Site Summary
The Palermo Wellfield Superfund Site is located east of Interstate 5 in Tumwater, Washington. It was added to EPA's National Priorities List in 1997.
In 1993, routine sampling detected trichloroethylene (TCE), a common industrial solvent, in three of the City's drinking water wells. Sources of the TCE include former and current Washington Department of Transportation facilities. In addition, tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was found in the groundwater from a dry cleaning facility in the commercial area.
EPA completed several "Early Actions" including installing a soil vapor extraction system beneath the dry cleaning facility, and two air stripping towers at the City wellfield. A final cleanup plan (Record of Decision) was completed in 1999. Cleanup was completed in 2001, including building a subdrain and lagoon system to control groundwater levels in the Palermo neighborhood.
EPA completed a review of the cleanup in 2003 and found that additional assessment of the subdrain system was needed to make sure residents in the Palermo neighborhood are not being exposed to TCE and PCE in indoor air. EPA has been monitoring the air inside some homes and crawlspaces to make sure there are no immediate health concerns. Another review is scheduled for 2008.
Decision Documents
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