March 13, 2001 GeoInsight Project 2532-001
Mary Ellen Stanton
United States Environmental Protection Agency
One Congress Street, Suite 1100
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2023
Re: Review of EPA Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation Report
W.R. Grace Site
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Dear Ms. Stanton:
On behalf of Alewife Neighbors, Inc. (ANI), GeoInsight, Inc. (GeoInsight)
reviewed the February 2001 Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation Report
(Report) prepared by Roy F. Weston, Inc. (Weston) for the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The objective of the preliminary
assessment was to evaluate suspected asbestos impacts in surface soil. The
following activities were conducted as part of the preliminary assessment:
ˇ Weston collected 52 grab soil samples from 0 to 3 inches below grade
surface (bgs) for asbestos analysis by polarized light microscopy (PLM). Of
the 52 soil samples, 39 samples were collected from the W.R. Grace property,
3 samples were collected near the MBTA Alewife Red Line Head House, 5 samples
were collected from City of Cambridge property including Russell Field Park,
and 5 samples were collected from the vicinity of the One Alewife Center
building. Three samples of suspected asbestos-containing material (SACM)
were collected from the W.R. Grace property. Samples were not collected from
the vicinity of the "Former Ice Cream Factory" on the W.R. Grace property
located on the north side of Whittemore Avenue.
ˇ Trace (<1%) concentrations of asbestos were detected in 10 soil samples.
These 10 samples were located in the Zone 2 and Zone 4 areas.
ˇ A total of 28 of the samples collected for PLM analysis were analyzed by
transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Only one soil sample (COC-01)
collected from the City of Cambridge property near the intersection of Harvey
Street and the Access Road was analyzed by TEM. Soil samples collected from
Russell Field were not analyzed by TEM. Asbestos (mostly chrysotile) was
detected in 27 of the 28 samples at concentrations ranging from 0.0002 to
0.0300% by weight. The highest asbestos concentrations detected in soil
samples by TEM were to the west of the parking area (samples WRG-05 and
WRG-06). Intermediate asbestos concentrations were reported in the soil
samples collected from Zone 2 and the central portion of Zone 4, and the
lowest asbestos concentrations were reported in the samples collected from
the southern portion of Zone 4 and Zone 5.
ˇ Fragments of suspected asbestos-containing material (SACM) were encountered
to the east of the bioremediation beds. Three samples of the SACM were
collected for analysis by PLM. The SACM was identified as a concrete-like
material with visible fibers; the field description of the material indicated
that it was non-friable. Asbestos was reported in each sample at a
concentration of 15% by volume.
ˇ A pallet of ZonoliteŽ attic insulation, a W.R. Grace product that is
suspected to be asbestos-containing, was observed in one of the Grace
buildings.
ˇ Four personal air monitor samples were analyzed for asbestos by phase
contrast microscopy (PCM). The analytical results for the PCM samples were
not included in the Report. The Report indicated that one of the personal
air monitor samples was analyzed by TEM because the PCM analysis indicated
0.068 fibers/cc. The text indicated that asbestos was not detected by the
TEM analysis, but the TEM analytical results for this sample were not
included in the Report. The Report did not include information regarding the
type of air monitor or filters used, the air sampling flow rate, or the air
sampling duration.
ˇ Five separate soil samples were collected from the bioremediation beds for
analysis of SVOCs, PCBs, and TPH. TPH concentrations ranged from 1,200 mg/kg
to 2,040 mg/kg, PCBs (Aroclor-1254) were detected at concentrations ranging
from 0.046 mg/kg to 0.26 mg/kg, and SVOCs were detected, primarily
naphthalene.
Based upon GeoInsight's review of the Report, we provide the following
comments:
ˇ Weston collected grab soil samples from 0 to 3 inches bgs for asbestos
analysis, and trace asbestos was detected in soil samples collected from
zones 2 and 4. However, in most of the samples collected from Zones 2 and 4
by H&A in which asbestos was previously detected, asbestos was detected in
the S-2 soil samples, which were collected from 0.5 to 4 feet bgs. The
Weston soil samples were not collected at sufficient depths to evaluate the
asbestos detected in the H&A samples.
ˇ It does not appear that soil samples were collected below the root
structures in the upper soil horizon, except for the five samples collected
near the One Alewife Center building. It is our understanding that sampling
protocols agreed to for the preliminary assessment included collecting soil
samples from below the root mat.
ˇ A comparison of the PLM and TEM analytical results indicate that the PLM
method yielded false negative results (i.e., asbestos was confirmed to be
present using the TEM method in samples that were not identified as
containing asbestos via PLM).
ˇ Soil samples collected from Russell Field were analyzed for asbestos using
only the PLM methodology; the samples were not analyzed by TEM. Because of
the PLM false negatives and the potential for direct contact with surficial
soil is much greater at Russell Field, soil samples that were collected from
Russell Field for analysis of asbestos by PLM methodology should be analyzed
by TEM to evaluate asbestos in this area.
