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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. EPA Technology Innovation and Field Services Division

State Coalition for Remediation of Drycleaners Site Profiles

Nu-Look One Hour Cleaners , Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Description
Historical activity that resulted in contamination.

This is an active PCE drycleaning facility that began operations in 1984. The facility is located in a commercial/residential setting. The contaminant source area is the soil beneath the facility floor slab in the vicinity of the drycleaning machine.

Remediation Status: Site closed


Contaminants
Contaminants present and the highest amount detected in both soil and groundwater.


Contaminant Media Concentration (ppb) Nondetect
cis-1,2-Dichloroethene groundwater 39.6 ppb
cis-1,2-Dichloroethene soil 3.81 ppb
1,1-Dichloroethene groundwater 6.7 ppb
Tetrachloroethene (PCE) groundwater 46.9 ppb
Tetrachloroethene (PCE) soil 520 ppb
Trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater 11.8 ppb
Trichloroethene (TCE) soil 3.6 ppb
trans-1,2-Dichloroethene groundwater 2 ppb
Vinyl Chloride groundwater 38.3 ppb

Site Hydrology

Deepest Significant Groundwater Contamination:   35ft bgs
Plume Size:   Plume Length: 110ft
Plume Width: 35ft
Plume Thickness: 31ft
Average Depth to Groundwater:   4.05ft

Lithology and Subsurface Geology

 
  fine-grained sand with limestone gravel
Depth: 0-9ft bgs
9ft thick
Conductivity: 50ft/day
Gradient: 0.0009ft/ft
 
  weathered sandy limestone
Depth: 9-18.5ft bgs
9.5ft thick
 
  fine-grained sand
Depth: 18.5-22ft bgs
3.5ft thick
 
  sandy limestone
Depth: 22-64ft bgs
42ft thick

Pathways and DNAPL Presence

checkGroundwater
Sediments
checkSoil
DNAPL Present

Vapor Intrusion Pathway

Has the potential for vapor intrusion (VI) been evaluated?
  No
Has a vapor mitigation system been installed?
  Yes 
Type of Vapor Mitigation System(s):
  Soil Vapor Extraction

Remediation Scenario

Cleanup Goals:
  Groundwater: PCE = 3 ug/l, TCE = 3 ug/l, Cis 1,2-DCE = 70 ug/l, trans 1,2-DCE, 1,1-DCE = 7 ug/l, vinyl chloride = 1 ug/l

Soil: PCE = 30 ug/kg; TCE = 30 ug/kg, cis 1,2-DCE = 400 ug/kg

Technologies

In Situ Monitored Natural Attenuation
 

Why the technology was selected:
Monitored natural attenuation was selected for the groundwater remedy at the site because contaminant concentrations in groundwater were low and conditions were favorable for reductive dechlorination. PCE daughter products were present. It was believed that remediation of the source in the unsaturated zone would result in contaminant concentrations in groundwater diminishing to below cleanup target levels.

Next Steps:
The site has met the No Further Action criteria (without engineering or institutional controls. A Site Rehabilitation Completion Order will be issued.

Cost to Design and Implement:
All technologies: Design: $28,500 Installation & Startup: $61,100

Ex Situ Carbon Adsorption
 

Date implemented:
SVE: March 2003 SVE Restart: November 2005

Final remediation design:
The SVE system consisted of two horizontal vapor extraction wells constructed of 3-inch diameter PVC. The extraction wells were installed outside the two of the walls of the building that houses the drycleaning operation, opposite the drycleaning machine and the back of the building. The system is powered by a 10-HP rotary lobe vacuum blower. Recovered vapors are treated in a 500-lb. G.A.C. Design flow rate is 172 scfm @ 36-inches W.C.

Results to date:
The SVE system initially operated from March through October of 2003. After a rebound in contaminant concentrations in water table monitor wells located adjacent to the drycleaning facility, the SVE system was re-started and run from November 2005 until July 17,2006.

Next Steps:
The site has met the No Further Action criteria (without engineering or institutional controls. A Site Rehabilitation Completion Order will be issued.

Cost to Design and Implement:
All technologies: Design: $28,500 Installation & Startup: $61,100

Ex Situ Soil Vapor Extraction
 

Why the technology was selected:
SVE was selected because it is an effective technology for removing VOCs from permeable unsaturated sediments.

Date implemented:
SVE: March 2003 SVE Restart: November 2005

Final remediation design:
The SVE system consisted of two horizontal vapor extraction wells constructed of 3-inch diameter PVC. The extraction wells were installed outside the two of the walls of the building that houses the drycleaning operation, opposite the drycleaning machine and the back of the building. The system is powered by a 10-HP rotary lobe vacuum blower. Recovered vapors are treated in a 500-lb. G.A.C. Design flow rate is 172 scfm @ 36-inches W.C.

Results to date:
The SVE system initially operated from March through October of 2003. After a rebound in contaminant concentrations in water table monitor wells located adjacent to the drycleaning facility, the SVE system was re-started and run from November 2005 until July 17,2006.

Next Steps:
The site has met the No Further Action criteria (without engineering or institutional controls. A Site Rehabilitation Completion Order will be issued.

Cost to Design and Implement:
All technologies: Design: $28,500 Installation & Startup: $61,100

Costs

Cost for Assessment:
  $106,700
Cost for Operation and Maintenance:
  Operation & Maintenance: $48,400 Monitoring: $15,300 Site Restoration:$5,000
Total Costs for Cleanup:
  $265,100

Lessons Learned

A shallow water table at the site necessitated the use of lateral vapor extraction wells. The two lateral extraction wells were installed just outside the exterior walls of the facility. If it is at all feasible, laterals should be installed as near to the contaminant source area as possible. In this case that would have been beneath the facility floor slab. The building that houses the drycleaning operation is a slab-on-grade building. There is a footer beneath the walls of the building that extends 18 - 24 inches beneath the slab and installation of lateral vapor extraction wells beneath the footer would likely have achieved more efficient recovery of contaminants from beneath the facility. The presence of drycleanign equipment and machinery in an active drycleaning facilty often precludes the installation of piping beneath a facility floor slab.

Contacts

Aaron Cohen
Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Waste Cleanup, MS 4500
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
850-245-8974
Aaron.Cohen@dep.state.fl.us

Mike Lodato, PG, Consultant
Geosyntec Consultants
14055 Riveredge Drive, Suite 300
Tampa, Florida 33637

Phone: (813) 558-0990
E-mail: Mlodato@geosyntec.com

Site Specific References

Site Assessment Report - June 2001

Remedial Action Plan: November 2001

Construction Completion Report - May 2003

Operation & Maintenance Reports

Groundwater Monitoring Reports

 

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