCE) vapor migrating through soil into indoor air of residential properties from a contaminated ground water plume that resulted from the site's past use as a munitions manufacturing and forge operation since the 1950s.

Green Remediation Strategy: Employ onsite sampling and analytical techniques during site investigations, and use renewable energy to power exhaust systems addressing TCE vapor intrusion.

  • Deployed EPA's mobile laboratory to collect and analyze soil and air samples in the vicinity of over 80 homes and private properties overlying the estimated groundwater plume.
  • Conducted passive air sampling within a targeted four-block area to further define the plume.
  • Installed an exhaust system consisting of a conventional 6-inch fan, operating at a rate of 200 cubic feet per minute, in the crawl space of buildings with TCE concentrations above the 14 µg/m3 action level.
  • Connected each exhaust system through exterior-wall wiring to a 10- by 16-inch 10-watt solar panel mounted on the building's roof.
  • Made available to each building owner a 24-volt battery with a lifespan of 5-7 years to ensure continuous operation of the exhaust system.

Results:

  • Reduced materials, time, and costs associated with offsite laboratory analysis of soil and air samples, through onsite use of equipment such as a trace atmospheric gas analyzer and summa-type canisters.
  • Employed passive air sampling techniques providing continuous, real-time analytical results that optimize field decisions regarding locations for follow-on sampling.
  • Installed each exhaust system within two days, including less than one hour for the solar equipment.
  • Incurred equipment costs of only $200 for the fan and solar panel, plus $50 for the battery, needed for each building.
  • Achieved an immediate 95% reduction in TCE vapor in each building's interior following exhaust system installation.
  • Avoided a building owner burden estimated at $96 each year for electricity to power the exhaust system, through use of solar energy.
  • Mitigating offsite vapor intrusion until the contaminated ground water plume at Delfasco Forge is successfully treated through technologies such as soil vapor extraction.

Property End Use: Continued occupancy of nearby buildings, while onsite Superfund cleanup progresses

Point of Contact: Hope Schroeder, U.S. EPA Region 6

Update: August 2024

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