ˇ The preliminary investigation did not characterize historical fill, located
below the surficial soil. Previous investigations defined surficial soil as
0 to 6 inches bgs, as opposed to 0 to 3 inches bgs in this investigation.
Therefore, it is difficult to compare previous data collected from surficial
soil samples with the sampling results obtained during this investigation.
ˇ The preliminary assessment did not evaluate the presence of asbestos in
soil located greater than 3 inches bgs. The results of historical sampling
indicated the presence of asbestos in subsurface soil at the property. The
Report did not indicate why subsurface soil was not evaluated in the
preliminary assessment. The presence of asbestos in subsurface soil may
represent a potential health risk if this soil is disturbed or exposed in the
future.
ˇ The three SACM samples contained 15% asbestos (chrysotile) and were located
in Zone 4. Suspected asbestos-containing material had not been previously
identified during characterization activities at the Site. The observations
made during EPA's Preliminary Assessment indicate the need for a more
comprehensive survey of the Site for SACM located at the ground surface. In
addition, a management plan should be developed for handling and disposing of
this material.
ˇ The asbestos analyses in Table 1, which appear to be the TEM results, are
reported in "% by weight," instead of % by volume, as historical asbestos
analyses for this site have been reported. It is therefore difficult to
compare EPA's results to historical data. Asbestos is usually reported as
fibers per volume (% volume), rather than mass per volume because conversion
factors range widely to convert asbestos fibers to mass. Asbestos (mostly
chrysotile) was detected in 96% of the TEM samples at concentrations less
than 1%. However, since the results are presented in % by weight, the
asbestos % by volume may be different. The laboratory results should be
corrected or the original TEM analytical data should be reviewed to make a
direct comparison to the % by volume analyses.
ˇ The specific weather conditions (e.g. wind speed, wind direction) on the
sampling dates were not included in the report, and therefore it is difficult
to evaluate the results of the personal air monitor sampling. In addition,
soil moisture content of the soil samples was not recorded.
ˇ The results of the TEM analyses indicate that asbestos was consistently
detected in surficial soil at the Site. The primary route for exposure to
asbestos is through inhalation. The Report does not provide a discussion of
how the TEM data for surficial soil were evaluated with regard to possible
exposure via inhalation. It is our understanding that, based upon current
risk assessment data, the unit risk for residential and sensitive population
exposure to asbestos is very low and any amount of asbestos fibers present an
unacceptable risk to residential receptors and children. Ambient air
monitoring may be required to better characterize the potential mobility of
asbestos identified in surface soil.
ˇ Although Page 4 of the Removal Preliminary Assessment indicated that
asbestos concentrations at the W.R. Grace property ranged up to 12%, a split
soil sample (AB-6, 6'-8' bgs) collected by GeoInsight in May 1998 contained
asbestos at a concentration of 20%.
ˇ The soil sample descriptions from Weston seem to consistently indicate more
gravel in the soil samples than the soil sample descriptions completed by the
analytical laboratory.
ˇ In the Asbestos Bulk Sample Analysis Table, sample SACM-01 is mislabeled as
WRG-01.
ˇ The EPA Press Release indicates a maximum asbestos concentration of 0.02%
by weight; the actual maximum asbestos concentration is 0.03% by weight
(sample WRG-06).
ˇ The Description of Sampling Conducted section in the Report (page 4)
indicates that the samples collected from the W.R. Grace property were
labeled WRG-01 through WRG-38. The actual samples collected from the W.R.
Grace property were WRG-01 through WRG-39.
SUMMARY
Asbestos was consistently detected in shallow soil samples collected from the
W.R. Grace property by TEM methodology and asbestos was detected by TEM in
soil samples in which asbestos was not detected by PLM. Because of the false
negatives in the PLM analysis, the presence or absence of asbestos in Russell
Field soil samples cannot be evaluated since the soil samples collected from
Russell Field were analyzed only by PLM. Due to the low unit risk for
residential and sensitive populations, any amount of asbestos fibers at
Russell Field or in surficial soil near the residences may present an
unacceptable risk. The Report did not include an evaluation of the
implications or risk from asbestos consistently detected in surficial soil
samples.
If you have any questions on the information summarized in this letter,
please do not hesitate to contact either of us at (978) 692-1114.
Very truly yours,
Kevin D. Trainer, C.P.G. Michael J. Webster, P.G., L.S.P.
Senior Project Geologist Senior Associate
cc: Gretchen von Grossmann, ANI
John Bolduc, City of Cambridge
William Beck, Haley & Aldrich
Jack Miano, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Ira Leighton, Acting Regional Administrator, USEPA
(Information obtained from Alewife Neighbors Inc,
which is not affiliated with the Alewife Study Group)
Contact the Alewife Study Group, North Cambridge Massachusetts, by email at information@alewife.org