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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

Celebrity Cleaners, Houston, Texas

Description
Historical activity that resulted in contamination.

The Site is a former dry cleaner facility which operated two PERC machines onsite from 1985 to 2003. The facility operated in a suite within a large multi-tenant commercial and retail building. The former dry cleaner facility space is currently occupied by a commercial operation. Land use in the immediate vinicity is Commercial/ Industrial A release from the dry cleaner facility was discovered in January 1999 during an environmental site investigation performed at the property. In April 1999 the site was entered into the Texas Voluntary Cleanup Program. The site entered the Texas Dry Cleaner Remediation Program in July 2007. Historical contamination at the site appears to have resulted from poor waste management practices and/or leaks from process equipment or improper storage of waste storage containers. From 1999 to 2011, a total of 51 monitor wells have been installed in 3 separate zones. Full assessment is not complete at this time. The Harris County MUD operates a PWS well located approximately 400 to 500 ft north of the former dry cleaner facility. The well is produced from the Evangeline Aquifer and has a total depth of 1,756 ft bgl.

Remediation Status: In active remediation


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


Contaminant Media Concentration (ppb) Nondetect
cis-1,2-Dichloroethene groundwater
cis-1,2-Dichloroethene soil
Tetrachloroethene (PCE) groundwater
Tetrachloroethene (PCE) soil
Trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater
Trichloroethene (TCE) soil
Vinyl Chloride groundwater
Vinyl Chloride soil

Site Hydrology

Deepest Significant Groundwater Contamination:   37ft bgs
Plume Size:   Plume Length: 200ft
Plume Width: 200ft
Average Depth to Groundwater:   12ft

Lithology and Subsurface Geology

outcrops of the Lissie Formation
  inter-bedded clays, silts and sands

Gradient: 0.013ft/ft

Pathways and DNAPL Presence

Groundwater
Sediments
Soil
checkPresumptive Evidence of DNAPL

Vapor Intrusion Pathway

Has the potential for vapor intrusion (VI) been evaluated?
  No
Has a vapor mitigation system been installed?
   

Remediation Scenario

Cleanup Goals:
  Groundwater: Long term Cleanup goals are drinking water standards.
PCE = 5 µg/l
TCE = 5 µg/l
cis 1,2-DCE = 70 µg/l
vinyl chloride = 2 µg/l

Remedy Level:
  Full Scale Remedy

Technologies

In Situ Biostimulation
 

Why the technology was selected:
An initial biostimulation treatability study was conducted in the shallow zone hot spot. A larger scale biostimulation injection project in the deeper groundwater zone was selected due to the success of the shallow zone treatability study.

Date implemented:
June 2010 Biostimulation Pilot Test in shallow zone. June-July 2012 Biostimulation in deep zone.

Final remediation design:
Shallow Zone - Enhanced In-situ Bioremediation (EIB) treatability study conducted in June 2010. The EHC® (1% EHC by soil mass) was injected into the upper groundwater zone (at 11-22 feet bls) in the most contaminated part of the plume. A total of 1,570 gallons of slurry (4,400 lbs EHC® ) was injected at eight locations using direct push technology. GW samples collected 7 weeks after the injection indicated significant decreases in the COC concentrations in MW-4A. Deeper Zone EIB in zone B - EHC injection in June 2012 EHC® injections into deeper groundwater zone. There were twenty three injection point into the deeper gw zone. (25 - 38 ft BGS). A total of approximately 17,350 lbs of EHC was injected into twenty three injection points over a 70 ft x 30 ft area.

Results to date:
Shallow Zone A: Two groundwater sampling events have been conducted since the June 2010 injection of EHC. The post-injection results indicated significant changes in cVOC concentrations in the shallow groundwater zone in the immediate vicinity of the injection area (MW-4A), conducted in June 2010. There has been significantly reduced the COC concentrations in source area shallow zone wells. However, significant increases in COC concentrations were noted in nearby deeper zone wells. The oxidation reduction potential (ORP), pH, nitrate, dissolved oxygen (DO),dissolved iron and manganese, and total organic carbon (TOC) were in the favorable range for the growth of anaerobic bacteria that utilize cVOC as electron acceptors. Total eubacteria counts indicated that microbial growth is not inhibited. However, because the concentration of sulfate in groundwater remains high, it is anticipated that a microbial acclimation period of several additional months will be required before conditions are favorable for the complete reductive dechlorination of cVOCs. Deeper GW Zone: No post injections groundwater sampling result are available at this time. Initial result expected in Aug-Sept 2010.

Next Steps:
Currently waiting on results of push probe investigation and deeper zone biostimulation injection event. Need for additional assessment and remediation will be evaluated at that time.

Cost to Design and Implement:
Biostimulation: $81k Deeper Gw Zone Biostimulation: $125k

Ex Situ Chemical Oxidation
 

Date implemented:
June 2004 soil excavation and treatment

Final remediation design:
Soil removal Response Action was conducted in June 2004. Approximately 540 cubic yards of soil were excavated from the area located directly adjacent to the rear of the former Celebrity Dry Cleaners facility. The depth of the excavation was up to 10 feet bls. A storm water sewer inlet and associated line was removed within the excavated area and replace upon completion of the project. Excavated soils were treated onsite with chemical oxidant (0.5 percent solution of potassium permanganate) and were returned to excavation. Physical constraint (e.g. building location, equipment limitations, and monitor well locations) prevent the complete excavation of the source area soils to the target PCE level of 0.050 mg/kg. An SVE piping gallery was installed at the base of the excavation - but this has not been used to date.

Results to date:
Soil: The 2004 excavation removed the majority of the source area soils but due to physical constraints, there were affected soils (exceeding cleanup goals) which were left in place. No soil cleanup level excedences where found during confirmatory soils sampling conducted in October 2010 .

Next Steps:
Currently waiting on results of push probe investigation and deeper zone biostimulation injection event. Need for additional assessment and remediation will be evaluated at that time.

Cost to Design and Implement:
Soil Excavation: Cost data not available

Ex Situ Soil Removal
 

Why the technology was selected:
Soil excavation was selected as the most effective means of source area removal.

Date implemented:
June 2004 soil excavation and treatment

Final remediation design:
Soil removal Response Action was conducted in June 2004. Approximately 540 cubic yards of soil were excavated from the area located directly adjacent to the rear of the former Celebrity Dry Cleaners facility. The depth of the excavation was up to 10 feet bls. A storm water sewer inlet and associated line was removed within the excavated area and replace upon completion of the project. Excavated soils were treated onsite with chemical oxidant (0.5 percent solution of potassium permanganate) and were returned to excavation. Physical constraint (e.g. building location, equipment limitations, and monitor well locations) prevent the complete excavation of the source area soils to the target PCE level of 0.050 mg/kg. An SVE piping gallery was installed at the base of the excavation - but this has not been used to date.

Results to date:
Soil: The 2004 excavation removed the majority of the source area soils but due to physical constraints, there were affected soils (exceeding cleanup goals) which were left in place. No soil cleanup level excedences where found during confirmatory soils sampling conducted in October 2010 .

Next Steps:
Currently waiting on results of push probe investigation and deeper zone biostimulation injection event. Need for additional assessment and remediation will be evaluated at that time.

Cost to Design and Implement:
Soil Excavation: Cost data not available

Costs

Cost for Assessment:
  >$350,000. Assessment is ongoing.
Cost for Operation and Maintenance:
 
Total Costs for Cleanup:
 

Lessons Learned

1) An incomplete understanding of site geology and stratigraphy lithology prolonged and added cost to the assessment phase. It remains unknown if this contributed to mobilizing contaminant into a deeper gw zone. Complex fluvial deltaic lithogolyDeep wells had to be plugged.

Contacts

Richard Scharlach, Project Manager
PST/DCRP Section
Remediation Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Richard.Scharlach@TCEQ.Texas.gov

 

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